CNN Features Trinidad and Tobago Carnival 2011
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Showing posts with label Trinidad. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Trinidad. Show all posts
How the slogan - "A roti and a red Solo" was born
An interesting bit of our history.
Serjad Makmadeen was born in Princes Town in 1910 and was the last of the eight children of Makmadeen, an immigrant from the Punjab, and his wife Rosalin Jamaria who hailed from Martinique.
When Serjad was still quite young the family moved to Bellevue in St James, and he attended primary school up to the age of ten. After this, economic circumstances forced him to leave school and he secured employment as "the gardener" at the large property known as Ellerslie in Maraval.
Joseph worked long hours to develop his business, beginning at 4 o'clock in the morning and sometimes leaving the factory at 11 o'clock in the evening. He now hired salesmen to sell his products and made sure that they left the factory at 4 a.m. so as to be the first to get to the customers.
Despite his limited formal education, he ensured that he knew how the plant operated and single handedly modified his factory so that it produced 144 bottles per minute. At this time he introduced four new flavours: Cola, Grape, Cream Soda and Orange; added a shift system and increased his staff to 65 people.
By 1958, the White Street plant became too small for Solo to service its customers efficiently and Joseph Charles was able to secure a loan from the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce for $1.8 million and in January 1960 constructed a new state of the art factory in San Juan on the Churchill Roosevelt Highway. The new plant and machinery were purchased from the United States and were fully automated. In 1962 he introduced the still widely popular SOLO APPLE J.
Joseph Charles died in 1965 and is succeeded by his youngest son Kenneth and his family who now own and operate the company. Like his father before him, Ken has continued to buy new technology to increase efficiency and productivity of the factory and it is now a fully computerised plant.
Joseph Charles Bottling Works is a popular and well liked company. It is involved in many community activities and sponsors the steelband Solo Pan Knights as well as table tennis and badminton competitions. It supports power boat racing, and "Mr Solo" is a regular and popular champion. The highest accolade for any brand is affectionate reference to it in popular culture.
The Joseph Charles company has achieved this with two of its brands, "DOUBLES AND APPLE J" sung in calypso, and its slogan "A ROTI AND A RED SOLO" included in a rap.
When Miss Universe, Trinidadian Wendy Fitzwilliam said publicly that she missed her "ROTI AND RED SOLO", she confirmed that the company first founded by Joseph Charles had truly entered the Caribbean heart. Joseph Charles was a good family man and imparted sound values to his children. He was self-taught, read a lot and mastered the mechanical workings of his plant. He was a man of integrity and charity - always helping the poor in many ways, and sponsoring dinners for them at regular intervals. He looked after his employees, often providing houses for many. He shunned publicity and was a most humble person.
The Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Industry and Commerce is indeed honoured to induct Mr Joseph Charles into the Business Hall of Fame.
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Serjad Makmadeen was born in Princes Town in 1910 and was the last of the eight children of Makmadeen, an immigrant from the Punjab, and his wife Rosalin Jamaria who hailed from Martinique.
When Serjad was still quite young the family moved to Bellevue in St James, and he attended primary school up to the age of ten. After this, economic circumstances forced him to leave school and he secured employment as "the gardener" at the large property known as Ellerslie in Maraval.
Life for young Serjad Makmadeen was extremely difficult. Poverty stalked his existence. Each morning he rose early and after his meagre breakfast of a cup of "cocoa tea" he walked across Long Circular Road to start the day's work with only a short break for lunch, which he had prepared and brought with him.
Serjad worked as a gardener until he was 13, when he got a job as a baker's apprentice at the MI Bakery on Charlotte Street, in Port of Spain. Soon he became involved in selling bread and cakes and would deliver his goods to customers on a bicycle. To develop a large clientele, Serjad gave an extra loaf to anyone who had purchased more than 12 loaves, paying for this extra loaf out of his own pocket. This allowed him to build up a substantial clientele in a short space of time and he soon became the bakery's top salesman.
Having come from a situation of poverty, Serjad was determined to make a better way of life for himself. He saved his small salary and began to look for opportunities of self-improvement.
