The Moreish Podcast: Caribbean History, Culture, and Cuisine

Discovering Curaçao's Food Culture with Sheedia Jansen

In this episode of The Moreish Podcast Hema and Sheedia chat about the vibrant and diverse food culture of Curaçao. Following up on all we learned in the history of Curaçao episode, we dive into the Caribbean island's culinary influences from African, Dutch, and Indigenous cultures, and how the proximity to Venezula has influenced what is eaten. Sheedia gets into dishes like funchi, iguana soup, and keshi yena, and sweets that may have been influenced by the Sephardic Jews. Join us for a delicious exploration of Curaçaoan cuisine!

Connect with Sheedia

Website

YouTube

The Dungeon Podcast

Resources

Top 10 Dishes You Need to Try in Curaçao

Keshi Yena recipe

Blue Curacao

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In this episode of The Moreish Podcast, Hema is joined by Sheedia Jansen, a Freedom Alchemist from Curaçao. Together they delve into the rich history and culture of the Caribbean island.

Sheedia shares insights on Curaçao's colonial past, from its Indigenous Caquetio inhabitants to Spanish and Dutch rule, the TransAtlantic Slave Trade, and the influential contributions of the Afro-Caribbean, Dutch, and Jewish communities, and explains the relationship with the Netherlands as part of the Netherland Antilles.

The island's linguistic diversity with four languages, and the shift from oil refinery to tourism as its main economic driver, Curaçao was known as the Caribbean's best kept secret!

The conversation highlights the importance of preserving local culture amidst a blend of global influences, and listeners are encouraged to explore the unique elements of Curaçao's heritage and contemporary life.

Connect with Sheedia:

https://www.heysheedia.com/

YouTube

The Dungeon podcast

Resources:

https://www.britannica.com/place/Curacao https://www.curacaohistory.com/

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Diving into the History of Carnival in the Caribbean with David Bremang

In this encore episode Hema revisits her chat with David Bremang about the rich and complex history of Carnival in the Caribbean. From the African origins, Carnival of the French colonized islands and Cedula population, and the rebellion that brought Carnival as we know it today, David shares the origins, cultural significance, and evolution of Carnival, particularly in Trinidad and Toronto. He delves into the Canboulay riots, the various forms of Carnival music, and the importance of preserving the true meanings behind the festivities. David, who has deep ties to both Trinidadian and Ghanian cultures, shares his experiences and knowledge about the traditions, music, and storytelling that define Carnival across the Caribbean.

Connect with David:

Instagram

Found Missing

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A Year in Podcasting & Trinbagonian Talk with Devonne Adanna

The final episode of 2024 is a fun, bonus episode filled with language and laughter. Hema reflects on the year-long journey of The Moreish Podcast, some highs and lows and gratitude.

This episode is a bit of behind-the-scenes chats with storyteller Devonne Adanna, talking about Caribbean culture, the name of the podcast, plus language, sayings and proverbs from Trinidad and Tobago.

Connect with Devonne Adanna

Storyteller & Caribbean Culture Content Creator | Neurodivergent Parenting

Instagram

TikTok

YouTube

The Caribbean Proverbs That Raised Us

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Exploring Trinbagonian Christmas Recipes with Teri's Food Therapy

In this special bonus Christmas episode, Hema chats with Teri from Teri's Food Therapy about Trinbagonian Christmas recipes.

Teri shares her journey as a self-taught cook, her love for sharing recipes through social media and e-cookbooks, and reminisces about traditional Trinidadian Christmas foods such as ham, hops bread, sorrel, pastelles, and black cake. Tune in to discover the vibrant flavours and cultural significance of Trinbagonian cuisine during the festive season.

Connect with Teri: https://terisfoodtherapy.com/

https://terisfoodtherapy.com/cookbooks-2/

https://www.instagram.com/teris_food_therapy/

https://www.tiktok.com/@terisfoodtherapy

https://www.youtube.com/@terisfoodtherapy

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In this heartfelt and lively episode of The Moreish Podcast, Hema chats with Chef Marissa Leon-John, a private chef from Montreal who brings her rich Caribbean roots from St. Lucia and St. Vincent into every dish she creates.

Marissa shares her exciting journey on MasterChef Canada, her unique experiences working as a guest chef in St. Lucia, and the joy of infusing traditional Caribbean flavours into upscale dishes. The conversation delves into more personal topics, including the challenges and beauty of growing up with a dual identity in Canada, and her passionate advocacy for young Black and LGBTQ youth in the culinary world, plus, get the scoop on her spice line, Fairy Dust, and her plans for documenting cherished family recipes.

