12172021 WEEKEND

Friday, December 17, 2021

Weekend

interview food gardening history entertainment puzzles animals

Holiday kids fashions Pages 08+09

Chaos in the kitchen Kaché Knowles tries cooking Bahamian staples

pg 07

02 | The Tribune | Weekend

Friday, December 17, 2021

food

A

s the number of COVID cases continue to remain relatively low, many restaurants are reopening, with spaces designed to provide an intimate and safe dining experience.

One such restaurant is the iconic Café Martinique in Marina Village, Paradise Island, which has reopened with a brand-new menu.

There is a lot of history attached to the name Café Martinique. The original restaurant was where James Bond first met his nemesis, Largo, in 1965’s “Thunderball”. The new restaurant can be seen as a homage to the long-gone original, and it is still associated with gourmet cuisine and elegance, but now it has gotten an update.

Much has changed over time – its location, its ownership – and while Café Martinique maintains its Old-World charm, the fine dining restaurant is also not afraid to step into the 21st century.

Today, it offers a revamped menu of the finest French cuisine.

Executive Sous Chef Andres Edgecombe spoke with Tribune Weekend about the return of Café Martinique and the changes that have been implemented.

“Café Martinique is now a French restaurant that we have recently relaunched…We now have French cuisine with fresh vegetable salads and so forth. It is a more relaxed environment here. We have a live pianist every night (Lee Callender) and the décor and the ambiance are (elegant).

It is just a good environment to enjoy your meal in,” said Sous Chef Edgecombe, who has assisted in opening of the Seafire Steakhouse and Fish By José Andres.

The restaurant has also changed the way food is presented at the table, is using more local ingredients, especially when it comes to the vegetables, and is now offering more meat dishes in the French style.

“The restaurant is more upbeat; new and fresh,” said Sous Chef Edgecombe.

In addition to their unique French onion soup, he said other favourites have been the cappelletti pasta dish with snow peas, sea urchin and espuma de chèvre (goat cheese mousse), and the lamb tenderloin.

“The feedback since reopening has been great…The guests are really enjoying it,” said Executive Sous Chef Andres Edgecombe.

“You won’t find a big crowd here. It is more relaxed for enjoyment of the ambiance. The waiters know the menu well and they are doing an outstanding job. Time to time we will change up things in reference to the season, to give a further option of new dishes.”

Cafe Martinique’s acting general manager, LaFornia Rolle, described the atmosphere as “romantic, sweet and sophisticated, with a touch of French finesse.”

“Because of the old Café Martinique, people may have thought it was stuffy or whatever, but they will be pleasantly surprised with the changes made – to the atmosphere, the menu, and just the overall feel of it. The menu is more consumerfriendly, with both new and old school (dishes).

Iconic Café Martinique reopens with revamped French menu

By ALESHA CADET | Tribune Features Writer | acadet@tribunemedia.net

LAMB Rump Navarin

CHOCOLATE Cremeux

L PEACH Facon Melba

et’s look at our French onion soup; it is not the typical dish where it’s just the broth. It is prepared in a way where they actually pour it in front of you at the table, and it gives you that ‘wow factor’. I think we have updated an old concept to make it more accessible to anyone.

You shouldn’t be intimidated to dine here. I feel that we are very price friendly and we are accessible,” she said.

She added: “Some things you don’t do away with, so we still have the old school charm here in the atmosphere. You feel at home.”

Café Martinique, said the general manage, is of course following strict COVID-19 safety guidelines. So guests have to be fully vaccinated to dine or present a negative COVID test.

“Once you are seated, you can take off your mask, as the tables aren’t right next to each other. You won’t feel clustered or so close to other people. In the lounge area there is also a separation of space,” said Ms Rolle.

The Tribune | Weekend | 03

Friday, December 17, 2021

entertainment

My perfect Bahamian Christmas

Nassau’s first Moonlight Market debuts this weekend Just in time for the holiday season, Four Walls Squash and Social Club is hosting the firstever Moonlight Market – a backyard pop-up with local vendors, artisans, live entertainment, food and signature cocktails on Saturday, December 18.

The event, set for 6pm to midnight, has been months in the making, and is primed to spotlight small businesses clamouring for outlets to connect with the community, said Four Walls Vice President Noelle Nicolls.

“Earlier this summer, when we faced the third wave of pandemic restrictions, we pivoted to close the patio and reinvest tens of thousands of dollars in exciting renovations to accommodate the new norm and transform our patio. This Saturday’s Moonlight Market will give the community a taste of the new terrace, ahead of our official reopening in January, when everyone will be able to enjoy the newest and best spot in the East for professionals to meet up, unwind, and hang loose.”

