good luck deluxe

It’s been a while since I’ve done a “Let’s Visit” feature. Hey, you know how it is…
Life gets busy sometimes, folks.

So alrighty then, without further adieu, let’s hop on my private jet and head to Trinidad & Tobago!

You know my motto: FOOD FIRST!

I must show some serious love for my two favorite Trinidadian food bloggers:

1. Sarina, of TriniGourmet fame, will have your fat bellies rumbling with her delectable photographs of her exotic culinary delights. Whenever I head over to Sarina’s blog, I always learn something new about gourmet Trini fare. So if you’ve been itchin’ to discover and master a new cuisine, Sarina’s blog is your ticket!

2. “TriniFood,” from Can Cook, Must Cook, is a Trinidadian foodie who lives in London. To say she has a passion for good food of all kinds is an understatement! What I love about Can Cook, Must Cook is its abundance of culinary exploration. From the quite unusual Stargazy Pie to Pastelles, there is something for every palate at this blog.

And NOW…

It’s Trinidadian & Tobagonian cookbook time! Both of these island cooking Bibles have been rated five stars on Amazon!

For those who MUST have facts and figures about geographical locations, here is a quick blurb from Wikipedia on the geographical stats of Trinidad & Tobago:

The Republic of Trinidad and Tobago (IPA: [ˈtrɪnɪdad ɒnd təˈbego]) is an archipelagic state[1] in the southern Caribbean, lying northeast of the South American nation of Venezuela and south of Grenada in the Lesser Antilles. It also shares maritime boundaries with Barbados to the northeast and Guyana to the southeast. The country covers an area of 5,128 square kilometres (1,979 sq mi) and consists of two main islands, Trinidad and Tobago, and 21 smaller islands. Trinidad is the larger and more populous of the main islands; Tobago is much smaller, comprising about 6% of the total area and 4% of the population. The nation lies outside the hurricane belt.

Originally settled by Amerindians at least 7,000 years ago,[2] Trinidad and Tobago was occupied by Arawakan- and Caribbean-speaking peoples at the time of European contact in 1498. A history of slavery and indentureship has left the country with a mixture of African, Indian, European, Middle Eastern and Chinese people. All these groups have left an imprint on the national culture, and there is an increasingly high percentage of mixed-race people. Trinidad and Tobago became an independent nation (from the United Kingdom) in 1962 and a republic in 1976.

The lovely national flower, the Chaconia:

Officially Trinidadians or Tobagonians, the people from Trinidad and Tobago are often informally referred to as Trinbagonians or Trinis. Unlike most of the English-speaking Caribbean, Trinidad and Tobago is a primarily industrialised country whose economy is based on petroleum and petrochemicals. Trinidad and Tobago is famous for its pre-Lenten Carnival and as the birthplace of steelpan, calypso, and limbo.

Go to Get Trinidad to finish your education on these amazing islands.

Class is dismissed!

So where the heck are all of us going to sleep now that we’ve arrived? Decisions, decisions… Ooh, I know - let’s stay at Infinity Villa in Bacolet, Tobago!

With an on-call housekeeper, cook and gardener, you best believe we’re lodging here!

Here sugar, have a seat while I tell you all about these accommodations:

Infinity Villa is perched on top of a low cliff with uninterrupted views of the Atlantic Ocean, offering cooling sea breezes. Swim in the pool while watching the Frigate birds and Pelicans fly past, or sip on an evening drink enjoying the sounds of the sea.

Infinity is a four-bedroom, 4 1/2 bathroom villa consisting of two master suites with en-suite bathrooms and two large double bedrooms with en-suite bathrooms. All bedrooms are air-conditioned.

Wouldn’t you love to wake to this view each morning?

Dinner’s ready!

A small pool is located on the veranda, with steps on both sides allowing easy entry into the pool. The veranda runs the full length of the property and overlooks the sea…

Infinity Villa’s features include two BBQs, 5 TVs, a DVD player, ceiling fans, alfresco dining, washer/dryer, cable TV, air-conditioned bedrooms and a CD player/radio.

Need I say more? Yep - one final thing…

Check out Island Flave for even more classic Trini recipes!

I lucked out in finding an awesome Caribbean caterer in the British Virgin Islands (BVI) for your private jets and yachts: Blue Iguana Catering!

