Musing :: My Plush Palette : Chicken Salad

Ladies and gentlemen our local branch of kfc just got salads. You my be asking yourself: Really lizelle? Really? Is this note worthy enough for an entire blog post?! My answer to you my friend is yes. They are so cost effect and so yummy and I love salads so that was enough of a reason for me to share.

What a quick meal to snatch up if you're on the go and don't want to just eat any ol' thing!

On another note, on to the real reason I wanted to post about this and brace yourself, it's a bit silly if you are not of the empathetic persuasion. While I was taking this photo I had an odd thought, an odd sensation if you will, one I know not most will understand. I felt incredibly lucky. I started thinking back on many posts I have written in the past about feminine and climate change and the availability of water and then I even found out that July 11th was a day set aside for being aware of population growth.

I stared at my salad, that I'd picked up for 5EC (roughly 1.50US) It's a bite sized meal and usually you cant find something of that kind of variety that cheap here....I became very aware of the fact that my ability to buy this, my ability to take it home and place it in a bowl and eat it and feel happy and satisfied is something that not all of the world has a chance to do.


I felt so incredibly grateful for the 'privileges' of my life. Like food availability and accessibility.

Peace. Love. Lucky me.  Luck You.

My Plush Palette :: Mother's Day Brunch 2015

Appetizer:   shrimp tempura with teriyaki sauce

Main course: Steamed Lion fish in White Wine and local flavours with Jasmine Rice and mixed vegetable salad 

Mother had: Coconut Breaded Chicken Breast with Avocado and Corn Salsa and Local Plantain Salad.

Desert: cantaloupe, watermelon and pineapple slices, brownie square topped with white chocolate sauce and white chocolate and passion fruit mouse.

The view was exceptional, the ambience open, elegant and refreshing.  All but the sign and the lilies in the pictures above surroundings wise we could see from where we sat. Everything on the menu was delicious by no stretch of the word. .As for the lion fish well, there was also a nice ginger flavour to it coming down to the end so that was delightful. made me wish it was all over the yummy fish but I must admit I was a little disappointed with it though it is possible I was expecting too much.

Let me give you a little story about that.

The lion fish has been plaguing our waters here in the Caribbean. They multiple by outrageous numbers and are pretty new to our marine ecosystem. As an island our marine life is a large source of sustainability for locals and our economy at large. So when this bad boy came suddenly swimming by, destroying our already dwindling reefs and confusing our native sea life, it threw the entire region in a dizzy.

They contain a venom with their fins that can be poisonous for consumption.

I know, talk about a bold faced assailant! Anyway, in speaking with a chef a while back I came to learn that very few know how to properly clean and serve the lion fish. It's not impossible, it's just extremely technical. This pleases me because the first battle cry I had was lets just eat that sucker and do our part to save our oceans, when I first heard about it.

Also lets face it, so many starving people in he world if we've got something we could eat that is multiplying faster than we can count and we've got other precious animals going extinct for stupid reasons, (poor rhinos) the choice isn't that hard now is it?

So when I popped in with mother dear (we didn't actually pop make a reservation you could be turned away believe me we saw haha ) and saw my nemesis by association on the menu well...lets just say my stomach I did my part as an island national to prevent the further destruction of our oceans.  Your welcome. Hashtag: send me my medal in the mail.

Anyway, I'll be crossing 'eat a poisonous fish and live to tell the tale' of my bucket list! Though, I've still got my eye on you puffer fish!

They also had live music, which I love made all the better by the renditions done of classic tunes, particularly one of my favourites, Fever. Have i mentioned the service? Impeccable! I should have gotten our waitress' name she did such a fine job! Usually I try not to go on too much about service, I like to give it a few visit and little them give me the usual treatment to determine if it is consistent or just face value but this much I can tell you. Upon this visit, she was exemplary.

Ultimately, most importantly mother had a great time. I also got to explore a part of my island I hadn't before. As we all know I am very grateful to her for her hard work, love and education to my life. Shout out to all you Director of Operations!


If you ever visit, you should definitely go check out this restaurant. It's worth it.

Peace. Love. Good Food & Good People.

Musing My Plush Palette :: Eat Like a Local : Outragous Chocolate Cake!

If you are not a chocolate lover let me warn you now that this post make no sense. This post is about my favourite slice of cake, now that's a layers of Chocolate Fudge Cake, a layers of Fudgey Brownies a layer of cheese cake, another layer of Fudgey Brownies and topped off with another layer of Chocolate Fudge Cake, all together.

Surely, it has well earned the name outrageous right? 