Singer Nishie L S will be performing live, as patrons enjoy tasty bites, from savoury and sweet, provided by food vendors, including the New Duff, POW, Nom Nom Pita, Break

an Egg Bakehouse, Fries With Benefits and Bahamian Churros.

Shopping and craft vendors will include the Black Food Bookstore and Culture Shop, Always by Allia M Dean, Bahalux Candles, Pretty Fancy Gift Shoppe, Blackbeard’s Grooming and Spa Smitten Aromatherapy. As a fun addition, attendees can also get henna tattoo designs courtesy of Hennergy. Signature cocktails and drinks will be provided by Four Walls at the cashless bar.

“We have a diverse range of vendors and artisans participating in this event. Along with some traditional culinary favourites, people might want to try out the Middle Eastern dishes from Nom Nom Pita, or any of the other tasty options that will be available.

Our craft and shopping vendors also offer something for everybody, from natural beard care products from Blackbeard’s Grooming to hand-poured candles from Bahalux. You’ll definitely be able to get some Christmas shopping done or even treat yourself to something special,” said Ms Nicolls.

Entrance is free for all attendees, but they must present proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 rapid antigen test.

DANCEHALL SUPERSTAR KRANIUM TO HEADLINE FINAL BLACKOUT EVENT

By JEFFARAH GIBSON Tribune Features Writer jgibson@tribunemedia.net KRANIUM, one of the hottest acts of the dancehall scene, will grace the stage for the finale of the popular Blackout party series.

The event, which is being presented by KO Productions,

returns for one final time.

It takes place tomorrow night at the Thomas A Robinson National Stadium and will be hosted by popular Bahamian DJ Ovadose.

Kranium is one of the hottest artists in the reggae and dancehall genre.

Some of the most popular dancehall songs of the past year came from him, including the hit “Gal Policy”.

Ebony Bahamas Spanish teacher

Christmas movie?

“I am so torn between ‘Gremlins’, ‘Home Alone’ and ‘Die Hard’, and I know they are extremes right there, but they are my Christmas movie go-tos…and of course I love the traditional animated ‘How the Grinch Stole Christmas’.”

Q Q

: Real or artificial Christmas tree?

“I always love a real tree because I like that whole Christmas tree smell. It helps with the whole atmosphere and feel of Christmas.”

Q

: Fruitcake or rum cake?

“This is a tough one because my aunt makes bomb cakes, but I would have to go with the fruitcake, ‘cause it’s just Christmas tradition pouring the brandy over the cake to keep it moist, I just love all of that.”

Q

: What is your favourite

Kranium is known for his melodic flow, clever wordplay, and ability to break all barriers when it comes to his music.

Born in Montego Bay, Jamaica, and raised in Jamaica, Queens, New York, Kranium offers the perfect blend of authentic dancehall with a unique vibe of his own. Kranium’s distinct sound can be heard on major collaborations with artists such as Ty Dolla $ign, Wiz Kid, Major Lazer, Torey Lanez, Kojo Funds, Bebe Rexha and Ed Sheeran.

While Kranium’s performance is the most anticipated of tomorrow night’s event, there will be much more to look forward to, said the organisers.

The event will feature three different areas to suit all tastes and personalities. There will also be a lineup of versatile and engaging DJs. “Energy and excitement are what people can expect. As always, we love

: What is your dream Christmas present?

“In my dream, the Christmas present would be more of a wish: the ability to eat whatever I wanted throughout the whole Christmas season and actually lose weight in the areas I need, and still enjoy all the tasty food. As a tangible, more realistic gift it would be a cheque to pay off my bank loan.”

Q

: If you couldn’t spend Christmas at home, where would you want to spend it?

“Definitely somewhere that has a white Christmas, like Russia or maybe somewhere like Greece or Egypt… countries that have different traditions than the Bahamas.”

to end the year with a bang. Fiving our patrons a proper show seems fitting heading into the holidays, but also after being cooped up at home for so long,” said Jayde Knowles, public relations officer for KO Productions.

“So it is definitely the energy we were going after for this year’s event.”

For nearly two years, the production company has had to put all its events on hold due to the pandemic and emergency orders, but now they are back in the game.

“It just felt like the right time. The country seemed to have turned the curve.

