The Moreish Podcast: Caribbean History, Culture, and Cuisine

We'd love to hear from you! Why the Ground Lizard Doesn't Sleep in Trees Anymore - A St. Martin / Sint Maarten Story Hema and Kesha continue to delve into the fascinating, fun and informative folktales from the Caribbean. This week Kesha shares a story from St. Martin/St. Maarten that explains why ground lizards no longer sleep in trees. Through this short folk story, we learn about Sammy, the gro...

We'd love to hear from you! A Deep Dive into Caribbean Culinary History with Keshia Sakarah In this episode of The Moreish Podcast, host Hema chats with Keshia Sakarah, a self-taught chef, food writer, and educator of Montserratian and Barbudian descent. Based on topics raised in her first book Caribe A Caribbean Cookbook with History they explore the rich history of the Caribbean and its influenc...

We'd love to hear from you! Exploring Pataki Stories: The Tale of Obara and His Gift Continuing the Caribbean folklore series, Kesha Christie joins Hema on the podcast to dive into Pataki stories of the Afro-Cuban religion Santeria, focusing on the Orishas and their unique powers. 'The Gift’, told by Kesha, is the story of Obara, the once-poor Orisha and how he received his Ashe. The conversation...

We'd love to hear from you! Exploring Papiamentu: The Unique Language of Curaçao In this episode of The Moreish Podcast, Hema and guest Sheedia Jansen delve into the 300-year-old history of Papiamentu, the vibrant lingua franca of Curaçao. Sheedia, a Freedom Alchemist born and raised in Curaçao, explains how Papiamentu emerged from a blend of influences from West Africa, Portuguese, Dutch, Indigen...

We'd love to hear from you! Antiguan Folktales: Anansi's Wisdom and Lessons In this episode of The Moreish Podcast, Kesha Christie, a renowned storyteller and Ted Talk speaker, joins the show to explore the rich tapestry of Caribbean folktales, focusing on the iconic trickster hero, Anansi. This captivating Anansi story from Antigua & Barbuda has it’s origins in Ghana (Africa). Hema and Kesha...

We'd love to hear from you! Exploring the Rich Culinary Culture of Tobago In the second episode on Tobago, one half of the twin-island nation of Trinidad & Tobago, Hema and guest Devonne Adanna, a storyteller and Caribbean history enthusiast from Tobago, dive into the diverse culinary traditions of Tobago.  The discussion covers the historical influences on the islands' food, the distinction betwe...

We'd love to hear from you! In this episode host Hema and guest Devonne Adanna, a Caribbean history enthusiast, discuss the intricate historical backgrounds of Trinidad & Tobago, with a focus on Tobago. They delve into the impact of European colonization, the economic struggles Tobago faced post-slavery, and the distinct cultural evolution of both islands before they amalgamated to become one coun...

We'd love to hear from you! The Rich Tradition of Anansi Stories, Monkey Tales and Caribbean Folklore In this bonus episode, Hema and guest Kesha Christie explore the origins and rich tradition of Caribbean folklore and trickster tales. Starting with an Anansi story skillfully told by Kesha, they follow it up with a talk about the origins and roots, tracing it back to West Africa, specifically Gha...

We'd love to hear from you! Exploring Trinidad's Rich History and Cultural Blends In this episode of The Moreish Podcast, host Hema and guest Sunity Maharaj delve into the historical influences on Trinidad's food and culture. We chat the profound influence of diverse cultures on Trinidadian music, spirituality, and daily life, emphasizing the creativity and unique cultural fusion evident in the so...

We'd love to hear from you! Exploring the Rich History of Trinidad: From Indigenous Roots to Cultural Fusion This episode is the first of two parts with host Hema and guest Sunity Maharaj. They explore the history of Trinidad, uncovering the island's rich cultural tapestry. From the Indigenous people to the effects of European colonization, the relevance of understanding the island’s history is cr...

We'd love to hear from you! In this episode of The Moreish Podcast, Hema and Kesha, a Jamaican-Canadian storyteller, chat about the rich tradition of Caribbean folklore.  Kesha discusses the timeless relevance of folktales, the cultural significance embedded in them, and how they have evolved and intermixed across Caribbean countries. From trickster tales featuring Anansi to the eerie stories of L...

We'd love to hear from you! Discovering Curaçao's Food Culture with Sheedia In this episode of The Moreish Podcast Hema and Sheedia chat about the vibrant and diverse food culture of Curaçao. Following up on all we learned in the history of Curaçao episode, we dive into the Caribbean island's culinary influences from African, Dutch, and Indigenous cultures, and how the proximity to Venezula has in...

