Lifespan of a Chennette

When I first started Lifespan of a Chennette (July 8, 2006!), there were only a few Caribbean food blogs I encountered, but in the last 2 years there have been so many more I have found, from the diaspora and from right at home in the West Indies. 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 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.

Healthy and Gourmet
Natasha is a Trini now resident in Minnesota and provides regular healthy and delicious recipes, and occasionally some reminisces of T&T.

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.

Trini Spice
This is a brand-new blog, whose first post seems to be yesterday (23 November 2008). I don’t know anything about the blogger, but he/she has posted a recipe for doubles thus far Looking forward to more things!

Bring it to the table
This is “Trini Bachelor style cooking”, with contributions from 4 friends who seem to take their eating and cooking seriously. From their own words: “It’s that style of cooking that is about improvising, adding a unique spin, cooking with feeling, and creating meals that are as filling as they are delicious.” Lo0k for anything from local favourites, to things with cheese. Lots of things with cheese..

Chillibibi - Aruna has just started this blog, with the intention of showcasing “some of those tings that we used to eat in Trinidad long time.” With her blog name reminding me of one of my favourite school snacks that I can’t find anymore, I wish her all the best!

Belly in Hand – Melissa is a new blogger, chronicling the search for the best food in Trinidad and Tobago – whether it’s food festivals, restaurants or mall staples!

BARBADOS

Vegan in the Sun
Barbadian vegan food blogger, with recipes, restaurant reviews and vegan dining information for Barbados, French Antilles…Paris…she used to be Barbadian Vegan, but now is so much more (should be in the Caribbean category!), with a book under development.

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.

BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS

Sugar Apple
Abigail is originally from the US, but has been living in Tortola for the past 16 years. New blog, but already a very nice step-by-step for Eggplant Choka!

CARIBBEAN

Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner and Punch – Tales of a Caribbean Mama’s cooking. A fellow D80 user, too, with lovely photos and recipes.

Macafouchette –  from the site: “a West Indian foodie who loves to talk about food and restaurant service” – she’s of Jamaica and Trini parentage, having lived in more than one Caribbean country and now a member of the Caribbean Diaspora. Fairly new presence, but with promise of a lot – including a recipe for curry channa hummus.

K.Parris –  Kimberly Parris, who blogs as Confessions of an Ex-Foodie, is a personal chef and caterer, offering services in New York as part of our Caribbean diaspora. Another one I found on Twitter!

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

The Nomadic Gourmet
Amatullah started blogging in a few years ago, 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. She has truly been Nomadic since then and is now resident in Saudi Arabia.

12 Degrees North
Wes is an American living and working in Grenada with his family, trying out local and regional foods – both by review and by cooking. Photos and recipes (vegetarian) and currently a strong interest in various Indian styles.

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!

Jehan Can Cook
Jehan is originally from Guyana, but lives in New York. From her own words, she’s a: “27 year old food lover who loves to cook, bake, eat and explore new foods.” Her blog has recipes and photos from foods she cooks, whether traditionally Caribbean/Guyanese or from anywhere. She’s been blogging since January 2009, but has quite a few posts already!

Wendy’s Kitchen
Wendy’s parents are Guyanese but she’s been raised in the UK – part of our West Indian diaspora. She’s been blogging (perhaps infrequently) since November 2008, but I look forward to seeing more.

The Inner Gourmet
Alicia is also of Guyanese parentage, but born and raised in New York. She has worked in the food industry and wants to combine her passion for food with business. Lovely photography on her blog and of course recipes, including some Guyanese favourites!

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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This list was originally posted on 16 July 2008 here, and hopefully will be continually updated as a permanent page. 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.