How it works, per their site…

IN-FLIGHT CATERING FOR PRIVATE PLANES AND JETS

We offer a wide variety of breakfast, lunch, and dinner items to suit all tastes. Blue Iguana Catering is more than happy to pick up any last minute items you and your guests may need, such as ice, magazines, papers, fresh flowers, etc. If it is on Tortola, we will find it. All of your gourmet items will be bulk packed to help save precious space. We’ll even wash your dirty dishes! Every effort will be made to fulfill any special requests. Substitutions may need to be made. Food is delivered directly to the plane. However, a 24-hour minimum notice is required.

Below is a brief sampling of the menu Blue Iguana Catering offers for airline catering:

Eye Openers
Fresh muffins and pastries with butter and preserves
Cornflake-crusted French toast
Tropical fruit crêpes
Fresh fruit platter

Salads
Lobster, chicken, Caesar, or spinach salad
Thai calamari ceviche salad
Balsamic vegetable couscous salad
Goat cheese, tomato and basil Farfalle salad

Cold Platters
Grilled beef tenderloin
Seafood sampler
Marinated vegetables
Ahi tuna carpaccio

Gourmet Entrées
Jerk chicken with black bean and corn salsa
Grilled marinated chicken breast with artichokes and sun-dried tomatoes
Beef Stroganoff with wild mushrooms and sour cream
Chargrilled strip loin steak with green peppercorn sauce
Seafood kebabs with mango chutney
Baked Mahi-Mahi with West Indian Creole sauce
Anegada swordfish with capers and sun-dried tomatoes

It’s not just great food that we provide. We at Blue Iguana Catering offer the complete catering solution, allowing you to concentrate on what you do best - flying and sailing!

CATERING FOR YACHTS

We can either drop the sumptuous meals off to your yacht, allowing you to enjoy your fine dining experience in a more intimate atmosphere, or we can send a chef out on our boat Mise En Place to cater to your every whim while you relax with a cocktail on deck. Watch the sun set as we deal with the food.

Here is a sample of Blue Iguana’s sailing menu…

Sautéed baby conch with fresh local mango, rum and cilantro
Mixed baby greens with a Vermont maple balsamic reduction and basil oil dressing
Pan-seared grouper with macadamia nuts and braised bananas
Fresh berry Sabayon

Enjoy your sailing vacation while we worry about the dishes. Your private chef caters to you on your yacht.

Our menus will please even the most discriminating palate. From succulent seafood to our farm raised exotic game, everything is prepared with only the finest and freshest ingredients.

Blue Iguana Catering will make your in-flight and nautical dining experience one to remember!

Hey PETA fanatics, don’t beat me with a stick for posting about this beautiful leather luggage. I’m just the messenger!

Uppercase sells the cutest merchandise! Few words need to be said about these travelers’ treats!

Distinguished Mini Case

Refined Trolley Case

Sophisticated Briefcase

Another from the Sophisticated Briefcase collection

Can Uppercase’s products get any cuter?!

I can’t even begin to tell you how many hours I have spent reviewing bed and breakfasts to feature. So if you were wondering, why doesn’t this chick ever talk about B&Bs? -
now you know why. It wasn’t for a lack of trying!

Innkeepers, here’s a hint: If you want to attract more visitors to your inn, spend the money to make your web sites more appealing! Post better, larger photos of your rooms…and please - clearly display a sample menu of what will be served at breakfast. Sheesh!

I must have perused maybe 500 B&B sites, and out of all of them, only about a third of them mention anything about dining at their inn.

I don’t know about you, but when I go to a B&B, I go for the entire experience - the rest, the aesthetics AND the vittles. I don’t want to close my eyes at night in a strange room, crossing my fingers hoping the served breakfast in the a.m. will be up to par. You’ve got to entice and reassure this ol’ girl!

I mean, how do I know you’re not gonna send me packing with a small box of
Rice Krispies, a pint of milk, and a rolled-up newspaper? Is anybody feelin’ me on this?

Via the fortune I amass through my writing, I intend to someday open a magnificent B&B in the countryside somewhere. I have already compiled my inn’s menus! I’ve got oodles of ideas for making my B&B a one-of-a-kind, top-tier rest establishment.
The B&B to end ALL B&Bs. You know how I roll!