We'd love to hear from you! In this episode of The Moreish Podcast, Hema is joined by Sheedia Jansen, a Freedom Alchemist from Curaçao. Together they delve into the rich history and culture of the Caribbean island. Sheedia shares insights on Curaçao's colonial past, from its Indigenous Caquetio inhabitants to Spanish and Dutch rule, the TransAtlantic Slave Trade, and the influential contributions...

We'd love to hear from you! Diving into the History of Carnival in the Caribbean with David Bremang In this encore episode Hema revisits her chat with David Bremang about the rich and complex history of Carnival in the Caribbean. From the African origins, Carnival of the French colonized islands and Cedula population, and the rebellion that brought Carnival as we know it today, David shares the or...

We'd love to hear from you! A Year in Podcasting & Trinbagonian Talk with Devonne Adanna The final episode of 2024 is a fun, bonus episode filled with language and laughter. Hema reflects on the year-long journey of The Moreish Podcast, some highs and lows and gratitude. This episode is a bit of behind-the-scenes chats with storyteller Devonne Adanna, talking about Caribbean culture, the name of t...

We'd love to hear from you! Exploring Trinbagonian Christmas Recipes with Teri's Food Therapy In this special bonus Christmas episode, Hema chats with Teri from Teri's Food Therapy about Trinbagonian Christmas recipes.  Teri shares her journey as a self-taught cook, her love for sharing recipes through social media and e-cookbooks, and reminisces about traditional Trinidadian Christmas foods such...

We'd love to hear from you! In this heartfelt and lively episode of The Moreish Podcast, Hema chats with Chef Marissa Leon-John, a private chef from Montreal who brings her rich Caribbean roots from St. Lucia and St. Vincent into every dish she creates.  Marissa shares her exciting journey on MasterChef Canada, her unique experiences working as a guest chef in St. Lucia, and the joy of infusing tr...

Cuban Heritage and Identity: A Journey Back to Havana Imagine being the first person in your family to head back to your home country in over 60 years. The first to experience the culture and set aside everything you've heard for an an immersive experience, a chance to create memories and form your own opinions. Growing up as a Cuban-American-Canadian, Lisette Alvarez's journey to Havana, Cuba was...

We'd love to hear from you! Delving into Puerto Rican Culinary and Cultural Richness with Laura Ortiz In this episode of The Moreish Podcast, host Hema chats with Laura Ortiz, a historian and food & culture tour operator from Puerto Rico, to explore the island's rich culinary heritage and cultural traditions. The discussion highlights traditional dishes like mofongo, rice & beans, and roasted pork...

We'd love to hear from you! Unveiling Puerto Rico: A Deep Dive into Culture, History, and Identity In this episode of The Moreish Podcast, Hema chats with Laura Ortiz, an historian and tour operator from Sofrito Tours, for an enlightening discussion on Puerto Rico's rich history and vibrant culture. In this episode they dive into the Taino people's matrilineal society and their tragic decline due...

We'd love to hear from you! Hema, host of The Moreish Podcast, chats with Harry Alvarez about the history, culture and cuisine of the Dominican Republic. Harry, a Dominican-American and co-founder of Offbeat Travel ,  shares insights into the cultural influences in the Dominican Republic from the Indigenous Taino-Arawak, Spanish and African people, and how those influences show up in the food from...

Get ready for the launch of Season 2 of The Moreish Podcast. In this recap episode Hema revisits the key themes and highlights from Season 1. The podcast explores the intricate history of the Caribbean, examining how colonialism has shaped present-day culture and cuisine. We look back at key discussions including Keja Valens' insights on colonialism, the historical accounts of the Arawak and Carib...

In this episode of The Moreish Podcast, Hema chats with Tiara Jade Chutkhan, a writer and book blogger in the Canadian publishing industry. Tiara discusses her book series Two Times Removed: An Anthology of Indo-Caribbean Fiction , the motivation behind the book series, and her efforts to promote literature focused on the Indo-Caribbean heritage. The conversation touches on the balance of Indian r...

In this episode of The Moreish Podcast, Hema delves into the rich and complex history of Caribbean cuisine with Keja Valens, Professor of English at Salem State University and author of Culinary Colonialism, Caribbean Cookbooks, and Recipes for National Independence. They discuss creolization, the myth of cannibalism amongst the Caribbean Indigenous population, and the political and cultural signi...

In this episode of The Moreish Podcast, Hema and David Bremang delve into the rich history and cultural significance of Carnival in the Caribbean, David’s work with Caribana in Toronto and Caribbean music. From the Cedula of population in the French Caribbean islands, African traditions, and storytelling, David uncovers the layers to tell the story of Carnival starting in Trinidad and spreading ac...