In the 1930's, whilst still working at the bakery, he learnt that one Mrs Bajnath had a small soft drink plant for sale in St James. Having accumulated $350, Serjad borrowed $250 from his friend Nagib Elias, and bought Mrs Bajnath's soft drink plant. It was around this time that he got married to Khairoon Khan, who worked with her husband in running the plant. Everything was done manually: She washed the bottles, boiled the syrup and hand filled the bottles, also adding the carbonated water and capping the bottles.
The plant produced one bottle of soft drink per minute. Using old beer bottles, two flavours of soft drink were produced: Cola Champagne and Banana. Serjad would make one or two cases of soft drinks per day after he finished work at the bakery, which he would take with him on his rounds the next day. As he knew most of his customers well, he was able to convince them to buy his soft drinks.
The difficulty of an East Indian breaking into the soft drink business in a colonial society was evident from Serjad's following experience. When he first acquired the plant he wrote several times to various soft drink producers in England enquiring on how he could make improvements. He got no replies. It was evident by his name that he was not an Englishman but an East Indian so Serjad recognising this, changed his name to JOSEPH CHARLES, which quickly led to communication between himself and the hitherto silent producers.
Joseph Charles soon started to have a problem with the availability of bottles. His clientele was growing and he could not get enough bottles to satisfy the demand. Moreover, he did not have sufficient capital to buy new bottles. He read in a magazine that a soft drink factory in Montreal was closing down and its assets were up for sale. He realised that this would be the source of empty soft drink bottles, which he promptly bought and shipped to Trinidad. The bottles, however, had a brand name "SOLO" and a logo - a pilot drinking from a bottle of soft drink presumably after a solo flight - stamped on them.
Joseph made the expedient decision to keep the brand that has been maintained to this day, along with the distinctive heavy glass Solo bottles. This acquisition of the brand, which later gave birth to the popular catch phrase "A roti and a red Solo", was one of those happy accidents which is a combination of outside influences, business decision-making and sheer good luck.
After the Second World War and with demand for his soft drinks, Joseph bought an additional plant from the Dugar Brothers in British Guiana and went into the soft drink business as a full time occupation. He relocated his factory to the area under his house on Panka Lane, St James. This plant was an improvement on the old one and had the capacity to produce eight bottles per minute. By 1950, a new plant was set up at the corner of White Street and Tragarete Road opposite the Queen's Park Oval with new equipment imported from the United States. This plant produced 72 bottles of soft drink per minute.
During the decade of the 50s, Joseph Charles sought to consolidate his business. He was forever striving for consistency in flavours and paying particular attention to cleanliness and quality. At his new plant he now employed 20 workers including his two sons, Vernon and the younger Kenneth, who would go to the factory after school and at vacation time to assist and learn from their father.
Serjad worked as a gardener until he was 13, when he got a job as a baker's apprentice at the MI Bakery on Charlotte Street, in Port of Spain. Soon he became involved in selling bread and cakes and would deliver his goods to customers on a bicycle. To develop a large clientele, Serjad gave an extra loaf to anyone who had purchased more than 12 loaves, paying for this extra loaf out of his own pocket. This allowed him to build up a substantial clientele in a short space of time and he soon became the bakery's top salesman.
Having come from a situation of poverty, Serjad was determined to make a better way of life for himself. He saved his small salary and began to look for opportunities of self-improvement.
In the 1930's, whilst still working at the bakery, he learnt that one Mrs Bajnath had a small soft drink plant for sale in St James. Having accumulated $350, Serjad borrowed $250 from his friend Nagib Elias, and bought Mrs Bajnath's soft drink plant. It was around this time that he got married to Khairoon Khan, who worked with her husband in running the plant. Everything was done manually: She washed the bottles, boiled the syrup and hand filled the bottles, also adding the carbonated water and capping the bottles.
The plant produced one bottle of soft drink per minute. Using old beer bottles, two flavours of soft drink were produced: Cola Champagne and Banana. Serjad would make one or two cases of soft drinks per day after he finished work at the bakery, which he would take with him on his rounds the next day. As he knew most of his customers well, he was able to convince them to buy his soft drinks.
The difficulty of an East Indian breaking into the soft drink business in a colonial society was evident from Serjad's following experience. When he first acquired the plant he wrote several times to various soft drink producers in England enquiring on how he could make improvements. He got no replies. It was evident by his name that he was not an Englishman but an East Indian so Serjad recognising this, changed his name to JOSEPH CHARLES, which quickly led to communication between himself and the hitherto silent producers.
