Category Archives: Caribbean

May 5, 2017 9:00 AM

Perry, the founder ofNew York Street Food, brings you his latest review onNew York City street food.

When non-Caribbean people think of Caribbean food, they usually expect jerk or curried food, but theres more to Caribbean cuisine than those stereotypical dishes. In fact, Caribbean cuisine itself is a bit of an oversimplification, as there are regional differences throughout the Caribbean based on history, geography and a host of other factors.

One thing you may not realize is that nearly every Caribbean food truck weve been to makes great fried chicken, something we usually associate with Southern US cuisine. Caribbean King makes a very good fried chicken lunch platter, but the one place where they really stand out is the sheer amount of food provided for $10. Two people with normal appetites could probably split this lunch and be satisfied.

The other reason to get fried chicken here is because its made to order. After we ordered and were waiting for lunch, three other people came up behind us, ordered jerk chicken, and were served right away while we were still waiting. Not because anything was wrong, but because the jerk was already cooked and sitting in the sauce, while the fried chicken still had to be fried.

(credit: Perry R.)

There were two huge, thick chicken breasts in the order. They were not heavily breaded or overly crispy, but there was enough lightly crispy breading to enjoy. The chicken itself was good, not overcooked, which it likely would have been if not cooked to order.

In addition to the abundance of fried chicken, lunch came with either rice and beans or white rice, a cabbage salad, and french fries, too! To top it off, they even gave us a nice piece of sweet fried plantain for dessert.

(credit: Perry R.)

The cabbage salad was laced with carrots and broccoli, and the fries were nice and crispy, just how we like them.

Oh, we almost forgot. They also gave us three dipping sauces that went with lunch. One was bbq sauce, one was a spicy mayo and one was jerk aioli sauce. They all went well on the chicken, and were good for dipping the fries into as well.

(credit: Perry R.)

After lunch our first thought was: wow, were stuffed! We would have been just as happy with one chicken cutlet in the lunch for $7 instead of two large chicken breasts for $10, but it wasnt an option. Maybe if the owners read this, they will offer a small siz,.but all-in-all, there are worse things in the world than too much fried chicken.

You can find the Caribbean King food truck on Twitter here and on Instagram here. We cannot locate a Facebook page or a website, but the truck is not hard to find. They hit most of the usual food truck spots in midtown and downtown during the week for lunch.

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NYC Food Truck Lunch: Fried Chicken Platter From Caribbean King - CBS New York

President Donald Trump is looking for a millionaire to buy his luxurious French St. Martin beachfront estate, which he has used primarily as a rental property since purchasing it in 2013.

Le Chteau des Palmiers, a walled compound on the northwestern tip of the Caribbean island on the Rue de la Falaise, recently hit the market with Sothebys Realty International. Sothebys lists the price as upon request, but another listingsaggregator in St. Martin, 7th Heaven Properties, says the asking price is $28 million.

More:Read About the Investor who Flipped Donald Trumps Childhood Home for 50% Profit

Mr. Trump has marketed the tropical refuge and claimed the asset in financial disclosures filed in July 2015 before his presidential bid.

Greetings from Donald J. Trump. Escape to a place no other, reads a brochure for the property.

The sprawling 4.8-acre estate on St. Martins Plum Bay encompasses two villas, one five-bedroom and another four-bedroom and a number of other red-tile-roofed structures, from pool cabanas to a house for the estate manager, according to the listing with Lesley Reed, who could not immediately be reached for comment.

In total, the compound contains 11 bedrooms and 12 full bathrooms. The larger villa has a two-story master bedroom with a Jacuzzi bath tub and two private balconies. The smaller villa has a number of themed bedrooms, including the Jungle Room with a king-size bed.

The whole property is enclosed by an eight-foot boundary wall, according to the listing.

Rental packages for the presidents tropical refuge start at $6,000 per night in the low season for the smaller of two villas and top off at $28,000 during the winter holidays, according to Sothebys St. Martin office.