Connect with Marissa Leon-John:

ElleJays Website

ElleJays on Instagram

Fairy Dust Spices on Instagram

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Cuban Heritage and Identity: A Journey Back to Havana

Imagine being the first person in your family to head back to your home country in over 60 years. The first to experience the culture and set aside everything you've heard for an an immersive experience, a chance to create memories and form your own opinions. Growing up as a Cuban-American-Canadian, Lisette Alvarez's journey to Havana, Cuba was like opening a door to the past. The first in their family to go back in over 60 years. Through the lens of this journey, Hema & Lisette explore complex themes of Cuban identity, politics, and cultural heritage, including the racial dynamics of Cuban-Americans and the ongoing U.S.-Cuba relations. Hema and Lisette met at the Podcast Movement conference and reconnect in this episode of The Moreish Podcast to talk about Lisette's trip to Cuba and what it's like growing up between 2 cultures.

Lisette shares a bit about their two related podcasts, 'Once Upon a Time in Havana' and the upcoming 'Havana Syndrome,' shedding light on their immersive and personal experiences in Cuba.

Resources

Lisette Alvarez

Stormfire Productions, Stormfire Productions on Instagram

Podcasts: Once Upon a Time in Havana podcast, Havana Syndrome

Beyond Roots

The Big Cigar

Season 1: The largest island in the Caribbean Sea: Cuba

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Delving into Puerto Rican Culinary and Cultural Richness with Laura Ortiz

In this episode of The Moreish Podcast, host Hema chats with Laura Ortiz, a historian and food & culture tour operator from Puerto Rico, to explore the island's rich culinary heritage and cultural traditions. The discussion highlights traditional dishes like mofongo, rice & beans, and roasted pork, influenced by Taino, African, and Spanish roots. Laura explains the importance of cooking methods such as barbacoa and talks about some notable dishes like fritters, cassava bread, and plantains. 

Laura recommends some cookbooks, and also touches on festive foods like blood sausage and pasteles, the cultural impact of Puerto Rican migration to Hawaii, and the vibrant traditional dances that you can find predominately in the town of Loiza with African influences such as Bomba and Plena.

Connect with Laura on:
TikTok
Instagram

Resources:

First cookbook: El Cocinero Puerto-Riqueño o Formulario, was published in 1859, Anonymous https://libros787.com/products/el-cocinero-puerto-riqueno 

War Against All Puerto Ricans, Nelson A Denis: https://libros787.com/products/war-against-all-puerto-ricans

Eating Puerto Rico, Cruz Miguel Ortiz Cuadra: https://uncpress.org/book/9781469629971/eating-puerto-rico/

Puerto Rican Cookery, Carmen Valldejuli: https://libros787.com/products/puerto-rican-cookery

Puerto Rican Dishes, Berta Cabanillas, Carmen Ginorio: https://www.alibris.com/Puerto-Rican-Dishes-Berta-Cabanillas/book/5467945?

Cocinero Puertorriqueño: https://libros787.com/products/el-cocinero-puerto-riqueno

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Unveiling Puerto Rico: A Deep Dive into Culture, History, and Identity

In this episode of The Moreish Podcast, Hema chats with Laura Ortiz, an historian and tour operator from Sofrito Tours, for an enlightening discussion on Puerto Rico's rich history and vibrant culture.

In this episode they dive into the Taino people's matrilineal society and their tragic decline due to Spanish colonization, the introduction of enslaved African people, the encomienda system, and the drastic transitions under U.S. control. It highlights the mixed reactions to U.S. colonization, the significance of the Spanish-American War, the abolition of slavery, and the implications of the Jones Act of 1917 granting U.S. citizenship to Puerto Ricans.

The episode also explores the enduring impact of African, Spanish, and Taino influences on Puerto Rican culture, grappling with identity amidst American influence, and addressing contemporary issues such as hair discrimination. The narrative underscores Puerto Rico’s deep cultural heritage, its demographically diverse identity, and its welcoming nature.

Connect with Laura on:
TikTok
Instagram

Laura's book recommendations:
Puerto Rico: A National History, Jorell Melendez-Badillo
Economic History of Puerto Rico: Institutional Change and Capitalist Development, James L. Dietz

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Hema, host of The Moreish Podcast, chats with Harry Alvarez about the history, culture and cuisine of the Dominican Republic.

Harry, a Dominican-American and co-founder of Offbeat Travel,  shares insights into the cultural influences in the Dominican Republic from the Indigenous Taino-Arawak, Spanish and African people, and how those influences show up in the food from ingredients and techniques used today in preparing everyday meals.

He emphasizes the strong African influence in Dominican culture while addressing the societal reluctance to acknowledge these roots due to colorism and shadism. In this conversation they touch on how the history of Hispaniola is taught in schools, often focusing on the independence from Haiti rather than emphasizing the importance of its independence from Spanish oppression.

To close out this episode, Harry shares some thoughts on tourism and encourages visitors to explore beyond resorts to experience the rich and diverse geographical beauty of the Dominican Republic and the Dominican people.

Resources:

Offbeat Travel website

Offbeat Travel on Instagram

Trova Trip

WITS Travel Creator Summit

Listen to the Dominican Republic episode from Season 1

Support the show

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