Joseph Charles soon started to have a problem with the availability of bottles. His clientele was growing and he could not get enough bottles to satisfy the demand. Moreover, he did not have sufficient capital to buy new bottles. He read in a magazine that a soft drink factory in Montreal was closing down and its assets were up for sale. He realised that this would be the source of empty soft drink bottles, which he promptly bought and shipped to Trinidad. The bottles, however, had a brand name "SOLO" and a logo - a pilot drinking from a bottle of soft drink presumably after a solo flight - stamped on them.
Joseph made the expedient decision to keep the brand that has been maintained to this day, along with the distinctive heavy glass Solo bottles. This acquisition of the brand, which later gave birth to the popular catch phrase "A roti and a red Solo", was one of those happy accidents which is a combination of outside influences, business decision-making and sheer good luck.
After the Second World War and with demand for his soft drinks, Joseph bought an additional plant from the Dugar Brothers in British Guiana and went into the soft drink business as a full time occupation. He relocated his factory to the area under his house on Panka Lane, St James. This plant was an improvement on the old one and had the capacity to produce eight bottles per minute. By 1950, a new plant was set up at the corner of White Street and Tragarete Road opposite the Queen's Park Oval with new equipment imported from the United States. This plant produced 72 bottles of soft drink per minute.
During the decade of the 50s, Joseph Charles sought to consolidate his business. He was forever striving for consistency in flavours and paying particular attention to cleanliness and quality. At his new plant he now employed 20 workers including his two sons, Vernon and the younger Kenneth, who would go to the factory after school and at vacation time to assist and learn from their father.
Joseph worked long hours to develop his business, beginning at 4 o'clock in the morning and sometimes leaving the factory at 11 o'clock in the evening. He now hired salesmen to sell his products and made sure that they left the factory at 4 a.m. so as to be the first to get to the customers.
Despite his limited formal education, he ensured that he knew how the plant operated and single handedly modified his factory so that it produced 144 bottles per minute. At this time he introduced four new flavours: Cola, Grape, Cream Soda and Orange; added a shift system and increased his staff to 65 people.
By 1958, the White Street plant became too small for Solo to service its customers efficiently and Joseph Charles was able to secure a loan from the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce for $1.8 million and in January 1960 constructed a new state of the art factory in San Juan on the Churchill Roosevelt Highway. The new plant and machinery were purchased from the United States and were fully automated. In 1962 he introduced the still widely popular SOLO APPLE J.
Joseph Charles died in 1965 and is succeeded by his youngest son Kenneth and his family who now own and operate the company. Like his father before him, Ken has continued to buy new technology to increase efficiency and productivity of the factory and it is now a fully computerised plant.
Joseph Charles Bottling Works is a popular and well liked company. It is involved in many community activities and sponsors the steelband Solo Pan Knights as well as table tennis and badminton competitions. It supports power boat racing, and "Mr Solo" is a regular and popular champion. The highest accolade for any brand is affectionate reference to it in popular culture.
The Joseph Charles company has achieved this with two of its brands, "DOUBLES AND APPLE J" sung in calypso, and its slogan "A ROTI AND A RED SOLO" included in a rap.
When Miss Universe, Trinidadian Wendy Fitzwilliam said publicly that she missed her "ROTI AND RED SOLO", she confirmed that the company first founded by Joseph Charles had truly entered the Caribbean heart. Joseph Charles was a good family man and imparted sound values to his children. He was self-taught, read a lot and mastered the mechanical workings of his plant. He was a man of integrity and charity - always helping the poor in many ways, and sponsoring dinners for them at regular intervals. He looked after his employees, often providing houses for many. He shunned publicity and was a most humble person.
The Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Industry and Commerce is indeed honoured to induct Mr Joseph Charles into the Business Hall of Fame.
.
Belmont
BELMONT TID-BITS....
The first President of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago was born on Myler St. Belmont.
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a bit of history.........
The first President of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago was born on Myler St. Belmont.
Belmont was the first suburb of Port of Spain.
The first six cents pirate taxi to grace the streets of Port of Spain in the mid-forties was from Belmont.
