Lifespan of a Chennette

In the 2 years since I started Lifespan of a Chennette (my 2nd anniversary was on July 8th!), I have encountered only a few Caribbean food blogs, but many more over the last few months. I hope there are going to be even more in the future, so that “Caribbean” food on the internet won’t just be people chucking pineapple or mango into everything, but a true reflection of what Caribbean people eat, and our varied history as reflected in our traditional foods. So, I thought I would list the Caribbean food blogs I know, in the hopes that if there are others people tell me :-). I think I’ll probably make a permanent page soon with this information. I am listing by country, and I know you’ll understand if I start with Trinidad and Tobago As it turns out, the majority of blogs that I have found out there are by Trinis, or linked to T&T. But that may be because I haven’t found any others?

TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO

The Trini Gourmet
Sarina’s blog was about the first I encountered when I started this enterprise, and her site was so snazzy and professional, I assumed she had been doing this for a good long time. Imagine my surprise when I realised she didn’t start that much earlier than I she’s just better at these grand undertakings! At the Trini Gourmet, you’ll find recipes both original and tested, lots of information on cooking essentials for the Trini/Jamaican and kosher kitchen, recommendations for books and gifts…it’s all there. We’ve even started a annual (2 years so far) tradition of visiting the Taste T&T together and increasing the posse every time we hope.

Lilandra…
…is my sister, and although she resists being described as a food blog (well, she IS a person, not a blog…) she has blogged many of her forays into cooking, whether it’s handmade chocolate truffles, trini macaroni pie, hops bread or lemon meringue pie and she has access to the same source for traditional Trini fare - our mother. And she’s my company (dare I say sidekick) when we go explore food in T&T, including at the Taste.

CanCookMustCook
TriniFood is a trini journalist in London, who has a passion for food and food-writing. Her interest has no boundaries, delving into books, and markets, trying out the traditional with no fear of using new techniques to adapt the old. You get reviews, recipes, deep thoughts and always something interesting.

The Caribbean Garden
Nicole was the first person I know in real life who came across this blog entirely on her own and figured out who I was. Of course, there may be others, but they haven’t let me know, so I can pretend to be secure in my anonymity She’s passionate about food and gardens, growing food and landscaping and travel! If people think I travel a lot…wait till you see her pictures of Laos! And yes, I count it as a food blog, because she posts her recipes

Simply Trini Cooking
A relatively new blogger, but prolific and regular. Traditional recipes for coocoo, stew chicken, curry cascadoo…lots and lots and he posts regularly, with step by step pictures. There’s also a glossary of useful cooking terms (emphasis on the Trini terms) and a Trini dictionary to help you navigate through our food talk.

All Tings Trini
Jevon is of Trini descent, living in the US and interested in food. He’s had chef training, and although he’s not a regular blogger, he has posted about Trini favourites including a pictorial recipe for sorrel.

So Epicurious it Hurts
Marsha is a Trini living in the US and she posts about food and places she’s eaten and her cooking, including of course some traditional Trini foods.

Mark Ruins Dinner
Mark is from the US, married to a Trini (Karen’s blog is here). I sorted him into the Trini category because I believe I first encountered his blog when he was proclaiming his #1 search status in March 2007 for “how to make Trinidad food” possibly due in large part to his post on making doubles, called “Two doubles, slight pepper”. Despite the name of his blog (and the latest post) he makes quite good dinners, and lunches and possibly breakfasts and desserts, with great pictures of the attempts and successes both. And of his helpers, the ever increasing tribe of boys.

Caribbean Recipes
This is in the T&T category because of the actual blogger name (trinidadrecipes) as well as his current base in Trinidad. He’s a Brit, married to a Trini I believe, and having lived and worked in Trinidad (and parts of the Caribbean) for some time, has posted about food and cooking. I only discovered this blog this week, but he’s only been blogging about Trini and Caribbean food since March.

BARBADOS/GUYANA

Tastes Like Home
Cynthia is a food writer and photographer, who has a cookbook in the works! She posts every Saturday (oh for that discipline!) along with her column in the Stabroek News of Guyana. She’s Guyanese, living in Barbados who writes about her favourite traditional foods, intrinsically linked to her memories of home and family, as well as the new things she learns and tries out - like making paneer! Her adoring fans are many, and every post provides such gorgeous pictures. I can’t wait for the book!

BELIZE

Rice and Beans: A Belizean in DC
The title tells you part of what you need to know - Lyra is from Belize and lives in DC. She’s a great advocate for eating local, seasonal and organic produce, and healthy and her blog is delicious.

DOMINICA

Gourmet Global
A chef and entrepreneur in New York City, claiming several Caribbean heritages, but I believe primarily from Dominica. She reviews restaurants, provides recipes, and even blogged about her travels back to the homeland.

GRENADA

Spice Isle Food for Thought
Kimberly started blogging in February, with traditional recipes from Grenada. As she reminds us (me) on her blog, there are so many similarities in Caribbean foods, and particularly between T&T and Grenada, because we both received Indian indentured labourers and therefore the foods! 

CARIBBEAN MAGAZINES

There are two publications, one available online and one with a blog that should be part of the online Caribbean food experience:

Caribbean Beat
This is the inflight magazine of Caribbean Airlines (formerly BWIA) and in addition to showcasing major tourist events and attractions, and the people of the region, always has a good food article, sometimes even by TriniFood The issues and archives are available online, complete with any recipes featured. And as I have said before, this is one of my favourite magazines so disregard any preconceived notions you may have about infight publications. And no, that’s not just because my blog was once featured

MACO Caribbean
Toute Bagai publishes several Caribbean lifestyle magazines, highlighting Caribbean destinations and events, and of course sometimes, food :-D. Their website has recipes and plans to review restaurants in addition to providing information and reports on various food festivals around the region. MACO is also going to issue later this year a magazine on Food & Rum. 

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As I said, I don’t believe this is the complete list, so I am open to your contributions - any Caribbean blogs out there that I should know about? I know there are some recipe sites, and I hope to link to those, but in a another post/page.