TT stars in UK culinary TV series

TT’s food and locations will be in the spotlight on two episodes of ITV’s Ainsley’s Caribbean Kitchen, a UK-based culinary series. The episodes will air on February 3 and 10.

This international production is one of several that recently shot on location in TT, hiring local production crew and engaging a range of local service suppliers, CreativeTT said.

In November 2018, the UK's Blue Marlin Television, working together with local production company Imagine Media International, spent ten days (five in Trinidad and five in Tobago) shooting scenes for the two episodes. The Trinidad show (airing February 3 at 11.30 am) will feature master executive chef Debra Sardinha-Metivier as she takes chef Ainsley Harriott, star of the series, shopping in the Central Market, Port of Spain.

Tara Deolal, who readily agreed to a cook-a-long with Harriott in her home, showed him how to make dosti and sada roti. Harriott also prepared dishes from his local purchases on Tyrico beach, chatted with bake-and-shark queen Natalie on Maracas Bay, and visited the Sewdass Sadhu Shiv Mandir (Temple in the Sea) and the 85-foot tall Hanuman Murti, the largest such statue of the Hindu god outside of India.

In the Tobago episode (airing February 10 at 11.30 am), Harriott visited Charlotteville to buy fish, did a cook-a-long at the Blue Crab Restaurant, and prepared his version of local dishes on site at the Tropikist Hotel. The team also visited Nylon Pool and Pigeon Point.

Producer Claire Wilks of Blue Marlin was enthusiastic in her praise for TT’s culture and hard-working production crew, Creative TT said in a media release. She said, “Working with Lisa Wickham and Imagine Media TT on our latest series for ITV with chef Ainsley Harriott meant that our short time in TT was maximised. Lisa sorted out everything for us, from before we landed, all the way through to our last lunch of doubles! She made each moment on both islands so easy for us. This meant that we could focus on filming, knowing that Lisa and her team were working away in the background making sure everything was set up for us.”

Apart from this ITV series, Harriott is best known in the UK for his BBC series Can't Cook Won't Cook, Ready Steady Cook, and more than 12 best-selling books.

General manager of FilmTT Nneka Luke said, “ITV and Blue Marlin Television selected TT for Ainsley’s Caribbean Kitchen because of the unique value of our culture and cuisine, and the diversity of experience available here. The fact that each island was the focus of its own episode is a testament to the untapped gold of our daily lives that has the potential to capture the interest of international audiences. FilmTT continues to work with a growing network of public and private-sector partners to improve the ease of shooting in TT for both local and international productions.

Wickham, producer, president and CEO of Imagine Media International said, “These types of collaborations demonstrate what is possible when TT is identified as a film location and everything works like clockwork.

“FilmTT provided excellent facilitation, and our stakeholders such as Airports Authority, Ministry of Tourism, Port of Spain City Corporation and the TT Police Service responded to requests with urgency. I believe the British team would have had a seamless experience, which redounds to the benefit of the entire industry, as we look towards even more international productions investing in our location.”

Wilks expressed interest in returning to TT, “Filming in TT for the series showed us a different side to the Caribbean. We especially enjoyed filming in the Central Market, and at Maracas Bay and Tyrico Beach; it was just a shame that we couldn't stay longer to enjoy the sun and music.

"On Tobago, we enjoyed a trip out to Nylon Pool, and filmed at The Blue Crab Restaurant in Scarborough with the lovely Ken and Alison Sardinha. The people we met and filmed with in TT were so friendly and happy to help with our filming, we'd love to come back soon and explore more of the cuisine and culture of TT.”