Belmont has more Churches, more schools and certainly more lanes than any other community in Trinidad and Tobago. On one street alone are three large modern schools, Providence Girls, Belmont Junior Secondary and Belmont Primary within a hundred yards of each other, and two Prep schools almost opposite each other. Then there is Belmont Boys RC and Belmont Intermediate Myler St., legend says, was named after the legendary stick fighter, MEYLER the invincible.
Belmont Hill, where the Hilton now stands, was the site of the first Government House uptown. The 41 acres originally belonged to Spanish settlers and in 1785 was the subject of a lawsuit. When the matter was finally resolved, the Government bought the hill for $1,920.00
Belmont was formerly a sugar estate and the city’s first suburb inhabited by freed blacks. There is no evidence of any form of town planning in its layout, as the streets were laid out after the area was settled.
Once known as Freetown, Lady Young Road (named after the wife of Mayor Sir J. W. Young) Governor of Trinidad from 1937 to 1942. During his term of office, sweeping changes were made in the labour movement as a result of the 1937 Riots.
Oxford Street: In about 1810, the British were busy renaming the streets of the City, and Oxford was to remind us of that pleasant University town in England.
Belmont landmarks include the L’Hospice, built for the aged in 1858 by an Italian bishop following a cholera outbreak, and the Belmont orphanage, now well over 100 years old.
Belmont Folklore includes the story of the Belmont Jackass which had gold teeth and walked around Belle Eau Road at night, and there was also the silk cotton tree at the corner of Belmont Circular and Queen’s Park East under which soucouyant limed at night.
In 1941 Governor Young tried to beautify the Belmont Hill by landscaping and expressed the hope that the hill would bloom with every flowering tree that is native to Trinidad.
Observatory Street: Named after the sugar estate Observatory which bordered the town. The estate itself deriving its name from the fact that it was cited on the hill overlooking the Town. The Spaniards had called it de San Antonio, with their penchant for the Saints.
Queens’ Park Savannah: This was formerly Paradise Sugar Estate. Purchased by the Cabildo in 1817 and renamed Queen’s park. The Peschier family who owned the estate reserved their burial rights and this has been preserved to this day.
Gloster lodge: The home of Henry Gloster who maintained an estate there. In 1826 he laid the foundation stone of the Hanover Weslyan Church.
Jerningham Avenue: Named after Sir H.E. H. Jerningham, Governor of Trinidad from 1897-1900. On January 1st. 1899 Tobago was united with Trinidad as a single colony and he became the joint colony's first Governor.
The late Sir Alan Reece, 'Mr. Public Service' was born in Belmont In 1906 and served in Public Service for 57 years.
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Three West Indians on Death Row.
Have a chuckle.....
Three West Indians on Death Row are waiting to be executed and they are asked what they wish to have for their last meal:
The Bajan responds, "Flying fish."
The warden serves him his Flying fish, and then escorts him to his
execution.
The Jamaican requests Jerk Pork.
The warden serves him his Jerk Pork, and then escorts him to his
execution.
The Trini requests a bag of plums.
"Plums???"
"Yes, plums."
The warden replies, "but them outa season!"
"So?" replies the Trini. "Ah go wait..."
Exciting Times for TV Viewers...
When was the last time you scrolled through the Television listings to see what's playing? The TV guide has a host of new shows, and it is so exciting, this season is just overflowing with amazing new offerings.
Something's definitely got to give in the Leader of the Opposition's Office, and we're just glued to the screen to see what happens and when...
- The Big Bang
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Here are some of the shows I just can't wait to see:
- 'How I met Yuh Mudder'
Starring Jack Warner and BBC Journalist Andrew Jennings
A trip across many continents, this show has received high reviews and promises to be spitting funny...
- Ace of Cakes (and Burgers, and Chicken & Chips, and roti, and anything else he find to eat oui...)
Starring Roodal Moonilal
This is a super-sized comedy and fun for the whole family
- Two & a Half Men...
Starring Patrick Manning, Keith Rowley and Colm Imbert
- Bizarre Foods
Starring Marlene McDonald
Join Marlene as she eats what even Roody won't
- Ancient Aliens
Starring Tim Gopeesingh, Suruj Rambachan & Winston Dookeran
Is there life on other planets? Who knows, but what if we could send this crazy trio to find out?
- Family Feud
Watch as Sadiq & Nizam Baksh go head to head with Subhas & Basdeo Panday for the title of Nemakerams to the Stars 2011
- Let's Make a Deal
Starring Anil Roberts and Rupert Griffith.
