Mondello: No Trini Christmas food yet

IF you happen to see new US Ambassador to TT Joseph Mondello at an event this Christmas, please do ensure he has a glass of sorrel, a slice of black cake or a beef pastelle.

Mondello, speaking with Newsday after a ribbon-cutting ceremony to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights at St Finbar’s RC Church, Diego Martin, said he is yet to try any traditional local Christmas food but has received a warm reception.

“It has been going well. The people are very friendly, very welcoming, very nice. I am enjoying it, I really am.”

Mondello said the local food has been a little bit of adjustment to what he is used to, but he has enjoyed it. He added, however, that he has not had any Christmas food as yet.

“Nothing yet. I haven’t had any of it. I have a couple of parties coming up, maybe they will have some of that at the party.”

He described his first Trini Christmas as “excellent” and what has made the experience is that people are very nice and he is being treated very well.

“I miss my family a little bit, my children and my grandchildren. But I have a daughter who is a school teacher who will be joining me on the 23rd and she is going to be staying here with my wife and I am happy for that.”

Mondello said his wife was always very active back in the US and there has been a little lull since she has been in TT.

“She is going to get herself involved in various projects. But we’ve only been here two months and we are still getting our feet wet.”

Mondello, an 80-year-old politician, attorney and university professor, presented his credentials to President Paula-Mae Weekes on October 22. The last US ambassador to TT was John Estrada, who was born in this country before migrating to the US, and he served from March 2016 to January 2017.