More:Trumps Trust Wants $35 Million for Park Avenue Condo

Disclosures sent to the federal Office of Government Ethics indicate that Mr. Trump owns the St. Martin property under two limited liability companies, Excel Venture I LLC and Excel Venture Corp II, for which he owns a 100% share.

Hes collected between $100,000 and $1 million annually through rental income, according to the 2o15 disclosure, which values the asset between $5 million and $25 million.

Mr. Trump has owned the rental since 2013, when he bought Le Chteau des Palmiers for an undisclosed amount. It was reportedly listed at the time for $19.7 million, meaning the U.S. president is looking to turn around a 40% profit on the sale after only four years of ownership.

The White House press office and a publicist for the Trump Organization did not immediately return requests for comment.

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Trump Looking to Unload Caribbean Beach Estate - Mansion Global

Miami Herald

Growth in the Cuban market could help the Caribbean as a whole ... Miami Herald Some regional tourism leaders say growth in the Cuban market could lift all boats, and that Caribbean nations, including Cuba, should band together to jointly ... and more »

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Growth in the Cuban market could help the Caribbean as a whole ... - Miami Herald

Forbes

'Pirates Of The Caribbean 5' Could Be Johnny Depp's First Hit Since 'Pirates Of The Caribbean 4' Forbes The first official tracking is in for Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales (photo above courtesy of Walt Disney), and it's looking pretty promising for Jack Sparrow and friends. The Walt Disney action sequel, set to launch on Memorial Day ... 'Pirates Of The Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales' To Breathe Life Back Into Memorial Day B.O. With Est. $100M DebutDeadline 8 classic swashbucklers to watch before you see Pirates of the Caribbean 5EW.com 'Pirates 5' Tracking for $90M-Plus U.S. DebutHollywood Reporter Adweek -IGN -Cinema Blend -YouTube all 71 news articles »

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'Pirates Of The Caribbean 5' Could Be Johnny Depp's First Hit Since 'Pirates Of The Caribbean 4' - Forbes

Lori La Bey, founder of a Minnesota-based organization called Alzheimers Speaks, maintains an online community in which patients and their caregivers meet and discuss common challenges.

Now she plans to bring them and others together on a weeklong Eastern Caribbean cruise in November.

The Dementia Friendly Symposium & Cruise will feature chats in which Alzheimers patients discuss how they live with the disease and what strategies they use to focus on what they want to do rather than on what they can no longer do.

Other on-board programs include morning meditations; Memory Cafes, in which folks make social connections on a range of subjects; music therapy sessions; and speakers. And theres free time for excursions too.

The whole cruise is about getting back into the space of your personal relationships, finding joy within the relationships, La Bey said. We expect lots of laughing and sharing, and purging of emotions.

La Bey sums up her advocacy as seeking to shift dementia care from crisis to comfort.

She knows firsthand how stressful life can be for Alzheimers patients and those who care for them. Her mother had the disease for 30 years, and her father suffered from a brain tumor that compromised his abilities. Though her parents were ill, she remembered taking a cruise with them and her siblings, and the good memories created on the trip.

The whole pitch with dementia is it's doom and gloom, she said. My mom's disease is the biggest gift I'll ever get in my life. It taught her to find joy and learn to laugh again rather than be stuck in what she calls the fears-and-tears mode, which keeps people trapped in the past or with a dark outlook for the future.

The cruise is appropriate for those diagnosed with early to mid-dementia and their caregivers (family members or professionals); families and friends of loved ones with dementia; and professionals and advocates who work on dementia issues.

It sails aboard Holland Americas ms Nieuw Amsterdam and leaves Fort Lauderdale, Fla., on Nov. 11, stopping at Nassau, Bahamas; San Juan, Puerto Rico; St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands; and the private island Half Moon Cay.

Prices start at $1,389 per person, based on double occupancy, for an inside cabin. Gratuities, airfare and insurance are extra. Reservations must be made exclusively through Kathy Shoaf, (219) 608-2002 or email kathy.shoaf@cruiseplanners.com

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Twitter: @latimestravel

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Alzheimer's patients and their caregivers can share and connect on this Caribbean cruise - Los Angeles Times

KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. -- More than 20,000 people attended the Caribbean Hurricane Awareness Tour hosted April 24-29, 2017 by the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron Hurricane Hunters and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

The annual tour is held to share the mission of the Hurricane Hunters and raise hurricane awareness across Latin America and the Caribbean, said Maj. Brad Roundtree, the 53rd WRS aircraft commander for the tour.

