分类： entertainment

The sixth annual Parang With Rome festival has solidified its position as a cornerstone of Trinidad and Tobago’s Christmas celebrations, drawing over 3,000 attendees to Cipriani Labour College on December 20 for an electrifying night of cultural music and festive traditions.

Headlined by artist Itz Rome and powered by Karma the Band, the event showcased exceptional performances from parang royalty including Eddie Charles, Crazy, Marcia Miranda, and Los Alumnos de San Juan. The evening reached a poignant milestone when Alicia Jagessar of Los Alumnos de San Juan received the Parang With Rome Lifetime Achievement Award, honoring her decades of contributions to preserving and advancing the parang genre.

The cultural experience was elevated through surprise appearances by soca superstars Nailah Blackman, Blakka Dan, Ravi B, Alison Hinds, and Iwer George, creating an innovative fusion of parang and soca that bridged generational divides and united music enthusiasts across age groups.

Beyond the musical performances, patrons enjoyed an immersive Christmas food village featuring local seasonal delicacies, completing an authentic Trinidadian holiday experience. Event organizer Rome emphasized the festival’s mission: ‘Parang With Rome is about keeping parang alive and giving people a true Trini Christmas experience. It’s about preserving our culture, celebrating the season, and bringing generations together through music.’

The event generated substantial social media engagement and enthusiastic crowd participation, demonstrating its growing cultural significance. With its continued expansion and profound impact on cultural preservation, the festival’s sixth installment has established new benchmarks for future Christmas celebrations in Trinidad and Tobago.

As the calendar prepares to turn to 2026, culinary enthusiasts are presented with the perfect opportunity to welcome the new year with an exquisite seafood brunch that celebrates Caribbean culinary traditions. Food expert Wendy Rahamut presents an array of sophisticated yet accessible dishes that transform locally sourced ingredients into memorable gastronomic experiences.

The centerpiece of this culinary celebration features a salt cod and potato casserole, a reinterpretation of Caribbean salted fish that combines flaky cod with tender potatoes in a creamy, herb-infused sauce. For elevated appetizers, individual shrimp thermidors make a remarkable comeback with their luxurious Parmesan gratin topping, while spicy crab fritters offer a crispy, flavorful bite that awakens the palate.

The menu diversity continues with a Caribbean seafood quiche that beautifully incorporates local shrimp, fresh herbs, and creamy egg custard within a flaky pre-baked crust. Each dish demonstrates how traditional techniques can be adapted for contemporary celebrations while maintaining authentic flavor profiles.

Critical to the success of these dishes is proper technique: the shrimp thermidor requires careful temperature control to prevent curdling while achieving perfect gratinization, while the salt cod casserole demands precise soaking and preparation of the salted fish to balance flavors. The crab fritters offer flexibility with both frying and baking options, accommodating different dietary preferences.

All ingredients highlighted in these recipes are readily available within local markets, allowing home cooks to source fresh components while supporting regional producers. The comprehensive recipes provide detailed measurements, step-by-step instructions, and alternative preparation methods to ensure successful execution for cooks of varying experience levels.

This culinary approach not only creates an impressive New Year’s spread but also honors Caribbean food heritage through modern interpretations that maintain cultural authenticity while appealing to contemporary tastes. The combination of textures, flavors, and visual presentation makes this seafood brunch an ideal way to commence 2026 with culinary sophistication and cultural appreciation.

The culinary world turned its attention to Caribbean gastronomic excellence as Best Dressed Plate unveiled its honorees for the highly anticipated 2025 Caribbean Culinary Impact Awards. Now in its second edition, the awards program has significantly expanded its reach, recognizing outstanding achievements across four distinct regions: the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the Caribbean itself, through six competitive categories.

Founder Nneka Nurse, who also serves as Academy Chair for The World’s 50 Best Restaurants, revealed the strategic thinking behind this year’s expanded format. “The introduction of regional honorees acknowledges the substantial influence and numerical strength of the Caribbean diaspora in these critical markets,” Nurse explained. “This approach highlights the undeniable global reach of our cuisine while celebrating its diverse expressions across different cultural contexts.”