Emergency orders were expiring, and with the safety protocols being implemented, we thought now would be the right time to bring it back,” said Jayde.

“Besides, everyone seemed like they needed a reason to celebrate, and what better way to do it than at a KO event.”

04 | The Tribune | Weekend

Friday, December 17, 2021

interview

Templeton Sawyer He’s still a university student, but this young Bahamian is already receiving international recognition. He tells Cara Hunt about being selected for a Canadian award that celebrates 30 innovators under the age 30.

TEMPLETON Sawyer (centre) is recognised by Atlantic Business Magazine for this podcast.

The Tribune | Weekend | 05

Friday, December 17, 2021

T

empleton Sawyer is a young Bahamian making a name for himself on the international stage.

The 25-year-old was recently named one of ’30 under 30’ innovators for the entire Atlantic Canada region for Atlantic Business Magazine. He received this honour for his podcast, “Tweet The Leader in You”.

The podcast is designed to help young people in general who feel abandoned and not heard.

“This podcast advocates to have global discussions,” he told Tribune Weekend.

Templeton started the podcast last year during the pandemic as way to give people who feel abandoned and disregarded a place to feel welcome.

“Growing up as a kid, I was both bullied and ignored. But I didn’t let that stop me. I had a vision to believe in myself.”

That vision led to him focusing on his school work, which in turn enabled him to receive a Public School Scholars Programme scholarship to attend Holland College on Prince Edward Island in Canada.

In 2018, he enrolled at Mt St Vincent University where he is majoring in Business and Marketing and pursuing a minor in Non-Profit Leadership and Management.

He is an executive of the student association and is a board member of three organisations with a focus on Afrocentric and Afro-Caribbean related concerns.

In addition to learning to deal with the vast difference in climate between Northern Canada and the Bahamas, his time at university has certainly helped him learn how to work with people who hold diverse viewpoints and ways of achieving goals while connecting globally.

It’s good training for Templeton, who aspires to one day represent the Bahamas in a global capacity. He would also like to obtain his Master’s degree in Public Policy.

It was during the pandemic last year that he decided to start his podcast, “Tweet The Leader in You”.

The biweekly podcast features community leaders from Novia Scotia, the Bahamas, the United States, the United Kingdon and Australia, who share their stories and inspire young listeners to find inspiration in their own lives.

“The reason I started was because I saw that there was a really good need to have other persons who felt abandoned but also needed to have their stories heard. As I grew up, I during my high school years, I was bullied and sometimes I was dismissed in certain ways where my story was not completely heard,” he said.

“But I realised that after the fact, when I left high school more so, persons and teachers who didn’t (have any) interest in me, they now see me as an inspiration, because I continue to tell the story to inspire others and to be more. S, some of the things we cover in the podcast is just storytelling on topics that revolve around people who are in the arts industry, in the music industry, in the entrepreneural industry, to talk about where they

“…if one person hears this podcast and gets the message, I would be happy, because it would be making the world a better place.”

are and where they are coming from, which is most important.

“At the end of each episode we try to leave a recap or a quote of inspiration, such as what is confidence why is being confident important, the importance of religion and governance; the topics that help people to evolve into their best, true self.

There are a lot of individuals who are passionate but may not have heard people talking about these areas.”

He said he specifically looks for individuals who have unique stories to tell to be guests on the podcast And the show has taken off, currently airing on two campus radio stations. Templeton is also now gearing up to create a whole network offering educational courses to help students with their career paths.

While he is looking for ways to increase sales (currently, a lot of the value has been in-kind donations such as tech support and design), he said that for now his focus is on leadership development for young people and making lives better.

He also wants a stronger connection here at home.

“It is my hope to connect more of my fellow Bahamians to the podcast to share their story and passion; allowing others to e inspired to want to connect and more,” he explained.

The ’30 under 30’ honour is one he is delighted about.

The criteria for the award was that the innovator must be 30 years or younger, live in one of the four Atlantic provinces (New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island or Newfoundland and Labrador).

They had to be either a student or be employed and seeking to transform their creative ideas into a revenue stream.

“This means so much to me to receive this honour,” said Templeton. “It shows that I am creating change and if one person hears this podcast and gets the message, I would be happy, because it would be making the world a better place.”