But until then…

Finally, I discovered a B&B web site with nice photos AND a sample of their breakfast offerings: The DeLano Inn in Allegan, Michigan.

First order of business - BREAKFAST - per their site:
Breakfasts at the DeLano Inn are a special event. Served on beautiful bone china with cut-glass goblets, every breakfast is sure to please all of your senses!

Sit down to cheese-stuffed Belgian blueberry waffles, DeLano Inn eggs florentine,
baked peach French toast, or one of our many other specialties. Breakfasts also include your choice of freshly-ground coffees or specialty teas, fruit juices, and homemade breads and muffins.

The DeLano Inn has a pleasing variety of Victorian rooms to choose from, some of which even feature fireplaces:

The Chaddock Room

The DeLano Suite

More of the DeLano Suite…

The Parsonage Room

The Parsonage Room at night

Bubbling whirlpool in The Parsonage Room

The DeLano Inn gets a standing ovation for their web site alone!

The DeLano Inn Victorian Bed & Breakfast
302 Cutler Street
Allegan, MI 49010
Telephone: 1-269-686-0240 Toll Free: 1-866-686-0240
E-mail: delanoinn@triton.net

Blogging about the 2010 World Cup in South Africa got me to thinking about another event I’m looking forward to… Sundance 2009, to be held on January 15-25, 2009.

It should be no surprise to you that I am a foreign and indie (true indie) film buff.
I love artistic, well-made films! That’s actually why I moved to L.A. — to sell my screenplays to quality producers, or simply produce the films on my own.

Has it happened yet? Well, I’m working on it… I’ve got the connections covered; it’s being satisfied with my own material that’s the problem. I’m a wicked perfectionist.

The greatest thing about being a writer is you can write at any age, looking any which way — fat, skinny, wrinkled, gray, beautiful…

No one cares how old a writer is or what they look like. If you only knew how many times I have blogged with hot rollers in my hair and a facial masque on, even wearing mismatched socks in bed…

So even if I finally crank out my script when I’m 60, so be it! Besides, my writing mentor (whom I thoroughly respect and admire) will kill me if I don’t complete my screenplay; so I do know this has to happen someday.

But, yet again, I digress.

I can’t believe that I still haven’t gone to Sundance! Even when I was working in the thick of the entertainment industry and had all kinds of opportunities to go, my schedule just never permitted it.

I am DETERMINED to make it to the 2009 Sundance film festival in January.
Come heck or high water, I’m going!

I have friends who have flown to the festival in snowy Park City, Utah each year and they make a whole week out of it. I hear it’s a great, good, fun time!

Screenwriters, Producers, Directors: The Early Submissions Deadline is
August 18th. I wish you tremendous luck and success with your film(s)!

Travelers: Sundance’s lodging and other tips are a must for having a blast when you fly in for the festival. From planning your trip, to getting around the area, even to “Sundancing” on a budget, you’ll find a wealth of information on the Sundance site.

Note: Now is a good time to start booking your travel and lodging reservations, as Park City gets crazy the closer it gets to festival time.

Sundance’s official lodging provider boasts primo accommodations during your stay.

Who can resist skiing, cozy bistros and bungalows, quality films, and hot toddies?
Not me!

I say this with emphasis: If you’re unhappy with what Hollywood has been cranking out, quit your whining and take the time to explore independent, artistic, and foreign films, and you will discover a whole new realm of entertainment. Explore your neighborhood indie and foreign film houses, and modify your NetFlix film preferences. Or dag, go see a play or a live musical for a change. Hollywood is NOT the only source of entertainment!

ENCOURAGE INDEPENDENT FILMMAKERS!

Soccer is the only sport I love and look forward to watching.

What’s NOT to love about a rainbow of lean-bodied men from every culture on the planet getting all sweaty and aggressive in their shorts? Yummy!

That’s pure art in motion, folks.

The Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) is all geared up for the World Cup, which is to be held in South Africa in 2010.

Start making your travel plans NOW, folks. Don’t wait until the last minute, or you’ll end up with crappy accommodations.