The awards ceremony introduced two special recognitions this year: the Sylvia Hunt Lifetime Achievement Award and the Best Culinary Destination Award. The inaugural Sylvia Hunt honor was presented to Chris DeLarosa of Caribbean Pot, a Trinidad-born culinary pioneer based in Canada. DeLarosa received recognition for his decade-long mission to democratize Caribbean cooking for global digital audiences. Meanwhile, the Grenada Tourism Authority captured the Best Caribbean Culinary Destination award, celebrated for successfully positioning the ‘Spice Isle’ as a premier gastronomic tourism destination.

Jamaican culinary talent demonstrated remarkable dominance across all regions, securing twelve recognitions and underscoring the island’s significant culinary export influence. Trinidad and Tobago and Barbados also delivered strong performances, reinforcing their status as culinary leaders within both the region and diaspora communities.

Nurse emphasized the organization’s commitment to elevating Caribbean cuisine and its practitioners: “Best Dressed Plate is dedicated to honoring the men and women who not only preserve our history, legacy, and identity through their craft but also continuously innovate to position our cuisine at a global level. These awards celebrate our hardworking, innovative chefs and kitchen professionals across the Caribbean and diaspora. The moment for Caribbean cuisine has arrived, and through these awards, we aim to inspire our people while guiding global appreciation for our culinary traditions.”

The complete list of honorees showcases the rich diversity of Caribbean culinary talent, with winners representing multiple islands and categories including Trailblazing Chef of the Year, Rising Star Chef, Best Restaurant, Excellence in Culinary Entrepreneurship, Outstanding Food Content Creator, and Best Food Truck/Pop-Up Vendor across all four recognized regions.

Trinidad and Tobago-based designer Kerby Young, originally from Guyana, achieved a remarkable cultural synthesis at Swahili Fashion Week 2025, emerging as a standout advocate for sustainable fashion practices. The prestigious event, celebrating its 18th anniversary this December in Dar Es Salaam, served as a global platform for innovative designers who prioritize environmental consciousness alongside creative expression.

Young made history last year as the first Caribbean designer featured at this acclaimed fashion gathering. His return in 2025 proved even more impactful with ‘The Journey’ collection—a deeply personal narrative exploring his evolution from Guyanese roots to his established presence in Trinidad and Tobago through his brand, Kerby Young Designs (KYD).

The collection drew inspiration from Santorini’s iconic color palette, featuring deep Mediterranean blues evoking tranquil waters, crisp whites reminiscent of Grecian architecture, vibrant greens mirroring lush island foliage, and rich reds symbolizing the flowers adorning Santorini’s stone structures. Beyond color, Young incorporated traditional artisan techniques including intricate tie-dyeing, sophisticated fabric manipulation, and collaborative handcrafted crochet elements through partnership with Crochet Peace.

Each garment became a testament to cultural fusion as models moved to the rhythm of African drums accompanied by the soulful vocals of Ella Andall and the late Devon Matthews’ ‘D Journey’. The finale, set to Square One’s ‘Lala’, transformed the show into an interactive celebration that had the audience clapping along—not merely observing fashion but participating in a story of resilience and self-belief.

The commercial response was immediate, with half the collection finding new homes in Africa. Young plans to produce additional pieces upon returning to Trinidad, though certain signature designs will remain exclusive to their Tanzanian debut.

Reflecting on the experience, Young shared: ‘This is one I will carry with me forever. It stands as testament to never abandoning your dreams. I’m profoundly grateful for Tanzania’s warm welcome and the unwavering support from my Caribbean and Guyanese heritage.’

The growing momentum continues with expanding social media engagement and a successful pop-up shop accompanying his showcase. Swahili Fashion Week’s commitment to sustainability provided the ideal environment for Young’s vision, creating what the designer described as ‘a wonderful bridge of cultures’ that he anticipates crossing again in future collaborations.