06 | The Tribune | Weekend

Bravura, Olive, Scrag, Legate, Lobbed, Beadle, Golfer, Clamp, Ouzel, Impeach, Medieval, Glow. down: Robustly, Boom, Flair, Bronzed, Jungle, False, Yearly, Troika, Thong, Except, Quilted, Avail, Eyes, Peepshow.

tV croSSword

Best described as a number crossword, the task in Kakuro is to fill all of the empty squares, using numbers 1 to 9, so the sum of each horizontal block equals the number to its left, and the sum of each vertical block equals the number on its top. No number may be used in the same block more than once. The difficulty level of the Conceptis Kakuro increases from Monday to Sunday.

wordS

Monro 8 Boston 9 Lynyrd Skynyrd look appealing 10 Killer Whale

(4,4) 28 Search for a polecat (6)

Train

SuMthiNg

MuddlESoME

7+8=15, 2x6=12, 9x2=18

Giovanni Bellini, Andrea del Sarto, Piero della Francesca.

SMall croSSword

across: 1 Daffy, 6 Lisa, 8 Osbourne, 10 Steph, 11 Heart, 12 Silent, clock-wiSE 15 Anne, 16 Rankin, 17 Mark, Esau, 2 Aura, Keep, 21 Eden, 22 Baker.puzzle1 based Sudoku19isDimmock, a number-placing on 3a Rake, 9x94grid 5 Epic, 6 Ices. down: 2given Adie, 3 Yootha, 4 Murs, The object with several numbers. is to place the 5 Beresford, 6 Letitia, 7 Ash, QuiZ of thE wEEk numbers 1 to 9 in the empty squares so the each row, 9 Bremner, 13 Tyra, 14 Gunsmoke, each column each 3x3 box contains the2 Australia same number 17 Mole, and 18 Keen, 20 Mia. 1 Norfolk 3 Jupiter only once.

The difficulty level of the Conceptis 4 2017 5 PaddingtonSudoku 6 Queensland tV show: Grantchester increases from Monday to Sunday 7 South Shields 8 Tina Turner 9 China 10 F Scott Fitzgerald.

24 1Barrier to4a8dodgy1 2 4 3 2 4 (5) 2dealer 8 9 3 1 7 2 Friday, December 2 3 1 17, 4 6 7 3 1 9 8 3 9 1 7

4 2 3 5 1 9 5 7 9 7 8 2 1 3 7 6 3 9 9 8 2 1 7

TARGET

across: 1 Ampersand, 7 Roar, 8 Defoe, 10 Fix, 11 Unload, 13 Meanwhile, 14 Terror, 16 Net, 18 Twigs, 19 Abet, 20 Secondary. down: 1 Arguments, 2 Moaned, 3 Ergo, 4 Sew, 5 Affairs, 6 Dexterity, 8 Drawers, 9 Plastic, 12 Flower, 15 Read, 17 Ego.

c t l rBn Au i

croSS douBt across: ROUTE down: TRIPE

Quick croSSword ● The

Target across: 3 Accompany; 8 Yarn; 9 Sovereign; 10 Occupy; 11 Stage; 14 Halve;uses 15 Even; 16 Dross; 18 None; 20 Torso; 21 Tarry; words 24 Bonbon; 25 Continual; 26 Idle; in the 2main 27 Retriever. down: 1 Xylophone; Truculent; 4 Cloy; 5 Overt; 6 Pledge; 7 Nigh; Speed ; body9 of 11 Story; 12 Everybody; 13 Encounter; 17 Stool; Chambers 19 Easter; 22 Rinse; 23 Zone; 24 Base.

21st Century Dictionary (1999 edition)

HOW many words of four letters or more can you make from the letters shown here? in making a word, each letter may be used once only. each must contain the centre letter and there must be at least one nine-letter word. no plurals.

Verb forms ending in s permitted.

TODAY’S TARGET Good 20; very good 30; excellent 39 (or more). Solution tomorrow

Yesterday’s call 0907 181 2585 Sudoku Answer for today’s target solution

*Calls cost 80p per minute plus your telephone company’s network access charge.

BATTLESHIPS CRYPTIC PUZZLE Across 1 Introduces new price cuts (10) 6 Staple food? (4) 10 Ridiculed the conductor audibly (5) 11 Entrance the prisoner is put out at (9) 12 Sailing away for a look we hear (3,2,3) 13 Times called in bars (5) 15 Produces nippers (7) 17 Garment for unmarried head teacher (7) 19 A rising of workers (7) 21 Board a tracked vehicle (7) 22 Long time getting a letter (5) 24 Maximum rate for a spinner? (3,5) 27 A reckoning that comes to nothing (9) 28 Ring in the nose as a halter (5) 29 Bound to mean a change of diet (4) 30 Came between people (10)

1

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4

10

EASY PUZZLE

5

11

12 14 15

16

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Yesterday’s Easy Solution

Down 1 Sort of gear that’s all the Across: 1 Aquatic, 5 Cabin, 8 Greenhorn, 9 Tug, 10 Ruby, fashion (4) 12 Pittance, 14 Shut up, 2 Time for steady diversion 15 Insist, 17 New world, 18 Deaf, from work (3,2,4) 21 Net, 22 Redundant, 24 Merit, 3 He is working for 25 Embroil.