The Hurricane Hunters traveled with officials from NOAAs National Hurricane Center, which included Dr. Rick Knabb, the NHC director, Lixion Avila, an NHC senior hurricane specialist, and John Pavone, the chief of aerial reconnaissance coordination. The group stopped at five locations including Mrida, Mexico; San Pedro Sula, Honduras; Grand Cayman, Turk and Caicos; and Aguadilla, Puerto Rico.

During the CHAT, the public toured one of 10 WC-130J Super Hercules aircraft flown by the 53rd WRS. The aircrew gave demonstrations of the equipment used to collect storm data and explained how the data is used, said Maj. Kimberly Spusta, a 53rd WRS aerial reconnaissance weather officer.

Once the data is collected, it is given to the NHC in real-time via satellite from the plane, said Spusta. That information is then inserted into a model that generates storm forecasts and allows local governments to issue proper and timely weather advisories and warnings to the public.

Some people see that we do a hurricane awareness tour in the Caribbean and may think its just an airshow, but its so much more than that, said Spusta. We are really getting into communities that don't have access to hurricane readiness information, and that is very rewarding.

The Hurricane Hunters and NHC officials also took part in several interviews with local media, attended press conferences with local government officials, and spoke to the public on the importance of being prepared before a storm comes, said Roundtree.

The question most people asked was, What is it like to fly into a hurricane Roundtree described it as a roller coaster ride through a car wash. However, he said the crews focused on promoting the importance of being prepared and having a plan before a storm comes.

Whenever those watches and warning go out, we have the proven data that a storm will hit the area, he said.

Several Caribbean countries were severely damaged last year by Hurricane Matthew and Hurricane Otto, Knabb said. Another season is just weeks away, and we have to be prepared. Simply hoping one of these storms won't hit your community is not a good plan. It doesn't matter how many hurricanes there are this season, it only takes one to hit your area. People who want to stay prepared and get more information before a storm hits should watch their local media outlets for weather advisories. Visit the NHCs website at http://www.nhc.noaa.gov to see live data collected by the Hurricane Hunters.

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Hurricane Hunters prepare the Caribbean > U.S. Air Force > Article ... - Air Force Link

Cruise Fever

Carnival Adds Longer Cruises to the Caribbean Cruise Fever Currently, Carnival Fantasy sails four and night cruises from Mobile to the Western Caribbean. The four night cruises stop in Cozumel with the five night cruises adding a stop in Costa Maya. In 2018, Carnival Fantasy will sail several longer cruises to ... and more »

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Carnival Adds Longer Cruises to the Caribbean - Cruise Fever

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'Christopher Columbus' anchor' discovered at Caribbean shipwreck - The Independent

EXCLUSIVE: Experts have used a space treasure map to make a remarkable discovery in the Caribbean -- a centuries-old anchor believed to be from one of Christopher Columbus ships.

Analysis of the anchor, which was found off the Turks and Caicos islands, reveals that it dates to between 1492 and 1550. The overall size of the anchor and its estimated weight of between 1,200 and 1,500 pounds indicates that it was a bower anchor from a 300-ton vessel, the typical size of a Columbus-era ship.

The discovery will be revealed in the next episode of the Discovery Channel docuseries "Cooper's Treasure," which airs at 10 p.m. ET Tuesday.That anchor is from Christopher Columbus, says historical shipwreck discovery specialist Darrell Miklos, who led the Caribbean expedition, in a clip from Tuesdays show. I am telling you, stick around, this is just the beginning of an amazing story.

NASA ASTRONAUT'S SPACE TREASURE MAP SPARKS HUNT FOR CARIBBEAN WRECKS

Miklos used a space treasure map created by his late friend, NASA Astronaut Gordon Cooper, to find a series of Caribbean shipwreck sites. Cooper, who died from Parkinsons disease in 2004, created the map following his Mercury 9 Faith 7 flight. At the time, he was possibly on a mission to identify Cold War nuclear threats.