This is my very favourite chocoholic sweet indulgence on the island and I know I am not alone. If you visit and you have not had this. You have not lived!

More from my Eat Like A Local Series
+ 7 Ways to Eat Like A Local

Peace. Love. Chocolate.

Eat Like a Local | Christmas Edition - Sorrel

This is the dark sorrel, not the common bright red one but this is the only batch we have at home right now for me to photograph. I'll hook you up as the season goes on! Also sorry it's blurry, busy with a final paper over here.

Are you wondering where the none Christmas edition is? Well it's still in draft don't judge me I'm a student. Check for the series next year. Meanwhile my plush palette tag should take you to all food related posts.

So what's the big hub bub? I have mentioned that I am very much looking forward to Christmas food treats on my island. I'm only going to list 5 in all today.

Sorrel: Sorrel is the sepal of the Roselle plant. Think those green usually tougher bits right at the base of the flower that seem to hold it up.

This is one of my absolute favourite Christmas treats because it's so rare (it takes about six months to grow!) so people usually plant it to be ready around Christmas time, making it have an extra special air about its exorbitance. Also the fact that it's picked from a plant and then delivered to our stomachs after such a simple preparation process? It falls into bracket of what I like to call natures candy. Plus don't they look freaky? I love that! They always remind me of tiny flowers or claws. Love it!

How to make Sorrel:

Pick or buy your white/dark/bright red sepals.

Make a small slit in the sepal and remove the little round seed at the middle if there is one. If you bought it it's likely not there, if you picked it it probably is. Remove them, they're not going into your drink.

Fill your container with water. I'd say one cup of sorrel to  three cups of water. However usually you make this in much larger quantities so just pour your sorrel/sepal into a pot and make sure its covered by the amount of water you add to this pot.

Add bay leaf, clove and cinnamon for added flavour.

Allow to boil for 10-30 minutes or until the water turns a rich bright red.

Empty the water into a large mug or container and allow to cool. This liquid is what you will be drinking, not the sepals themselves; those you'll be throwing away.

Your sorrel/sepals will be well wilted now but you can likely get another brew out of it, only with half the amount of water you put the first time. If you're not confident then skip this step, though I wouldn't

Add sugar to taste.

 

Chill and serve.

There you go now you have sorrel! In essence it's much like brewing tea. You can also add things like an essence of your choice or maybe even some mint (if I can get my hands on some mint leaves I'll be trying that this year!). This is my favourite seasonal drinking treat. Fun fact: it also comes in white but is very rare and just as delicious. Also, some people, not I because I'm not an alcohol enthusiast, like to spike theirs...alot.

Around here at Christmas time, you are sure to find the making of:

• Ginger Beer
• Punch-a-Creme (alcoholic beverage) 
• Coconut buns
• A boiled salted ham.

Now while I'd love to share a step by step post with you about just how we go about making these December deliciousness and it is more than likely I will at some point, I've still got a paper to finish. So for now I hope you've enjoyed a list of my Five Local Christmas Foods.

Peace. Love. Naturally Delicious.

7 Easy Ways to Eat Like A Local in my country

 Best Chocolate Chip Muffins - Sweet Traditions (expert customer service by the way)

Best BLT - Umbrellas (you know, if they decide to be nice to you that day)

Best Chocolate Milkshakes - Yum Yum Cafe

Best Bottled Coconut Water - Entrepreneur guy on the corner just as you
get into Grand Anse (ask anyone, they'll know)

Best Sorbet - Chelsea' (made with amazing local flavours like passionfruit!)

Best Self Serve FroYo - Spiceisland FroYo

Best Chocolate Cake - Sweet Traditions (ask for the outrageous chocolate cake and prepare yourself to be transported to a far away land)

Best Bagels - New York Bagels ( Yep, that's what the place is called)

This of course is all a matter of opinion. I will be doing a more in depth review of these places as time goes by. Plus I've got a few other places in mind so stay tuned :) I wish I had more pictures of their signs, which i do but I've been having a bit of trouble with my photos lately, forgive me. Expect and edit when I get it sorted.

What yummy hidden gems populate where you are from?

Peace.Love.Full Tummies.

Musing :: My Plush Palette : Summer Snacking

Fruit local names: wax apple, yellow watermelon, cilon mangos (my FAVORITE kind!) rock fig.

I'm not going to lie, being at home and being lazy to go get groceries has done good things for my diet this summer. I've been flirting with the idea of going vegetarian for about five years but because of personal life bits it hasn't work out that way thus far.

