ABOUT THIS BLOG:
Food holds a special place in our culture. It evokes cherished memories, nurtures relationships, and delivers happiness on each plate.
The flavors of my childhood inspired me to dedicate the past three decades to developing, documenting, and, more recently, sharing traditional recipes that have been passed down through generations.
The ultimate aim of this blog is to explore the origins of our food, celebrate the vibrant culinary legacy of Trinidad and the Caribbean, and share our eclectic and distinct flavors and customs with the world.
Here, you will also discover recipes that have been influenced by my personal experiences throughout the years and infused with a Caribbean flair.
I aspire for these recipes to connect migrants and gastronomic enthusiasts alike, whether they are local or global, by promoting a feeling of community and shared identity.
Additionally, I hope these recipes bring happiness to those who are adventurous in the kitchen.
ON THE LIGHTER SIDE:
- yuh love Trini food (and occasionally suffer from Doubles or curry tabanca)
- yuh once visited Trinidad and cyah stop dreaming about the food
- you are married to a Trini, was ‘marrid(married)’ or wish to be
- you really need to learn to make yuh roti swell (to get ready fuh marriage)
- yuh Trini friend cooked you an unforgettable meal
- Yuh Trini, but yuh parents didn’t pass down the cooking genes.
- yuh never wanted to learn to cook when you were younger but now yuh ready
- you were surrounded by people who couldn’t teach you to cook because they only knew the “average” method (The “lil bit o’ this, lil bit o’ that” style recipes from family confuse yuh seriously.)
- yuh lost your handed-down recipes
- you have two left hands in the kitchen but you still want to try
- you have a bad-bad reputation wihen it comes to cooking (oh gad oye)
- Every recipe yuh find online cyah match up to what yuh granny used to make.
ABOUT ME:
Hello! My name is Ria and I am a Trinidadian (Trini) residing in New York with my husband and two daughters. I was born to West Indian parents in a small village in Central Trinidad and migrated to the US more than 30 years ago in search of the American dream.
For 30 years, I worked in the corporate world while nurturing my passion for cooking through my blog and YouTube channel as a hobby for the past 14 years. I’ve now turned my focus to full-time recipe & product development and content creation.
My love for cooking began at the age of 9 when I prepared my first meal for my father while my mother was at the hospital giving birth to my youngest sister. Over time, my passion for recreating traditional recipes from my mother, various family members, and friends evolved into an obsession.
In addition, as a working mother, providing a variety of exciting meals for my picky eaters while maintaining a busy schedule became a challenging necessity. I also started this blog to document these recipes and challenge myself to not only cook well but to cook everything well.
Cooking for me is more than just food; it’s a love language. It’s about keeping my family well nourished and grounded, making them smile, and showing how much I care with every pot I put on the stove.
Aside from spending most of my time in the kitchen, I also enjoy gardening, taking nature walks, basking in the sun(only when de weather nice), playing with my cute Dachshund, Leo, organizing my space(after wrecking it), and reading.
ABOUT THE RECIPES:
If yuh looking for simple, wholesome, and bess-tasting food, yuh in the right spot! My dishes are simple, chemical-free, preservative-free, additive-free, and always delicious. As someone with food sensitivities, I’ve learned to replace highly processed and packaged ingredients with fresh, wholesome herbs and spices or healthier substitutes, resulting in dishes that are both healthy and flavorful (with exceptions of course–some are illegally decadent). Every recipe here? Family-approved, tested, and re-tested till it perfect—well, almost perfect. Trini cooking doh need to be precise; it needs to be soulful!
I hope my blog inspires you to get into the kitchen to cook with LOVE. Love for yourself and your family. I also hope that it inspires you to prepare and consume meals that nourish your body, soul, and mind and, at the same time, create happy everlasting memories with your loved ones.
Let’s aim for satisfaction, not perfection & Live Passionately, Love Freely, Laugh Abundantly, and EAT Mindfully.
And remember: yuh not ready for marriage till yuh roti could swell! 😄
Cook.Share.Love,
Ria B.
LET’S STAY CONNECTED:
AS FEATURED IN:
Discover Trinidad and Tobago Magazine
Australian Newspaper – Trini roti is being celebrated and featured down under in Australia! This article written by Kylie Walker, an Australian journalist, captures its essence and our love for them all.
Trinidad Express, Divali Recipes Cookbook, October 2019
