The Moreish Podcast: Caribbean History Meets Culture and Cuisine

More than jerk chicken, beaches and Carnival, the culture of the Caribbean is unique and diverse with influences from all over the world. Join me as I launch a new project – a podcast!

Listen to the episode: Intro to the Moreish Podcast

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 commonly known as a British term, and being from a Trinidadian family that makes sense given the British influence on Trinidad & Tobago due to the British rule and the Commonwealth. Don’t know what I’m talking about? Then this podcast is a must listen!

Where Caribbean History Meets Culture & Cuisine

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 be digging into and unveiling where the people of each Caribbean country came from, their place of origin, how & why they ended up on an island in the Caribbean, plus how the culture from their country of origin influenced what we know to be the Caribbean culture and cuisine today.

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 staple images come to mind—white sand beaches, Carnival, or perhaps a spicy jerk chicken dish. But there’s so much more. Every island and every dish has its own story, and through our podcast, we plan to share these treasures.

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 Canada with roots in Trinidad, has a background in nutrition, and finds joy in connecting cultural history with culinary practices. Mireille, hailing from New York City with a heritage spanning 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, 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 region.

We’ll invite guests and experts to join us, share their knowledge and help us all understand the diverse communities and stories that often go unheard.

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. That’s not the case and through our research we’re endeavouring to share each country on its own through the history, culture and cuisine. We’re endeavouring to highlight and share the history of the people and how their heritage shaped current day culture.

What to expect

Each episode dives into the histories of different islands. You’ll hear about unique backgrounds and perspectives that make up the vibrant tapestry of the Caribbean.

History

We’ll journey through each Caribbean country, exploring their unique histories from the original Indigenous inhabitants of the country, the colonial era, the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade, indentured servitude and beyond. Every country has its own story to tell and palette to savour, beyond the commonly known tourist spots.

Culture and Cuisine

Expect to be immersed in discussions about traditional dishes, how they came to be, and how they have evolved. We will share the ways in which the ancestors’ stories intertwine with the food and practices we know today. Discover why certain dishes are made the way they are and the historical influences that shaped them. From sweet plantains to savoury curries, each meal we discuss holds a piece of Caribbean history.

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.