Soccer is such a sexy sport! It really is. Those guys are HOT, aren’t they? I mean, smoking hot. Every last one of ‘em! I don’t even pay attention to their skill;
I just savor that sweet eye candy!

Oh, I am definitely going to this World Cup. You best believe I am!

South African wine, good African food, fine men, a new American President by then… It’s time to celebrate!

This London lounge is not to be confused with La Mamounia, the awesome luxury hotel in Morocco that I previously featured.

Since I’ve been on a Moroccan blogging kick today, I figured I’d keep the momentum going with a cool Moroccan spot in London that I just discovered: Mamounia Lounge.

Its rich history:

Once upon a time - in the heart of the rose-red city of Marrakech, in the shadow of the snow-capped Atlas mountains - there was a garden and an olive grove…

It was a garden so extraordinarily beautiful that - in the 18th century - Prince Moulay Mamoun (son of Sultan Sidi Mohamed Ben Abdellah, ruler of Marrakech, for whom the garden was named) would hold sumptuous receptions here, bringing together everyone who was anyone in Marrakech…

Two hundred years later, in 1923, the legend of sumptuous Moroccan hospitality was crystallized into a hotel called La Mamounia.

The news of the magic of La Mamounia soon spread worldwide, attracting celebrities and fame to Marrakech.

For 80 years, La Mamounia has emphasized the great traditions of Moroccan hospitality. Here in the heart of this Imperial city, royalty, connoisseurs and celebrities gather at the legend called “La Mamounia” to relax in an atmosphere that combines history with enchantment and luxury.

The food:
This long-standing restaurant site, once home to Les Saveurs… has been transformed into a warm and atmospheric North African establishment, Mamounia Lounge.

Colourful raw silk cushions, gauzy curtains and black and white photos of Berber people create a warm, evocative space and, happily, early indications are that the kitchen is living up to the pleasant surroundings.

Starters are particularly well-executed. Grilled scallops, drizzled with a nicely piquant caper dressing, are perfectly cooked and beautifully presented in their shells. A side bowl of merguez sausages provides a robust, spicy accompaniment…while a dish of sardines with garlic, coriander, parsley, and spices is rustic and flavoursome.

What’s more, there’s an interesting range of North African/Lebanese fusion dishes for those in search of something a bit different. Generous portions leave little room for dessert, but you can always opt for a shisha pipe in the upstairs bar instead (the one flavoured with apple being the best for novices) and the friendly staff are happy to demonstrate how to puff on it.

Look at Mamounia Lounge’s sumptuous menu, including the gourmand desserts!

Seriously y’all, I might even make my first trip to London just so I can have dinner there. Which one of my road dogs is game?

Now I see the purpose of jet-setting!

Mamounia Lounge
37a Curzon Street
London W1J 7TX
Phone: 0207 629 2211

Now THIS is what you call a gift card! Forget about giving me a Circuit City or Williams-Sonoma gift card for my birthday. I should let you know now that I have elevated my standards.

Give me a gift card for some cushy trips on a private jet instead!

According to the Bombardier Skyjet site:

How does it work?
Instead of booking one trip at a time with varying rates and no guaranteed availability, jet card-membership allows you to reserve a block of 25, 50, 100 or more hours, and pay a flat hourly rate for the hours you fly. It’s that simple.

Guaranteed FREE positioning.
Membership means that you will not pay to bring your Challenger into position, to return the empty jet to home base, or for another Challenger to meet you. One-way, round trip, overnight - all flights are billed at the same “no-surprises” rate.

Easy, low-cost entry.
You will have access to Challenger Jet Card-membership by contracting for just 25 hours of flight time. Prices start at $236,000 for 25 hours.

Guaranteed availability.
One call does it all. With just 12 hours advance notice, your jet card-membership guarantees that your Challenger will be waiting for you. Need a different jet than what you’ve contracted? No problem. You may upgrade or downgrade using a simple conversion ratio.

Bombardier Skyjet also offers the Learjet Card which is $101,000 for 25 hours on a Learjet 31/31A and $145,000 for 25 hours on a Learjet 60. A more affordable option is the Skyjet Card for $94,000 for 25 hours of jet travel.

Other private jet companies offer similar cards:

1. Jet Aviation features a charitable private jet card especially for women called the
Red Dress Privileged TRAVEL™ jet card that benefits female heart disease awareness.