Down: 1 Augur, 2 Use, 3 Tint, commission (5) 4 Chopin, 5 Constant, 6 Bete 4 Carves out of iciness (7) noire, 7 Neglect, 11 Blue water, 5 Lack of drama everywhere 13 Autocrat, 14 Synonym, except in Japan (2,5) 16 Sledge, 19 Fatal, 20 Snub, 23 Ago. 7 Signal fear (5) 8 What members of a group must do to avoid discord? (4,2,4) 9 The answer is Yesterday’s Cryptic Solution perfectly clear (8) 14 Sporty group in Cathy’s Across: 1 Moonlit, 5 Solve, 8 Cafeteria, 9 Cup, 10 Span, new boat (5,5) 16 They keep locks in order (8) 12 Distaste, 14 Fracas, 15 Remiss, 17 Retreads, 18 Chic, 18 Not free to rent cargo 21 Use, 22 Attention, 24 Extol, space on board (9) 25 Dustpan.

Down: 1 Maces, 2 Off, 3 Late, 20 Lower due to a 4 Turnip, 5 Startled, 6 Locksmith, disappointment? (3,4) 7 Express, 11 Apartment, 21 The cost of sending former 13 Baseball, 14 Fortune, writers East (7) 16 Edited, 19 Canon, 20 Ants, 23 Imp. 23 Berate Lincoln about his country (5) 25 A reason for high-speed flying? (5) 26 Heavy metal gets the starring role (4) Down Across 1 Threatening (4) 1 Beyond question (10) 2 Copy of an 6 7 8 original (9) 6 An iridescent 9 gemstone (4) 3 Perfume (5) 10 Slight error (5) 4 Inconvenient (7) 11 Requiring great 5 Unpredictable (7) strength (9) 7 Groom (oneself) 12 Definite (8) in vain 13 way (5) 13 Tendon (5) 8 Tediously 15 Evidently (7) wordy (4-6) 17 Anxiety (7) 18 9 Pest (8) 19 Mistakenly (2,5) 14 Make oversubtle 21 Cajole (7) distinctions (5,5) 22 Mythical 16 As a rule (8) many-headed 18 Try earnestly (9) snake (5) 20 Interval 24 Form of of rest (7) motorcycle 25 racing (8) 21 Saturday and Sunday (7) 27 Prone to act 26 on a whim (9) 23 Storehouse (5) 28 28 Large web-footed 25 French bird (5) Impressionist painter (5) 29 Locate (4) 26 A group 30 Tempt into doing of quail (4) wrong (4,6)

21

FIND where the fleet of ships shown is hidden in the grid. The numbers to the right of and below the grid indicate how many of the squares in that row are filled in with ships or parts of ships. The ships do not touch each other, even diagonally. Some squares have been filled in to start you off.

Solution tomorrow 1

2

3

4

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6

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8

9 10

A

3

B

2

C

1

D

2

E

1

F

4

G

0

H

2

I

2

J

3 1

4

1

1

3

2

1

2

3

1 x Battleship

3 x Destroyer

2 x cruiser

4 x submarine

2

3

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2

1

4

1

3

2

2021

THE ALPHABEAT

targEt

cAn you crack the Alphabeater? each grid warraNtEE anew aware ewer newer number letter newt renew represents twee wane wantaware warn– or black square. warner warrant WARRANTEE warren wart As in Alphapuzzle, every letter of the alphabet water waterer wean weaner wear wearer ween went were is used.

But wert youwren have to complete the grid too! use the given letters and black squares below the grid to start. the grid is ‘rotationally symmetrical’ – in other words, it looks the same if you turn the page upside down.

