We knew of a lopinot fiesta for quite some time, but never attended the event. did not intend for this year to end with the same results, so we made the trod with the homie david from MARKET MOVERS to the land of parang and pastelle to see what such an event had to offer.
Turns out that the event has taken off. we were there early, so the crowds were more browsing the many food and craft booths strung around the perimeter of the recreational grounds and of course at the bar having a time. parang and dancing would follow later on. that’s when the grounds would be full they said.
But as you all know, that was of very little concern to us. dis is what we talkin bout! FOOD! it felt like people were making up for lost time after the wild meat ban. wild meat all over!!
We were also glad to see curry corn on a menu. FOR SALE!! at least now people would know we didn’t make it up like mad scientists. (WE’RE LOOKING RIGHT AT YOU MING!! HAHAHA!!)
but as we were saying, everywhere you looked, a ring stove was blazing away under an iron pot…
and meat marinating in fresh seasoning and spices filled the air. check out dis bowl of agouti. we decided to wait around to see it bubble.
level bayleaf. curry stew business.
real serious bout dey pot. and that is provision bubbling next to it.
real similar to the method we use when we liming. except we use oil to brown sugar for curry stew most times, even though we know yuh don’t need to.
cover with fig leaf. ole school ting. next lime we might have to get some though.
coconut milk and ting. now think about this happening by three, four, five tents in a row. place smelling like wow!
but we were really interested in the more lopinot-esk of dishes. some people in the village set up shop by their front gates. but some came down to the rec grounds and offered their treats.
tasty stuff. anywhere between $12 and $18 a pop. as tedious as these things are to make, we will pay that with ease. we tried some that were real traditional. seasoned with rocou, fresh herbs and spices and not much else. real pure and true to the meat.
then there were people like roxanne and her team fresh from their win in the People’s Development Pastelle Making Competition that happened in arima.
real serious bout dishing out them pastelles. beef, chicken, fish, soya, veggie and lamb.
we really stopped because of this contraption. a steamer system set up and managed by roxanne’s husband.
level steam in there!
and holding a decent amount too. available on charlotte street, port of spain we were told.
the result was a very worthy pastelle. firm, but moist. seasoned with all that good fresh seasoning and with the capers and other additions we’ve come to love in our christmas dozen.
and they also had paime for dessert. again, very successful. not much sweeter than the natural sweetness of the coconut and raisins in the mix. real light and tasty. this booth was the favorite for the day.
we could never visit lopinot without checking our lopinot family at CAFE MARIPOSA. they didn’t disappoint. they had some nice tortillas. a choice of spinach tortilla…
or cornmeal tortilla.
minced beef…
pulled pork…
all in all, a nice outing. and we didn’t even talk about the house to house parang session and all the other little things that came together to make it a grand time. strong possibility of returning next year.