2. Marquis Jet offers the Marquis Jet Card. Marquis Jet, being the worldwide leader in private aviation, boasts having the highest standards in private aviation.

3. Revolution Air also features a Platinum Jet Card, with free catering up to a certain amount.

4. Air Royale is a boutique private jet company that treats its members like gold.
Air Royale offers truly personalized service, and they are very accommodating. They may not boast jet cards or memberships, but their pampering alone is enough to get me on their private charter!

5. Avion Private Jet Club offers memberships, but doesn’t specify private jet cards on its site. Avion’s consolation prizes include Italian cashmere blankets and in-flight catering by Wolfgang Puck Catering!

Hey, I’ll take any of those cards or memberships. But make it quick, because I’ve got places to go!

I almost don’t even know where to begin about Puerto Rico. I’ve been typing so much today I feel like I’m developing carpal tunnel syndrome.

But I am determined to bang out this post, because Puerto Rico is a MUST VISIT destination!

As I mentioned before - my lifelong roadie, Laura, hails from the island of Puerto Rico, so I better do her homeland justice!

As always, let’s commence with the food…

El Boricua is a great place to start if you’re interested in learning more about delicious
Puerto Rican cookery at home. Chef Carmen Santos de Curran will make you feel right at home and will expertly guide you and will have you preparing arroz con pollo
(rice with chicken) and mofongo (mashed plantains) in no time!

For those who learn best visually, you will be thrilled to learn that Puerto Rican Meals
is a site that sells very detailed, highly entertaining authentic Puerto Rican cooking DVDs. These ladies make all of the Puerto Rican classics! Just looking at their site makes me salivate!

Here is an excellent Puerto Rican cookbook:

I found these geographical tidbits on Puerto Rico intriguing:

Río Camuy

Puerto Rico also has some of the most important caves in the west hemisphere.
The Río Camuy runs underground for part of its course, forming the third largest subterranean river in the world.

Mona Island

Another unique environment can be found on Mona Island, 50 miles off the west coast of Puerto Rico. Like the Galapagos Islands, this untouched island has species which are not found elsewhere. Mona is a protected island, under the management of the United States National Park Service and the Puerto Rican Natural Resources Department. Accessible by a sometimes difficult, long boat ride, the island is available for sport diving to those who make special arrangements and are willing to rough it out.

Don’t let the name Puerto Rico Small Hotels fool you. These accommodations are ALL about luxurious boarding!

Club Seabourne

Nestled in the hillsides of Culebra Island lies Club Seabourne. An intimate Mini-Resort reflecting all things Caribbean. Simple. Unspoiled. Romantic. Eternal. A place specially designed for those looking to pull the plug from the ordinary and hit the “restart” key of their soul.

Inn on the Blue Horizon

Beautifully situated in the veldt-like surroundings that have graced Vieques for centuries. The Inn and its villas are an enchanting ensemble of houses that began as a Spanish Sugar Plantation Great House. The Inn overlooks a spectacular swimming pool, with unparalleled views of the Caribbean Sea and the blue horizon…

Each of the rooms is beautifully designed with quiet privacy in mind. They are decorated with hand-chosen antiques, cotton linens, and original art. Flowing draperies that sway with the tropical breezes complete the ambiance.

Laura, after all this typing and posting I just did, you better tell your mama to ship me a pot of her world-famous rice and beans!

I have yet to travel to Africa, but when I do, Senegal absolutely tops my list of beautiful West African countries to visit!

The Senegal Tourist Office sure knows how to entice folks to pour tourism traffic into Senegal. After I saw their list of great luxury hotels, I may visit Senegal sooner than I thought!

As for their featured places to visit in Senegal:

Dakar

Dakar, the capital of Senegal, is a modern city of more than 1.5 million people with beautiful contemporary buildings and some historical colonial houses.

It is a vibrant city with active open-air markets, cafe terraces, a wide range of hotels, delicious food, and great nightlife. You can discover Dakar by taking a walk along the ocean or the busy city streets. Art lovers will find an abundance of galleries, artists’ studios, museums, and festivals.

Dakar is a shopper’s paradise! Exquisite crafts can be found in markets, on the streets, and in stores everywhere. For the sports enthusiast, this city by the beach offers all kinds of water sports, golf, tennis, biking, and more.

