❤️ It's never too late to reclaim the food you grew up with

Dear Reader,

Have you ever had one of those moments where you realise you've been eating something your whole life, but you don't actually know how to make it?

That was me, more than two decades ago, in a kitchen in Connecticut, homesick and wrestling with that exact question.

My mother is Jamaican, my father Trinidadian. An excellent cook, he only made a handful of Trini dishes at home. We rarely ate out, so what I knew of our cuisine came mostly from school “tuck shops” and visits to other homes.

When I tried ‘my hand’, in those Connecticut years the seasoning was off, the textures felt wrong, and what came out tasted generic, nothing like the dishes I remembered.

In 2000 I moved back home to Trinidad but it wasn't until 2006 when I started TriniGourmet, that I finally went to the source: my father, my aunt, then their friends, and asked them to walk me through everything, recipe by recipe.

What I got back wasn't just technique. It was living history.

That decision is why TriniGourmet exists, and why this year, our 20th, has so much coming. First up, I'm glad to share I'm featured in this month's issue of Trinidad's Muse Magazine.

Your action for today: ask someone, a parent, an aunt, a family friend, to walk you through one dish the way they actually make it. Not the shortcut. The real one.

Read my Muse Magazine feature here.(I'm on page 13)

And, if you have your own reclaiming story hit reply. I read every one.

Best Wishes,

Sarina

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✍🏾 LATEST ON THE BLOG

Trinidadian Browning Sugar Technique A complete sensory guide to the Trinidadian browning sugar technique for meats. All three stages of caramelisation, what each stage looks and smells like, and the generational knowledge that makes the difference. Read article

The Trinidadian Cooking Terms No Recipe Will Teach You Chunkay, boonjay, browning: the Trinidadian cooking terms every serious home cook should know, and why they're not optional. Read article

The Fascinating History of KFC in Trinidad & Tobago KFC Trinidad invented the Zinger in 1984 and delivers to your door. Explore 50+ years of innovations that made it part of our culture. Read article

12 Beautiful One-Pot Meals You'll Love From Trinidad Pelau to Paella, explore one-pot meals that are joyful, easy, and perfect for mastering global cuisines at home. Read article

🔥 IN THE SPOTLIGHT

🧑🏽‍🍳 CURATED FINDS

A few things from my Amazon Storefront this month. These are Amazon affiliate links, so if you purchase through them, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. It just helps keep TriniGourmet going, twenty years in and still cooking.

Cuisinart Mesh Strainers Achieve silky-smooth sauces, lump-free batters, and perfectly sifted dry ingredients with a fine mesh strainer that elevates your cooking precision. Learn More Porcelain Tea Set, Vintage Rose Elevate your tea time with a porcelain floral tea set that adds elegance and grace to every soothing sip. Treat Yourself

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Sea Salt & Ginger Candle Infuse your kitchen or dining space with the crisp, invigorating scent of sea salt and warm ginger, evoking the essence of Caribbean cooking and coastal living. Discover Now roborock Q7 Max Robot Vacuum and Mop Combo Effortlessly keep your kitchen and home spotless with a robot vacuum and mop combo—perfect for busy cooks who love a clean space without the hassle! 35% Off

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Thank you for being part of the TriniGourmet community. Here’s to another month filled with vibrant flavours, warm moments, and culinary joy. Until next time, keep cooking and sharing the spirit of the Caribbean!