Solution tomorrow A 25 38 19 13 B C 35 22 32 17 D E 40 1 35 39 F G 30 26 19 11 H I 4 10 29 38 J K 6 9 13 24 L M 18Yesterday’s 38 5 3 N Kakuro Answer O 34 26 12 34 P Q 20 39 9 37 R S 13 11 6 17 T U 30 7 32 33 V W 30 9 13 15 X Y 13 16 28 7 Z 1

2

21

22

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■ 23

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33

8

26

9

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37

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9

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33

31

9

34

21

13

39

12

2

13

22

9

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35

8

31

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37

3

40

12

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40

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36

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34

10

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7

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40

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36

18

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16

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25

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21

7

8

9

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13

1

27

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30 31

32

33

3

■

G■

● Alternatively, for six Extra Letter clues text DXBEAT to 64343. Texts cost £1 plus yo

WORD BUILDER Answer the clues so that each word contains the same letters as the previous word, plus or minus one.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

S

The Tribune | Weekend | 07

Friday, December 17, 2021

food

‘E’lutra gyal’ causes chaos in the kitchen trying out local dishes

By ALESHA CADET | Tribune Features Writer | acadet@tribunemedia.net

P

romoting all things Bahamian is Kaché Knowles’ mission in life.

With her iisabahamianbey platform, which can be found on both Instagram and Facebook, Kaché makes sure to keep the culture alive; be it in the form of Bahamian history, food, music, people or the local vernacular. She posts about it all, and celebrates it with T-shirts and other merchandise.

The latest feature on iisabahamianbey is “Cooking Chaos with Kaché”, in which viewers can follow her hilarious adventures in the kitchen as she tries her hand at creating staple Bahamian dishes for the first time…with varying results.

“I’m a very proud ‘E’lutra gyal’. I grew up my entire life on the island of Eleuthera - Governor’s Harbour and Palmetto Point. Growing up, I never learned to make any Bahamian food because it was always readily available by Mommy, Grammie and Aunty, so I don’t know how to make any Bahamian dishes, but I can cook. So the idea behind the series is me attempting to make these Bahamian dishes, but it’s utter chaos, and quite entertaining,” she told Tribune Weekend.

Reflecting more on her island life upbringing, Kaché said she was raised helping out her mother and grandmother in her grandmother’s retail store, “Norma’s Gift Shop”, in Governor’s Harbour. At a very young age, she was introduced to customer service, buying and selling clothing, and the flexibility of working for yourself. She knew early on that she wanted to work for herself and own her own business.

“My grandmother Norma was born a business woman. She knew how to make a dollar from anything. I spent a lot of time with her learning how to sew, do embroidery, fix anything with my hands and going to ‘How to make a dollar 101’ classes.

Before iisabahamianbey, I used to sell vegetables from our garden outside of our store. I’ve sold my paintings my entire life; I’ve had a pasta business and now I sell, highlight and celebrate Bahamian culture. It’s fun being able to create something that Bahamians can be proud of,” she said.

In 2018, when she moved back home following her studies in biology abroad, Kaché and her father frequently spent time in the kitchen cooking together, and he’d always find shortcuts to preparing dishes, like cutting the bacon with shears - as she replicated in the peas n’ rice episode of “Cooking Chaos”.

“From then I always joked, saying we could have a show called ‘cooking chaos’ because it was just always a mess. Fast-forward to starting iisabahamianbey. In 2020, I went live on my Instagram page to make conch fritters with Bahamian Bistro and it was literally a mess, but it brought

KACHÉ Knowles tries her hand at Bahamian cooking...with varied results. so many people laughter and entertainment. So after moving to Nassau in February 2021, I connected with Jaquay Adderley, popularly known as the comedian DasQuay, told him my idea and he encouraged me to start the series and offered to shoot the entire video,” she said.

“If you’ve watched the peas n’ rice video, you’ll realise that I experienced every level of grief while making that peas n’ rice. It was so traumatic that once it was over, I never wanted to watch the video, let alone edit it. I was also fearful of what people would say or think of me not being able to make Bahamian food or the way it turned out. Anyways, eight months went by and I finally built up the courage to do it, right in time for Thanksgiving and Bahamian Foodie Friday. It was received with ‘belly-hurting laughter’.”

Kaché said with this new series the goal is to simply learn how to make Bahamian dishes, make people laugh and be happy. She believes it’s also bridging the gap between the younger generation who do not know how to make Bahamian dishes and their parents and grandparents.

“I’m really hoping to get a sponsor for this series so I can continue creating and cooking

chaos that will bring joy to Bahamians. The series will be based on a gyal from the island not knowing how to make Bahamian food, but wanting to learn and teach others. However, in each episode, I constantly exclaim that I can cook… just not Bahamian food. I don’t have a set timeline for the show yet, but people can view the first episode on my Instagram or Facebook page @iisabahamianbey. There’s nothing planned and finalided yet, but I can see there being 10 episodes,” she said.