Can MP's be bought and sold for twenty dollars? Tune in and see the zany antics of these two that some say should be priceless
- House
Starring Wade Mark
When an unruly MP strays off topic, listen to the politest Speaker in history as he reprimands - "Please, please, Members, please, try and LINK your contributions please, and please continue, please."
- Cold Case
Starring John Sandy and Dwayne Gibbs
Even the simplest cases get moved to the back burner in quick time while the dynamic duo blaze a trail up Laventille Hill again and again and again and again...
- The Big Bang
Starring Anand Ramlogan and Herbert Volney
Everyone knows it's only a matter of time before one of these two lovable characters go off completely and the anticipation is almost too much to bear. Who will explode first, will it be Herbert or Anand? Who knows, but one thing's for certain, they are just too entertaining to miss.
- Curb your Enthusiasm
Starring Glenn Ramadhar Singh
Is it possible to have too much fun at a tragedy? Only lovable Glenn knows for sure, and regardless of the catastrophe, once he's around a good time will be had by all...
- Entourage
Starring Lindsey Gillette, Ganga Singh, Emmanuelle George and Carlos john.
They're not just along for the ride, no sirree, not this crew..
- Family Guy
Starring Chandresh Sharma
How many members of one family can get State and Government jobs before the people revolt? Join Chandresh as he tries to find out...
- The Mentalist
Starring Winston Peters
A traveling Gypsy discovers he has a special gift, the ability to confuse people with words. This show promises to be a real Carnival, maybe even two or three
- Fringe
Starring Therese Baptiste-Cornelis
Is she all there? Not even her therapist knows for sure. One thing is certain though, she is not timid to be silly in public and is very entertaining to watch.
I don't know about you, but at this rate I may have to get a second television just to keep up.
TV just keeps getting better and better, and I can't wait for the debut of the Fall line up - I hear it's even better...
Phillip Edward Alexander
Trini memories or hearsay?
The good old days, when murders, kidnappings and burglaries were anomalies.
We call these "THE GOOD OLD DAYS"
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Fast Food
I am always curious why KFC, Royal Castle and all of these other people call themselves "fast food" when you have to wait an hour for it. Not that you're waiting for preparation; it just takes forever to get it served.
I think they should call it fast PREPARED food, as it's often uncooked or halfway cooked. Definitely not served fast.
Instead, the title fast food in this country should be reserved only for the doubles man, and, of course, the nuts man.
Ask the nuts man for an order, and it's quickly and efficiently served.
Try it. Look for a nuts man and simply say "two salt". Watch as he snaps into action, dropping his nuts bag, fetching the unmarked paper satchel and delivering it with a polite greeting, "Blessed love bredren. Four dollars".
I've never experienced that in Japs. The line goes forever, and the service, as in every other store that perpetrates as fast food, the speed of the service is inversely proportional to the length of the line.
What does that mean? It means there's one of only two options:
Long line: They move fast, but you'll still take long, ‘cause you're all the way at the back.
Short line/no line: They move slow. I mean, is only one of you anyway. Why move fast? It's not as though they're keeping anyone else back. Only you, that solitary sod who dared to venture into the establishment in what we all know is a break (i.e. anytime there's no large crowd).
And now let us analyse the noble doubles man – the second of two, upstanding members of society. The first is the nuts man, and the second is the doubles man.
It's amazing that a doubles vendor can pull grease paper, two bara, put channa, mango, chadon beni (shadow benny), pepper and coconut, feeding twenty "eaters" and wrap for six other people who want it to go, satisfying everyone all in the space of an hour.
Now, while this doubles man/woman is doing this, they're monitoring how many you eat, what you're eating, and, of course, when you're finished. All you have to do is to stand and watch them once you're done with the last one, and another one comes. In the midst of this, they're also considering other important things:
If the bara "break up", you'll get a third bara in your doubles to make up for it.
.
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I think they should call it fast PREPARED food, as it's often uncooked or halfway cooked. Definitely not served fast.
Instead, the title fast food in this country should be reserved only for the doubles man, and, of course, the nuts man.
Ask the nuts man for an order, and it's quickly and efficiently served.