Saly

Just one hour and a half south of Dakar lies the domain of Saly: 1,480 acres of trees, lawns, and exotic flowers surrounded by baobabs and fragrant eucalyptus.

Twelve hotels are spread along the beach, each with air-conditioning, swimming pools, restaurants, and bars. Discos, a casino, a horse stable, a deep sea fishing center, a biking center, and a shopping area are common to the hotels.

To reach the golf course, you can walk or avail yourself of a fun ride in a traditional horse-drawn carriage. For windsurfing, jet skiing, water-skiing, snorkeling, and scuba diving, the ocean is warm and clear. The air, cooled by gentle sea breezes, rarely exceeds the upper 80’s.

Deep-sea fishing is one of the best in Senegal and attracts world-class champions.
blue marlin, sailfish, and swordfish are found in abundance and the resort has a top of the line fishing center, L’Espadon Club.

The Pink Lake

On the way to the beach, you will discover one of nature’s miracles: a completely
pink lake! It is shallow, warm, and surrounded by white foam. Everything floats on it due to its very high salinity. During the week, men and mostly women are busy crushing the bottom of the lake, which consists of a thick crust of salt that they gather to sell. Sand dunes, a baobab forest, and traditional villages with thatch-roofed huts surround The Pink Lake, which is also called “Retba.”

Casamance

In contrast with the rest of the country, Casamance offers a landscape of lush forests, rice paddies, mangrove, and huge kapok trees. Its beaches are considered the best in West Africa. The exceptional amount of sunshine, the warm sea, and the group of wonderful hotels scattered along miles of fine sandy beaches make this region a paradise for a relaxing vacation.

Statuesque Supermodel Dji Dieng is from Senegal - with her leggy, gorgeous self.

Dji has such smooth, pretty skin. She is stunning!

Look at her amazing cheekbones!

Nice!

Hey, all this blogging is making me hungry. So let me leave you with a delicious Senegalese recipe I found, which you will find more of on The Congo Cookbook:

Poulet Yassa (Chicken Yassa)

A traditional chicken dish from the Casamance region of Senegal, Poulet Yassa
(Chicken Yassa) is one of the most famous African recipes and is found in Senegalese restaurants the world over.

For best results, let the chicken marinate overnight; in Africa, this is essential to tenderize the sometimes tougher African fowl.

It is also very good when made with fish - see Poisson Yassa.

For the simplest yassa, make the marinade from just oil, lemon juice, onions, and a little mustard.

What you need

* one-half cup peanut oil (or any cooking oil)
* one chicken, cut into serving-sized pieces
* four (or six, or more!) onions, cut up
* eight tablespoons lemon juice
* eight tablespoons vinegar (cider vinegar is good)
* one bay leaf
* four cloves minced garlic
* two tablespoons Dijon mustard (optional)
* one or two tablespoons Arome Maggi® sauce (or Maggi® cubes and water), or soy sauce (optional)
* chile pepper, cleaned and finely chopped (optional)
* cayenne pepper or red pepper, black pepper, salt (to taste)
* a small cabbage, cut into chunks (optional)
* a few carrots, cut into chunks (optional)

What you do

* Mix all ingredients (except the optional vegetables), the more onions the better, and allow chicken to marinate in a glass dish in the refrigerator for a few hours or overnight. Remove chicken from the marinade, but save the marinade. Cook according to one of the following methods.

o Cooking method 1: Grill chicken over a charcoal fire (or bake it in a hot oven) until chicken is lightly browned but not done.
o Cooking method 2: Sauté chicken for a few minutes on each side in hot oil in a frypan.

* While chicken is browning: Remove onions from marinade and sauté them in a large saucepan for a few minutes. Add remaining marinade and the optional vegetables and bring to a slow boil and cook at a boil for ten minutes. Cook the marinade into a sauce. Reduce heat.

* Add chicken to the sauce, cover and simmer until chicken is done. Use a meat thermometer to check for doneness.

* Serve with rice, couscous (couscous with chickpeas and raisins is very good), or fufu.

* Serve ginger beer or green tea with mint with or after the meal.

What more is there to say? Let’s go!