Coming up, Kaché said, viewers can expect guaranteed chaos, like in the new macaroni and cheese episode.

“I really have no concept of how Bahamian food is made and the ingredients until I go to make the dish, so as I was making the macaroni it just seemed wrong, but thankfully it turned out pretty good. Although the top was a bit crispy,” she said.

Fans have a chance to meet Kaché and experience her iisabahamianbey brand at the Christmas Pop-Up Market on Sunday, December 19, from 9am-5pm, at Ty’s Place on Village Road (next to Queen’s College).

10 | The Tribune | Weekend

Friday, December 17, 2021

gardening

Coastline restoration on Saunders Beach

I

think it was about a year ago, maybe less, maybe more (the COVID time warp continues to distort my sense of time over the last couple of years), that someone came to me asking if our nursery could assist with a coastline restoration project at Saunders Beach.

The plan was to instal native grasses (sea oats), groundcovers (railroad vine, sea purslane, beach

creeper), shrubs (sea ox eye daisy, ram’s horn, necklace pod) and trees (buttonwoods, seagrape) along the typically worst affected part of Saunders beach where the sand perpetually ends up on the road, rather than being retained on the beach.

The wooden catch fences had so far proved to be an exercise in futility at this location, mainly because

there was no incorporation of native salt tolerant plant material to compliment the purpose of the catch fences and to aid in sand retention. Suitable plant material was selected and was installed by an ambitious group of people with the intention of restoring and regenerating the sand dune to provide shade for both human and beast, shelter and food for avian and reptilian wildlife, and most importantly for the coastline and high visibility beaches, and especially those along a major traffic thoroughfare, sand retention.

The beach is popular with locals and tourists alike as it is easily accessible and relatively central in its location, and to me it makes no sense to continuously send out teams to scrape the sand that blows off of the beach from the road, there is a solution!

With little rain and salty, windy, harsh conditions, the plants were slow to establish, but as suitable plant material was used, it eventually caught in and began to grow with very little attention needed. It was really only in the last couple of months that the plants had appeared to begin thriving and establishing to then begin providing benefits to all those who use the beach and also all those who drive along West Bay Street. Someone with a “make things happen” hat on, decided that it was a good use of manpower to begin butchering and over-trimming some of this material just as it was settling in.

I was upset when I passed by recently to see that much of the material had been hacked back and was then loathed to find out that the lead on the planting project had happened past and had approached the lead of the cleanup crew. The crew was uprooting the grasses, sea purslane and railroad vine, amongst other material. When discussing with

the lead manager, I am told that the manager claimed that the vegetation “provided no room for persons (people, where did the overuse of the word persons become the norm?!) to use the beach” and that the plants would “only get buried anyway”. Absurdity. Instructions had apparently been given to the department responsible for parks and beaches, but they “seemingly do as they please with no consideration to the scientific explanation behind the entire purpose” to paraphrase the project lead. Zero recognition that they are in fact creating detriment, not benefit, in their actions. Is the sole purpose to give a few people a few hours of work a few days a year? Or are we concerned about our environment in any way? Sand retention equals larger beaches!

It appears that such a seemingly backwards decision is deemed alright by someone, but my question is this; what training and qualification does the person making these decisions have? Are they qualified to make decisions on the beach environment, more so than the highly educated, trained, conscientious, and progressive people involved in initiating the restoration project in the first place?

I call foul on the way that Saunders Beach is managed, and I call foul that so many are not willing to listen to young Bahamians who have the passion, education, determination, and drive to make improvements that lead to the betterment of the environment for each and every one who use the area in any way. Two steps forward, one step backward.

Rinse and repeat. It is crucial that we protect our coastlines, and native vegetation is one of the first lines of defense. Enjoy the sand in the road, maybe bring ya broom next time you’re in the Saunders Beach area.

Can we properly manage our coastlines though? It is for the benefit of each and every one of us that we do so in a sustainable and responsible manner. We have the human resources to make improvements as a nation, but will we listen? Plant natives on the coastline to ensure that we have a coastline for our children and grandchildren to enjoy, and all those to follow. Happy gardening!

• Adam Boorman is the nursery manager at the Fox Hill Nursery.

You can contact him with any questions you may have, or topics you would like to see discussed, at gardening242@gmail.com.