Try it. Look for a nuts man and simply say "two salt". Watch as he snaps into action, dropping his nuts bag, fetching the unmarked paper satchel and delivering it with a polite greeting, "Blessed love bredren. Four dollars".
I've never experienced that in Japs. The line goes forever, and the service, as in every other store that perpetrates as fast food, the speed of the service is inversely proportional to the length of the line.
What does that mean? It means there's one of only two options:
Long line: They move fast, but you'll still take long, ‘cause you're all the way at the back.
Short line/no line: They move slow. I mean, is only one of you anyway. Why move fast? It's not as though they're keeping anyone else back. Only you, that solitary sod who dared to venture into the establishment in what we all know is a break (i.e. anytime there's no large crowd).
And now let us analyse the noble doubles man – the second of two, upstanding members of society. The first is the nuts man, and the second is the doubles man.
It's amazing that a doubles vendor can pull grease paper, two bara, put channa, mango, chadon beni (shadow benny), pepper and coconut, feeding twenty "eaters" and wrap for six other people who want it to go, satisfying everyone all in the space of an hour.
Now, while this doubles man/woman is doing this, they're monitoring how many you eat, what you're eating, and, of course, when you're finished. All you have to do is to stand and watch them once you're done with the last one, and another one comes. In the midst of this, they're also considering other important things:
- Stock control.
- Quality control
If the bara "break up", you'll get a third bara in your doubles to make up for it.
.
Caribbean Nutrition
IN OUR quest for healthier eating choices, we are encouraged to eat foods with less fat and sodium, more fiber, more complex carbohydrates and lower in calories. The foods that are most promoted are usually the imported ones since more is known about them than about our local foods. We may therefore seek out whole grain cereals and breads, fruits such as the American apple, plum and grapes and vegetables such as broccoli and cauliflower. How do our local foods compare?
Who has not heard the adage, 'an apple a day keeps the doctor away'? This is probably because the American apple has fiber to facilitate gut health and rid the body of waste. But do you know that one guava fruit has four (4) times the amount of fiber, slightly more potassium and nineteen (19) times the amount of vitamin C as an American apple? In comparison to a whole bunch of grapes, one (1) guava has twenty five (25) times more vitamin C, four (4) times more fiber and about the same potassium.Likewise, it would take fifteen (15) American apples to supply the vitamin C content of only one (1) West Indian cherry.
Cranberry juice has become very popular because of its benefits to bladder health. But have you thought that similar benefits could be had from coconut water at less than half the calories and with appreciably more potassium? A glass of cranberry juice will provide about 150 - 200 calories while the same glass of coconut water contains only 50 calories while giving 400mg potassium compared to the 60mg for cranberry juice.
For those concerned about the sodium content of coconut water, be assured that a single glass will provide only 60mg sodium compared to the 700 mg in V8 canned vegetable juice. Also, be assured that the coconut water has no fat. The fat of the coconut resides in the jelly and will thus be found in coconut milk, but there is no cholesterol since the coconut is of plant origin and cholesterol is found only in foods of animal origin.
This means that butter will have cholesterol but coconut milk, like the vegetable margarines is free of cholesterol. Moreover, the traditional way of cooking with coconut milk for flavor is better that using margarine which is often substituted in porridge, rice and peas and soups. A tablespoon of coconut milk has only 38 calories and 4g fat compared to 111 calories in the same amount of margarine and 11.5 g fat.
Also, the fat in coconut is healthier for the body than margarine fats. Two other sources of fat that are often mislabeled are the Jamaican ackee and the Avocado pear. Neither has any cholesterol and the fat is monounsaturated - the same type of fat that we pay so much for in the olive oil.
Admittedly, broccoli, cauliflower and brussel sprouts, like other vegetables will provide vitamin C, minerals, flavonoids and other phytochemical but they are no match for our local callaloo (amaranth) in terms of calcium, iron or vitamin A. Callaloo has more than four times the calcium, two or more times the iron with more than twice the vitamin A as the American vegetables. The whole grain cereals are indeed a good source of fiber but calorie for calorie our provisions are equally beneficial.
The Irish potato, brown rice and whole kernel corn provide the least fiber per serving. Those of better value are whole wheat bread, green banana and sweet potato providing 1.5 g per serving of about 70 calories. Richer still is rolled oats at 1.96g but topping the list, you guessed it, our local breadfruit at 2.45 for a serving of two(2) slices.
