Just had lunch @ the home of a new friend from Trinidad

[Jenise]

First she served me a 'tea' made with meat broth, cardamom and chiles finished with honey and coconut milk. Then she made a mixture of one flame-charred eggplant smooshed with three charred garlic cloves and one charred fresh habanero topped with thinly sliced onions flash-sautéed (warmed but still crunchy) in olive oil. This we scooped onto thick griddle bread. OH MY GOSH, how good!

40 years ago I spent 2 weeks in Trinidad. We spent most of our time in the mountains on the east side of the island at a place called Simla (http://asawright.org/conservation-educa ... iam-beebe/) where my brother-in-law was doing post-doctoral research on bats. He is now one of the world's leading authorities on bats. There are beautiful beaches on the north and east coasts, where they have stands that make very spicy grilled shark sandwiches. 40% of the population is of Indian descent and we also had some superb Indian food that was very cheap. It was a very memorable vacation, with snorkeling, visiting a bat cave, Pitch Lake and doing the night life in Port of Spain.

Wow, that sounds like a tasty and interesting lunch.

[Jenise]

Matilda, it was. And somehow I never typed the last line I meant to--that I was shocked that a whole habanero--including all the seeds--was tolerable (by me) against just one eggplant. Those peppers are so potent I would have thought it would have taken ten--or more!

[Jenise]

Howie, lucky you. I was reading more about Trinidad this morning--what an interesting melting pot. Yes, many Indians, as well as Chinese who came as indentured servants and stayed. My friend is in fact a descendant of both, with a little African and Portugese thrown in. She sent me home with a jar of her own homemade hot pepper sauce--Paul W. would be so jealous of this one. My god is it good--and HOT.

Who's yer Trinidaddy now?!?

[Jenise]

Who's yer Trinidaddy now?!?

As long as she doesn't serve me boiled iguana....

Who's yer Trinidaddy now?!?

As long as she doesn't serve me boiled iguana....

"You just haven't had a good one...."

[Jenise]

LOL, Jeff.

Speaking of Trinidad, do you know that they developed their own version of water buffalo that has exceptional meat (normally, water buffalo meat is tough and not sought after)? They call it 'Buffalypso'. I kid you not.

LOL, Jeff.

Speaking of Trinidad, do you know that they developed their own version of water buffalo that has exceptional meat (normally, water buffalo meat is tough and not sought after)? They call it 'Buffalypso'. I kid you not.

I did not know that. I assume it gives hot sauce instead of milk?

LOL, Jeff.

Speaking of Trinidad, do you know that they developed their own version of water buffalo that has exceptional meat (normally, water buffalo meat is tough and not sought after)? They call it 'Buffalypso'. I kid you not.

I did not know that. I assume it gives hot sauce instead of milk?

Or maybe spicy milk? Could make for some interesting mozzarella.