Which is okay really, i am learning to appreciate the present state of life as it is in the now until one can move to the place where one wants to be.

I have had so much yummy yummy yuuuuuuummy fruit and vegetables!

Musing :: My Plush Palette : Sippin' on Gin and Juice

I met up with a friend this week to have some lunch as we celebrated the fact that she was born. We had lunch at the little patio styled Italian restorant just outside of the city.
 

She had pasta and juice. I only had water, i really really just wanted a glass of wine but as i am battling a bit of a cold lately i held off because i wasn't sure how my body would feel about alcohol while sick. With every year we all change a little when i look closely at things...My friends and i, we've move from spending birthdays dancing about and chatting about the day's planned event all morning to a quick call from the work place when the boss isn't looking and a lumch date when we can get our schedules to match up!

Just months before we were well wishing each other through surgeries, the selling of a house or a pending graduation. Change is the only constant indeed. It is swift, unplanned and always surprising if you ask me...

I still thinking growing up is a carefully marketed trap but it is one we must all buy into eventually. I think the trick is not to rush it, to be thankful while whatever stage of life we are at is happening, recognising that in that moment we are steadily traveling through time.

Peace. Love. Matching Scehdules.

Musing :: My Plush Palette : Mother's Day Lunch Date

Happy Mother's Love Day!

This is the cake we visited grandmother with, cause she's been a mama to all of us at some point, a hard working mama who deserves to spend the rest of her days in rest, relaxation and obviously cake. Expertly decorated by my sister in law, aint it the awesome though?

For me mothers day means taking mama out to lunch, cause dammit she deserves nice things and once i can i intend to give them to her.

We had Beef Tortellini in Bolganese Souce with a sprinkle of creame cheese.

We took things pretty easy this year and spent the day ofcourse sipping wine and watching the sun go down with my aunt, mom, grandmother, neice and I. The sun went down late and the day was overcast all day. Which honestly, is my favorite

I had orange juice while she had passion fruit juice. Do you guys have passion fruit where you are? I don't remember if it's a caribbean thing.

I hope your sunday funday was swell.

Peace. Love. 2Pac Lyrics?

My Plush Palette :: Drinks

My friend from far away visited again this year. It was lovely seeing old faces and realising how much we have all changed for the better while we weren't looking... We went out to old places and tried new food. I had a 'Chocolate Martini' at The Owl, it was disgusting. Not a drinker though  i decided to give it a go, oh how i regreted that choice...yuck, definately need to trust my instincts better next time. Though i may have been more disappointment it didn't come in a cute martini glass. It can be awkward watching yourself and those around you truly step into adulthood one moment at a time.

When do did you notice you stepped into adulthood? 

Peace. Love. Conscious Thought?

My Plush Palette :: Mid Day Munchies

•  One Scoop Chocolate
• One Scoop Creme Brulee
• One Scoop Oh Yeeeeh!

Ah, sometimes it is so good to be alone!

 

(The table tops at this Cafe are made out of floor tile)

 

Hey everyone.

So my computer is down for the count. I'm talking by a new one out with the old down for the count.

I can't pretend i can worry about it now. It's finals week and i wont get a new PC till next year.

This Plush Palette is from a day in the week when i forced myself to leave the comfort of home in pursuit of a better place to study.

Who says you can't have ice cream while being a seriously serious studious studying student type? (Say that ten times fast) I'll have to see how i by pass though. I can't tell you how much i miss blogging. 

I've been so inspired lately...

I'll share more on that with you another yime though.

What's been inspiring you in the face of adversity lately? 

Peace. Love. Wish me luck on exams?

Musing My Plush Palette :: Your Mom

Went over to my friend's house recently. She is of Indian heritage so whenever i go over there i get to experience aspects of a culture i am not regularly exposed to. Midst the treasures of this experience is the getting to hear her mother use a creole that is not local,  visual stories of Indian wedding traditions and beats of chutney music notes in kitchens where the word curry means something very very specific.

Sometimes what i am introduced to isn't even new...sometimes its the same thing made of the same ingredients done a totally different way. Isn't that amazing? how the same scents that carried into my room from my mothers frying pan on a Sunday morning can be done and taste so different by someone elses mother down the street, carrying with it stories from different countries and cultures from different parts of the world?

i love it.

We had bakes (maybe I'll do a how to sometime let me know if you're interested to see how we do it here) and Tea on a veranda as the Sunset.

The next time i went back we had her mother's home made salmosas!

i love appreciating culture and embracing differences. How do you get to appreciate cultural diversity where you're from?

Peace. Love. Diversity