My magic birthday (turning 28 on the 28th of Dec) took place on the magical isle of Grenada, complete with family, food and a beautiful beach. What more could a girl ask for? Jason amazed a number of Grenadians by taking onto his shoulders the preparation of Grenada’s National dish Oildown. He even traded in a few favours for one of the coveted breadfruit from the tree behind GRENCODA. If you had seen Ms. Williams when she talked about those breadfruit prior to Christmas (it was rumoured that she counted them daily!), you would understand the lengths Jason went through to make an authentic Oildown for my birthday. He borrowed a pot from a friend of our neighbours, since ours was too small. He got all the spices and supplies and put it all together. I didn’t have to do a thing! (Though I helped with the dumplings) After everything was prepared we went to the Chocolate Factory in Hermitage, and then down to Bathway Beach where we built a fire and cooked our huge pot full of food! The word spread all the way down the beach that there were some crazy foreigners cooking Oildown at the end of the beach. We met up with someone Jason works with from the cocoa association who told us that he, too, had heard about it. Had he realized that it was us there he would have come by, but as it was he just stopped by our neighbours fire to see if there was any cow head left! There wasn’t. He did probably get some under the counter rum, which our friendly neighbours brought over for us to try. Think rum filled with berrys and herbs and marinated for a good length of time. Personally I liked it, but I’m sure it wasn’t everyone’s favourite flavour. It was a slightly cooler, overcast day but I think we all had a good time. Thanks Jason for all you did to make this a special day!
Walking to the north end of bathway. Nice black sand.
Al & I beside the road broken by Hurricane Ivan, still not rebuilt.
Al eating watermelon while waiting for the fire to get going so we can put on the pot.
Delicious Yellow Watermelon we bought from a roadside vender on the way down to Bathway.
4 Comments:
The yellow melon was an absolutely delicious appetizer! and I'm so glad we got to enjoy the calloloo and bluggoe as well as the breadfruit and multitude of other ingredients that go into oildown ... a lifetime memory ... and a great birthday celebration for a very special person! Blessings for every day of the year, Love, Marg
Happy Belated Birthday!!
Glad it was so great - and that really sounds like an interesting meal.
I'm so glad that your family was there to help celebrate - I'm sure that made it all the more special.
~~
Kd
I had some of that smoooooth Greneda chocolate yesterday. I was intrigued by the interesting flavour I experienced right at the end. It was surprising and I still can't quite identify what it tasted like. I love it!
Lori
Lori,
The Grenadians would call that final flavour as maybe a bit fruity. It is what distinguishes bulk cocoa (the majority of the cocoa grown) from fine flavour cocoa grown in Grenada. We are glad that you enjoyed it.
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