Electronic dance music collective Major Lazer has unveiled a groundbreaking collaboration with Trinidadian soca icon Bunji Garlin and emerging UK-Jamaican artist America Foster. Their new single “Goat” represents a significant musical fusion, blending high-energy bouyon rhythms with electronic dance elements. This release forms part of Major Lazer’s nine-track album “Gyalgebra,” marking the group’s first comprehensive project release in half a decade, now available across major streaming platforms.

The track showcases bouyon’s distinctive characteristics—a dynamic genre originating from Dominica that combines traditional folk elements with contemporary digital beats. This musical style has gained substantial traction throughout the Caribbean region, with notable artists including Machel Montano, Skillibeng, and Mr Killa incorporating bouyon influences into their recent works. Billboard magazine previously highlighted the genre’s expanding influence in a June feature, recognizing its growing international appeal.

Accompanying the main release is the “Goat (Bouyon Mixes)” EP, available through band member Diplo’s Mad Decent label. The EP features innovative remixes by Trinidadian production team Precision Productions, led by Kacey Phillips, and Dominican music producer Dadamanufakture. These reinterpretations emphasize bouyon’s syncopated rhythms and high-energy soundscapes that originated in the Windward Islands before achieving regional prominence.

The original single masterfully combines power soca’s rapid tempo, bouyon’s intricate drum patterns, and big-room EDM’s synthesizer elements, creating an anthem designed for carnival celebrations and festival environments. Barbadian DJ Puffy’s livestream preview of the remixes generated significant demand from fellow DJs, indicating strong industry reception.

This collaboration continues Major Lazer’s tradition of Caribbean engagement, following their 2013 remix of Bunji Garlin’s “Differentology.” The “Gyalgebra” project showcases emerging Caribbean musical movements, including Trinidad’s zess music and Martinique’s shatta dancehall, while introducing America Foster as Major Lazer’s new featured vocalist.

Electronic music powerhouse Major Lazer has unveiled a vibrant Caribbean collaboration with Trinidadian soca icon Bunji Garlin and UK-Jamaican vocalist America Foster. Their new single “Goat” represents a significant cultural fusion, blending explosive bouyon rhythms with electronic dance music elements.

The track serves as a standout feature on Major Lazer’s recently released nine-track album “Gyalgebra,” marking the collective’s first comprehensive project in five years. This release signifies a strategic return to their roots in Caribbean music exploration.

Musically, “Goat” presents an innovative synthesis of power soca’s rapid tempo, bouyon’s intricate drum patterns, and expansive EDM synth elements. The production incorporates the distinctive bouyon sound—a high-energy genre originating from Dominica that combines traditional folk elements with contemporary digital beats. This musical style has gained substantial regional traction, with artists like Machel Montano, Skillibeng, and Mr Killa previously experimenting with the format.

The accompanying “Goat (Bouyon Mixes)” EP, available through Diplo’s Mad Decent label, features reinterpretations by Trinidadian production team Precision Productions and Dominican producer Dadamanufakture. These remixes emphasize the bouyon elements even more prominently, highlighting the genre’s syncopated rhythms that have emerged from the Windward Islands to become a dominant force in contemporary Caribbean music.

Early reception has been overwhelmingly positive, with Barbadian DJ Puffy’s livestream preview generating significant demand from fellow DJs across the region. The single is anticipated to become a carnival season staple, with its anthemic chorus and infectious energy designed for maximum dancefloor impact.

This release continues Major Lazer’s legacy of Caribbean collaborations, following their 2013 remix of Bunji Garlin’s “Differentology.” The “Gyalgebra” project overall showcases emerging Caribbean sounds including Trinidad’s zess music and Martinique’s shatta dancehall, positioning America Foster as a compelling new voice in the electronic and Caribbean music fusion scene.