Photo: Janet Fabres
Art & Craft
Artisans’ markets - A Goldmine for the Discerning Shopper By Roslyn Carrington
T
rinidad has always been known for its excellent selection of art, craft and hand-made artisan items. You can still see them on sale on the busy streets of the cities, in makeshift stalls along the country roads, or at beaches and other tourist hotspots. But a new wave is rising; craft and farmers’ markets are cropping up all over the island, and both the shoppers and sellers are loving it. The trend holds every promise of providing a new and lucrative outlet for emerging entrepreneurs searching for a way to turn their creative streak into a business. Eats and drinks When it comes to food, the Trini imagination knows no limits. You can find hand-churned ice-creams made with fresh local flavourings, from coconut to sapodilla. Local snacks like saltfish accra (fried cod beignets) and pastelles (cornmeal stuffed with ground meat and steamed in banana leaves) jostle for space with Indian goodies and Venezuelan arepas. Hand-squeezed juices, smoothies and punches are a healthy way to get your daily dose of vitamins. Again, if it is a fruit or vegetable and it’s in season, mix-masters will whip you up something long, cold, and delicious. Think watermelon, pommecythere, tamarind, banana, and the entire spectrum of citrus. You might even find cane juice, pressed from the stalk right before your eyes. Indulge in stunningly decorated cookies and cupcakes, macaroons, éclairs, puffs and pies. Top whole-grain, handkneaded bread with jellies, jams, pestos and spreads. Pretty and pampering You can find jewellery made with semi-precious stones, glass beads, wood and bamboo, strung together with silver, gold and copper. You’ll be spoiled for choice with the arrays of handblended body oils and lotions, and scrumptious-smelling soaps made with indulgent oils and local ingredients like coconut milk, avocado and mango butters, seaweed, sea salt and cocoa. Have your hand decorated with exquisite henna designs, for a “tattoo” that will last the rest of your visit.
Art and craft Steal a tiny portion of Trinidad’s soul and take it home with you, encapsulated in a work of local art. The markets are thronging with painters, sculptors and other crafts-people. You can find carvings, paintings, one-of-a-kind articles of clothing, and hand-decorated fabrics. Fresh from the garden Trinidad’s lush plains and valleys are overflowing with produce, and much of it finds its way into market stalls. Not only can you find fruit, vegetables and ground provisions like cassava and dasheen, but you can also snap up orchids and other flowering plants, saplings and seedlings. You might even spot a table laden with bonsai trees! Whatever your pleasure, our local craft markets will delight and surprise you. Walk in with an open heart, and we guarantee you will walk out with a full, happy tummy and shopping bags laden with goodies. You can find details such as date, time and location on most markets on FaceBook or through a simple online search. Here are a few worth noting: • UpMarket — Once a month (twice or more closer to Christmas) at the Woodbrook Youth Centre, Port of Spain, and at Oasis in San Fernando. Tel: (868) 703-2169 • The San Antonio Green Market — Every Saturday, Saddle Road, Santa Cruz. Tel: (868) 397-3276 or (868) 221-9116 • Gourmet Food and Craft Market — Monthly, Central or South Trinidad. Tel: (868) 489-1376 • The Monthly Arts Market — Jerningham Avenue, Belmont, Port of Spain. Tel: (868) 792-8678 • The Craftsman’s Forum — twice a year in central Trinidad, twice a year in Tobago. Tel: (868) 482-8995 Email: vieve78@yahoo.com • Bits and Pieces for Christmas – an annual event, usually in November. Tel: (868) 681-8418
Ins & Outs of Trinidad and Tobago
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