Armed with Coopers detailed map and archival research, Miklos and a crew of experts identified five colonial period wreck sites. The team used a magnetometer to identify shipwreck areas and then dived down for a closer inspection using a metal detector.

The Turks and Caicos discovery is believed to be linked to Vicente Yanez Pinzon -- a Spanish sailor, who, along with his brother Martin Alonso Pinzon, was part of the Columbus expeditions.

VIKING DISCOVERY: EXPERTS USE TECH TO REVEAL SETTLEMENT BENEATH SAINT-KING'S CHURCH

Martin and Vicente were captains, respectively, of the Pinta and Nina on Columbus first voyage in 1492. Six years later, around the time of Columbus third voyage, Vicente Pinzon set off from Spain with four Caravels, or small sailing ships, including the Pinta, in what is known as one of the expeditions Minor Voyages.

In 1499 and 1500 Vicente Pinzon discovered Brazil and the Amazon River. In the spring of 1500 the captain met with Columbus in Haiti to discuss the Brazilian discovery before leading his four ships back to Spain. However, in July of that year Vicente Pinzons fleet was caught in a hurricane while anchored near the Turks and Caicos islands and two of his ships were wrecked. In 1502 Vicente Pinzon returned to the area in an attempt to salvage cargo from the two vessels.

In addition to the anchor, Miklos team found a trove of other artifacts at the shipwreck site, including three grappling hooks that date back to the Columbus era. The grappling hooks, or anchors, were used for salvaging treasure from sunken ships.

GLADIATOR GAMES: EXPERTS HARNESS TECH TO REVEAL ROMAN CITY'S SECRETS

Archaeologists also found broken pieces of pottery and an olive jar painted with indigo paint, which indicates Spanish origin. A pot from the Spanish island of Majorca was also found, which also dates the wreck to the period between 1492 and the early 1500s.

Additionally, several iron and bronze spikes, possibly the last remnants of the sunken ships, were found, as well as a broken section of anchor's ring was found. The broken anchor ring could indicate that the anchor came from a third ship in Pinzons fleet that was torn from its anchor during the hurricane.

The discoveries mark a major breakthrough for the expedition. It means that we now have one of the most valuable maps in history, explained a spokeswoman for the show, in an email sent to Fox News. The way that ships wreck is that they leave a trail so the anchor is pointing to more artifacts/treasure to be found.

Fox News Lindsay Carlton contributed to this article.

Follow James Rogers on Twitter @jamesjrogers

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Experts discover 'Christopher Columbus' anchor at Caribbean shipwreck site - Fox News

Loews Sapphire Falls Resort is more than a nod to the Caribbean. The property, opened in July 2016 at Universal/Loews hotels at Universal Orlando Resort, is a stylish, tropical, modern escape worth visiting, even if you never plan to use the parks.

An enormous sculptural chandelier of woven spheres presents itself as everything from beach balls to buoys to a "festival of floating lanterns" (as it was described by my 7-year-old) when seen at night. You'd describe it differently as seen at different times throughout the day and night.

The lobby is a long rectangle with a soaring, beamed ceiling covered in woven fabric that connects multiple experiences. There's plenty of seating in smart arrangements for conversation, chilling out or working; USB and power outlets are cleverly and conveniently placed throughout: on the edges of tables, in lamp bases, etc.

This property flows out over multiple tiered levels; that's unusual for Orlando, which is flat, flat, flat. In fact, the lobby is on the fourth floor.

Windows to one side overlook the free-form pool (the largest of all the Universal hotel pools) off level 3. The pool features a water slide and a zero-entry "sandbar" across the middle, making it easier to access amenities such as the bar or the sand-covered dining area with its umbrella-shaded tables and a central fire pit. Windows at the far end of the lobby overlook the lagoon, which connects four of Universal's five hotels via water taxi. Views of taxis constantly coming and going (it's an eight- to 10-minute ride to the center of City Walk) add to an energetic vibe.

