CDA to host "Spices, the Curry Festival" on Boardwalk

The Chaguaramas Boardwalk will be the venue for the CDA's inaugural "Spices, the Curry Festival", this Saturday from 2 pm to 8 pm.

Speaking about why it decided to host a curry festival, the Chaguaramas Development Authority (CDA) today said, "Recognising our country’s love for food and culture and as part of our corporate social responsibility, (we) came together with the idea of hosting, for the first time, this event in Trinidad and Tobago."

"The festival presents a platform for our local food entrepreneurs, showcasing their talent in creative curry dishes. There will also be great entertainment including D Mighty Trini, of course with his hot single Curry Tabanca as well as children’s entertainment."

The CDA also said that the event; admission to which is free, "is a celebration of all things curry". Dishes range from curry coconut ice cream to curry duck Alfredo, curry corn, curry ravioli and curry crab and dumpling.

These and other curried items will be sold in three village settings: the Asian Village; the Trinbago Village; and 'D' Creative Village. The latter is where you can try curry coconut ice cream while you'll have to visit the Trinbago Village to try food made by the winners of the 2017 Curry Duck, Caura Fest and Minister of Doubles Competitions.

Over in the Asian Village, dishes available for sample or sale will include naan, chicken tikka and Pad Thai.

The CDA said "$25 plate sized meals will be on sale to patrons from across the three villages. If, however, you wish to purchase a large amount, maybe to take home for the rest of the family or even for the next day’s lunch, the vendors will be able to accommodate that as well."

The CDA expressed thanks to everyone who partnered with it to make "Spices, the Curry Festival" a reality, including its board, management and staff, several CDA tenants, the Tourism Ministry and the Public Transport Service Corporation (PTSC).

Regarding concerns about the likelihood of traffic getting into and out of Chaguaramas, the CDA assured that it is "making every effort" to address this.

"The CDA’s Police Department has already teamed up with the TTPS and the TT Defence Force to manage the traffic situation. There will be outriders patrolling the roadways and CDA Police will be manning major traffic points. Of course, once you have reached at the Boardwalk, you don’t have to worry about your vehicles since there will be secured parking at CDA’s car parks."

However the CDA cautioned patrons attending the festival that parking will not be allowed on the roads’ verges.

For more information on the event, you can call (789-4301).