So next time you reach for the foreign goods on the shelf, don't forget our local products are the best.
.
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Who has not heard the adage, 'an apple a day keeps the doctor away'? This is probably because the American apple has fiber to facilitate gut health and rid the body of waste. But do you know that one guava fruit has four (4) times the amount of fiber, slightly more potassium and nineteen (19) times the amount of vitamin C as an American apple? In comparison to a whole bunch of grapes, one (1) guava has twenty five (25) times more vitamin C, four (4) times more fiber and about the same potassium.Likewise, it would take fifteen (15) American apples to supply the vitamin C content of only one (1) West Indian cherry.
Cranberry juice has become very popular because of its benefits to bladder health. But have you thought that similar benefits could be had from coconut water at less than half the calories and with appreciably more potassium? A glass of cranberry juice will provide about 150 - 200 calories while the same glass of coconut water contains only 50 calories while giving 400mg potassium compared to the 60mg for cranberry juice.
For those concerned about the sodium content of coconut water, be assured that a single glass will provide only 60mg sodium compared to the 700 mg in V8 canned vegetable juice. Also, be assured that the coconut water has no fat. The fat of the coconut resides in the jelly and will thus be found in coconut milk, but there is no cholesterol since the coconut is of plant origin and cholesterol is found only in foods of animal origin.
This means that butter will have cholesterol but coconut milk, like the vegetable margarines is free of cholesterol. Moreover, the traditional way of cooking with coconut milk for flavor is better that using margarine which is often substituted in porridge, rice and peas and soups. A tablespoon of coconut milk has only 38 calories and 4g fat compared to 111 calories in the same amount of margarine and 11.5 g fat.
Also, the fat in coconut is healthier for the body than margarine fats. Two other sources of fat that are often mislabeled are the Jamaican ackee and the Avocado pear. Neither has any cholesterol and the fat is monounsaturated - the same type of fat that we pay so much for in the olive oil.
Admittedly, broccoli, cauliflower and brussel sprouts, like other vegetables will provide vitamin C, minerals, flavonoids and other phytochemical but they are no match for our local callaloo (amaranth) in terms of calcium, iron or vitamin A. Callaloo has more than four times the calcium, two or more times the iron with more than twice the vitamin A as the American vegetables. The whole grain cereals are indeed a good source of fiber but calorie for calorie our provisions are equally beneficial.
The Irish potato, brown rice and whole kernel corn provide the least fiber per serving. Those of better value are whole wheat bread, green banana and sweet potato providing 1.5 g per serving of about 70 calories. Richer still is rolled oats at 1.96g but topping the list, you guessed it, our local breadfruit at 2.45 for a serving of two(2) slices.
So next time you reach for the foreign goods on the shelf, don't forget our local products are the best.
.
Trinis again
Gabriel came to the Lord and said:"Ah have to talk to you, yes. It have some Trinidadians up here in Heaven who causing real problems.
Dey swinging on the Pearly Gates, ...meh horn missing, ...'Oil-Down' all over dey robe; cow-heel, chicken foot and pigtail bones all over the Streets of Gold.
Some ah dem walkin around with one wing saying 'is ah style'. Dey late taking turn keeping de stairway to Heaven clean, it have ah setta watermelon seed all over the clouds and dem.
Dey only playing ah setta soca an dub, some ah dem protesting saying dat they entitled to public holidays and carnival. Some ah dem ent wearing dey halos, saying 'it doh fit with dey hairstyles".
The Lord said, "I made them special, as I did you, my angel. Heaven is home to all my children. If you really want to know about problems, let's call up the Devil.
The devil answered the phone: "Hello? Yes, Lord ..wha de mudda!!! ..... hole on a minute". The devil returned to the phone and said, " Yeah Lord, wha yuh want?"The Lord replied, "Tell me what kinds of problems you are having down there".
The devil said: "Ooohh... hole on... hole on, eh" and he put the Lord on hold.After 5 minutes he returned to the phone, and said: "Eh heh... wha'it is yuh ask meh jus now?"The Lord said: "What kinds of problems are you having down there?"
The devil said: "Buh wah de ....look, hole on" This time the devil was gone for 15 minutes.The devil returned and said: "Look man ah cyan talk to yuh right now nah ...Dem blasted Trinidadians and dem out de fire again, and dey installing air conditioning in meh place!!!