The decor throughout is a neutral canvas with bright pops of emerald, turquoise, fuchsia, lime and tangerine; the overall look is a mix-and-match of furnishings that are both modern and British colonial and that seamlessly work together. A long, horizontal mural behind the front desk is a realistic image of what you might see if you woke up aboard a boat in the British Virgin Islands: shimmering turquoise water and lush island shores. At the center of the lobby is the grand winding staircase inside of a replica of a stone sugar mill reminiscent of those found in the West Indies with a massive, wrought-iron chandelier. It is stunning.

Off the lobby is the outstanding Strong Water Tavern and also a grab-and-go market called the New Dutch Trading Co., where you can build your own meal from "hot pots" of Caribbean dishes or select the food and snacks (including beer and wine) to take back to your room in lieu of a prestocked minibar. On the ground level is Amatista, a three-meal-a-day dining room with an exhibition kitchen and indoor and outdoor dining that overlooks the lagoon and the water taxi depot.

I'd return to Sapphire Falls just to dine at the Strong Water Tavern, which is far more than a typical lobby bar. Open at 4 p.m. every day, Strong Water seems to be popular with guests returning from the parks. Fortunate enough to have been hosted for a meal, I'll tell you why.

The Caribbean dishes are served tapas-style, perfect for sharing and for pairing with exquisite cocktails that show as much care as any plate sent out from the kitchen by Columbian chef Carlos Castano. His food will have you ordering "just one more" dish; don't miss the papa rellena, a potato ball filled with a spicy beef filling and a jalapeno-pineapple jam, then fried and served with chipotle mustard.

The place takes its name from a term used for rum back in seafaring days, and that spirit plays a central role: the bar stocks up to 75 different labels from which a flight can be composed by an on-duty rum captain. Your flight will tell an unforgettable story of rum; mine included one that is aged in shark cages offshore of Grand Cayman Island and another that receives its final aging in sherry barrels in Jimez, Portugal. The last of my flight was a spice-blended concoction by my own rum captain, Casey, that had been aged on site.

Strong Water's grog is made from a 350-year-old seafarers' recipe (think pirates) and is a version of rum punch you've never had, strong on the citrus and spice, short on the sweet.

But the cocktail I've been craving ever since is the milk punch, a refreshing blend of black tea, spiced rum, lemon peel and clarified milk that after a three-day process emerges as though it was a clear lemonade. Served in individual milk bottles along with a glass containing a single cube of ice carved from a slab behind the bar, the milk punch is the most surprising and refreshing cocktail I've ever had.

Sapphire Falls' guestrooms are serene and stylish, again with a mix of textures and fabrics designed around a palette of blues. It's hard to believe this hotel isn't in the Premier (top-tier) category.

The Sapphire Suite includes a foyer with a work desk and a half-bath. The shared living and dining room is spacious and comfortable with neutral-colored decor and splashes of color via throw cushions and artwork. A matte-finished, gold starburst chandelier over the driftwood-colored dining table helps define the dining area as its own space.

Color is amped up a bit in the bedroom with a beach feel achieved through the white shiplap headboard finished with teal upholstery for a touch of luxury. I loved the tangerine-and-white palm-print throw pillow. The oversize bathroom has a large walk-in shower and a separate toilet area as well as a standard bathtub/shower that is exactly what you want for plopping your kid in the bath.

My family and I were hosted for one night at Sapphire Falls and did not visit the park. Between riding the water taxi with a 7-year-old, dining at Strong Water Tavern, enjoying the pool in the morning and lounging with a first-run movie rental in our spacious Sapphire Suite, this is now our preferred go-to staycation hotel in our hometown of Orlando.

Sapphire Falls Resort is in the Loews/Universal midlevel Preferred category, which means great value if you want new, upscale digs and don't mind foregoing the Universal Express benefit, which lets guests skip the lines at regular attractions, afforded only to guests who stay in Premier hotels. (Note: You still get early admission to the parks, a perk for all hotel guests at Universal Orlando Resort.)

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Caribbean elegance at Universal Orlando hotel - Travel Weekly