Flavourama: good food, crafts in St James

This Friday, at the Flavourama Gastronomic-Cultural Festival in St James, entrepreneurs from ten countries will show their traditional foods and crafts for two days in an open-air space on Barbados Road, near Long Circular Road.

Organisers Milena Rodríguez, Crystal John and Alistair Beadle told Newsday the grand opening will be on Friday at 3 pm. It will run until 9 pm that day and on Saturday.

The fair will have 30 producers, from Jamaica, Japan, Guyana, Venezuela, Italy, Saudi Arabia, India, China, South Africa and TT.

Rodríguez (Venezuelan), Beadle (Jamaican) and John (Trinidadian), explained that the idea was born from the gastronomic samples that people have been doing through social networks to promote their products.

Rodríguez said: “We saw many publications on the internet, we met many Latino and Trinidadian producers and since then we got the idea of ​​the project in order to provide the opportunity to unify entrepreneurs in the same space and offer the whole community in general the variety of gastronomy and art.

“The project began to take shape when we talked little by little with the producers, presenting the proposal. They were all motivated from the beginning and showed their support, adding to this great opportunity.”

The aim is to offer a wide range of diverse flavours and quality culinary art with an international touch in a comfortable garden setting right in the centre of Port of Spain.

The organisers want to establish it permanently.

“We seek to become an integral part of the beating heart of the city, where the community at large can bring their families to enjoy true global food, the variety we will have on offer, art and music,” said Beadle.

The 30 producers will be grouped in spacious tents, complying with public health measures. The fair will have comfortable seats, tables, lighting, background music, public restrooms, security personnel, and safe and free parking for visitors.

John said: “Flavourama is the participation and unification of all entrepreneurs in gastronomy and art from different countries that are producing from their small spaces here. Now with this opportunity to be in the same place they will strengthen the work for the social and economic contribution to this country, showing their talent with the intention of being visible, recognised and above all valued."

For further info or for entrepreneurs to join in visit FlavouramaTT on Instagram and Facebook or call 396-7975 (Spanish) and 352-0037 (English).