Shopping on Frederick Street 75 years ago and more
Looking north from lower Frederick Street, a cyclist stops to “ole talk” with two friends; and on the right three shoppers hurriedly cross over from the Salvatori corner.
In March 1895, two business blocks stretching from lower Chacon to lower Henry Street were completely destroyed by fire, as a consequence of which a new and much more handsome Frederick Street, designed by the well known Architect/Builder George Brown, arose.
These photos from the 1930s and before, show an almost completely different culture to what exists in downtown Port of Spain today. People dressed as decently as they could (notice the number of suits); today’s limers in fish-net vests and pants worn halfway down rear-ends would probably have been sent home or to jail as soon as they appeared on the street.
Some of the shops on Frederick Street of this era included Stephens Ltd., Davidson & Todd, J.T. Johnson, Canning & Co., The Bonanza – Smith Bothers later D. Hope Ross & Sons, Glendenning’s, Salvatori, Scott & Co. Ltd., Pereira & Co. Ltd., Millers, Hardware & Electric Supplies and W.C. Ross & Co.
Historical photos kindly provided by c Adrian Camps-Campins.
A gentleman in his cork hat secures his bicycle before going shopping.
In March 1895, two business blocks stretching from lower Chacon to lower Henry Street were completely destroyed by fire, as a consequence of which a new and much more handsome Frederick Street, designed by the well known Architect/Builder George Brown, arose.
These photos from the 1930s and before, show an almost completely different culture to what exists in downtown Port of Spain today. People dressed as decently as they could (notice the number of suits); today’s limers in fish-net vests and pants worn halfway down rear-ends would probably have been sent home or to jail as soon as they appeared on the street.
Some of the shops on Frederick Street of this era included Stephens Ltd., Davidson & Todd, J.T. Johnson, Canning & Co., The Bonanza – Smith Bothers later D. Hope Ross & Sons, Glendenning’s, Salvatori, Scott & Co. Ltd., Pereira & Co. Ltd., Millers, Hardware & Electric Supplies and W.C. Ross & Co.
Historical photos kindly provided by c Adrian Camps-Campins.
1 2 3
1. Mr & Mrs Lennox Hinkson (parents of well-known artist, Jackie Hinkson) window shopping in 1936.
2. Mrs. Juan Camps-Campins and her mother, Mrs. George Grell, passing Stephens en route to the Canning’s Car Park.
3. Artist Boscoe Holder and a friend walk briskly up Frederick St. in front of J.T. Johnson’s in the late 1930s.
2. Mrs. Juan Camps-Campins and her mother, Mrs. George Grell, passing Stephens en route to the Canning’s Car Park.
3. Artist Boscoe Holder and a friend walk briskly up Frederick St. in front of J.T. Johnson’s in the late 1930s.
TODD’S – pretty, substantial, light and airy ... and fire-proof, with the light filtering over the whole store through the blue glazing of the lantern roof.
The architecture of this large bazaar known as “THE BONANZA” with its plate glass front, wrought iron gallery and lantern roof, epitomized the style prevalent on Frederick Street at the turn of the 19th Century.
“Meet me under the clock of Stephens” was the favourite cry of generations of shoppers. Sadly this landmark was removed when Stephens ceased operations and the building was sold.
Lace sellers attend to customers on the pavement in front of Stephens.
A.A. WATERMAN “THE HATTER” Clothier and Outfitter of 15 Frederick Street.
A favourite watering-hole for shoppers was the Tea Room at Stephens (from which this photo was taken) providing a welcome respite from the busy street below.
Canning & Co., wholesale and retail grocers and provision merchants at the south-western corner of Frederick and Queen Streets.
Premier Druggists W.C. Ross & Co., at the north-western corner of Frederick and Queen Streets.
Wending its way northwards on Frederick Street, the old faithful tramcar passes “TODD’S” on the left.
View on Marine Square showing J.T. Johnson’s and Salvatori’s at the foot of Frederick Street.
The Colony’s favourite photographic shop – Pereira & Co. Ltd’s “KODAK CORNER” on the north-eastern corner of Frederick and Queen Streets.
A gentleman in his cork hat secures his bicycle before going shopping.
American-made cars predominate in this photo of Frederick Street in the early 1940s.
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