The Moreish Podcast: Caribbean History Meets Culture and Cuisine

More than jerk chicken, Carnival, and white-sand beaches, the Caribbean has a rich and diverse history with influences from all over the world. On The Moreish Podcast we dive into the stories behind the culture and cuisine.

Listen to the episode – The Moreish Podcast

In the debut episode of The Moreish Podcast, co-hosts Hema and Mireille introduce the theme of the podcast and the stories behind the flavours of the Caribbean.

With roots in Trinidad & Tobago, Aruba, and Haiti, the co-hosts bring their personal insights of living in North America and being part of the Caribbean diaspora. Through history and food, they are on a mission to reshape how the world understands the people and places in the Caribbean.

Why did I choose the word ‘moreish’ for the title of the podcast?

It’s a word I’ve been using since I was a child, referring specifically to food. If a bite of food is so delicious that you want more, it is moreish. More + ish = moreish.

It’s most often known as a British term, and given the British influence on Trinidad & Tobago during the times of colonization, the word is possibly a historical holdover. It feels like the perfect way to describe a podcast that keeps you coming back for more!

The word moreish also captures the goal of the podcast, to uncover and share the rich history of the Caribbean and the influences on food. We’ll tell the stories of Caribbean cuisine one episode (or bite) at a time!

What you can expect from the podcast

On The Moreish Podcast we’ll be delving into the rich and diverse histories, cuisines and culture of the Caribbean. In each podcast episode we’ll dive beyond the surface-level, vacation-view of the Caribbean countries to explore:

• The Indigenous peoples of the Caribbean.
• The ancestral and colonial roots of the people: who they are, where they came from & why, how they influenced food and culture.
• The impact that slavery, indentureship, and migration had in shaping the island cultures.
• Popular food and cuisines, the national dish of each country, and their historical influences.

At its core, The Moreish Podcast aims to bridge the gap between Caribbean history and contemporary culture. When most people think of the Caribbean, a few standard images come to mind—white sand beaches, Carnival, or perhaps spicy jerk chicken or fresh coconuts. But there’s so much more. Every island, country, and dish has its own story, and our podcast will blend food, family, and fun with historical facts and reflection.

Expect to be immersed in discussions about traditional and contemporary dishes, and the ways in which the ancestors’ stories intertwine with the food and practices we know today. From sweet plantains to savoury curries, each episode holds a piece of Caribbean history.

Meet the Hosts

I, along with my co-host Mireille, will guide you through the layers of Caribbean history, exploring the diverse roots and cultural influences that shape the region. Through this podcast you’ll gain a deeper understanding of the historical forces that shaped the Caribbean identity and its culinary traditions.

Hema and Mireille, your enthusiastic hosts ready to take you on a culinary and cultural journey through the Caribbean. We bring our unique backgrounds, personal stories, and a shared love for our heritage to every episode.

Hema, born and raised in Toronto, Ontario (Canada) with roots in Trinidad, has a background in marketing, food content creation, and a passion for travel.

Mireille, hailing from New York City with a heritage that includes Aruba and Haiti, is an accomplished chef with a wealth of knowledge about Caribbean cuisine and its global influences.

We aim to provide a nuanced perspective on the Caribbean diaspora, recognizing that as women growing up in North America to Caribbean parents we do not have the same perspective as those who were born, raised and lived the majority of their lives in the Caribbean.

Together, we bring different perspectives and a shared passion for preserving and celebrating the Caribbean diaspora through food and storytelling.

What was the impetus for starting the podcast?

There are many answers to this question. Big picture, this is something I’ve been thinking about for a while and it was finally time. I’ve been on a mission to reconnect with my heritage and this podcast is part of the journey.

I decided to start the podcast after realizing how little representation Caribbean culture gets in mainstream media, especially in the food space. Thus began our collaborative project to share the true essence of Caribbean life—a venture born from chance meeting at The Inspired Home Show in Chicago, part of the Tastemaker Conference.

• The Caribbean is often thought of as a vacation spot. Resorts, beaches, and warm weather. But the region is so much more than that.
• Many people still think that one or two islands represent the entire Caribbean region. Through research and expert guests we will share the history, culture, and cuisine of each country, and highlight the history of the people and how their heritage shaped current day culture.

It’s important that I recognize and share that I was born and raised in Toronto to Trinidadian parents. For many years we went to Trinidad for a few weeks to spend time with family, and that means I had a different and maybe even curated version of Trinidad than someone living there. Living in Toronto we continued to embrace the Caribbean culture but it was intermingled with Canadian way of life. I don’t claim to know all but I will do my best to research, learn from others and share what I can to give some context and understanding to the people and life of the Caribbean.