Friday, December 17, 2021

The Tribune | Weekend | 11

entertainment

King Gio crowned winner of 2021 Stoli DJ competition

By JEFFARAH GIBSON | Tribune Features Writer | jgibson@tribunemedia.net

A

LL three finalists put on a skilful and entertaining performance, however, it was disc jockey King Gio who delivered the highenergy musical set ultimately won over the judges. He emerged as the champion of the 2021 Stoli DJ Competition.

The up-and-coming DJ took full advantage of the platform provided by the liquor brand, expertly showing off his range of talent during the competition’s finale event at IL Studios last Thursday.

Under the umbrella of Commonwealth Brewery, the Stolichnaya vodka brand gave aspiring professional DJs the chance win some bragging rights.

And in front of a small audience of invited guests only - a mix of family and friends - King Gio proved why he was crowned the winner. He began his set in the most patriotic way possible: with an instrumental of the national anthem.

He then got the party started with his mix of Bahamian hits. His versatility, skillful mixing and coordinated stringing of music became evident as his 25-minute set progressed. And in true DJ fashion, he teased the audience with a sample of songs only to switch up his set and drop in a few unexpected tracks.

King Gio said his performance was so successful because he was simply doing something he truly loved.

DJ Eternic, a judge for the competition, told Tribune Weekend while the other two finalists, DJ Kid Ink and DJ LiL Bones, were both very entertaining and are deserving of commendation, King Gio had the upped the ante.

“When you can provide something that is fresh and unique, that is what your job is about.

Not only was his set unique, but it was also technically (brilliant),” she said.

“All of the DJs could entertain, but the winner was able to do things that you really only see from people with experience. It’s the little things like utilising the entire clippings on the set as opposed to using one or two buttons.

Song selection was also a big thing. His set was very Bahamian but I feel like it could also cater to an international crowd. It had cross over appeal,” he said.

Other judges on the panel included Ethan Perk, vice president of Sales and Marketing at Stansfield Scott Inc and well-known entertainer DJ AI. As the winnerm King Gio was gifted with a DJ set, an internship with 103. The Beat as as

PHOTOS/Farreno Ferguson well Stoli. The other finalists also walked away from the competion with an iPhone 12.

Densil Deveaux, senior portfolio manager at CBL, said they were excited to present the event in support of local talent.

“Due to the pandemic, we had to postpone the event. The good thing is we have allowed DJs to understand that there is still a platform where they can express their talent and be the reigning Stoli DJ champion. With that, we want to be able to consistently express Stoli as the brand of choice in the market,” he said.

“Every DJ competition has an internship tied to it. So we have Baby Dee from 100 Jamz who was the first Stoli Dj champion ever since we tied in an internship with the various sponsors. And by doing that we found that the DJs became better and they became a brand. This is how we support.

Stoli is only beginning.”

Mr Deveaux said there is so much more to come from the brand in the new year.

12 | The Tribune | Weekend

Friday, December 17, 2021

literary lives

The Royal Society of Literature Ondaatje Prize: Born in fireworks Aida Edermariam, an Ethiopian-Canadian journalist and a senior feature writer at The Guardian newspaper in the United Kingdom, writes about the history of The Royal Society of Literature Ondaatje Prize.

O

ne early summer evening nearly two decades ago, guests in black tie entered the National Portrait Gallery in London. The entrance faces east, toward the bustle of lower Charing Cross Road, but the restaurant at the top of the building faces south, a long wall of windows overlooking Nelson’s column and the lions of Trafalgar Square, down Whitehall toward Westminster and the Thames. When everyone was settled in their seats, the biographer Richard Holmes rose to speak. He and his fellow judges – the novelist Dame Beryl Bainbridge and the bookseller James Daunt — had just spent weeks reading submissions but finally they had a shortlist. It ranged from a novel set in western Australia to a biography of John Clare, from a history of the Soviet gulags to a memoir of growing up in Hoxton to an account of walking the mountains of Romantic imagination.

But the winner, said Michael Holroyd, president of the Royal Society of Literature, rising in his turn, was Louisa Waugh’s Hearing Birds Fly, about a year she spent living in a remote Mongolian village. Waugh moved to accept her cheque from the prize’s sponsor, Sir Christopher Ondaatje — £10,000, one of the more generous purses then available — and all at once a tremendous fireworks display exploded above Trafalgar Square.

“It was a huge thing, really gorgeous,” says Sir Christopher, still clearly thrilled by the memory.

“And Michael Holroyd turned to me and said, ‘How much did you have to pay to do this?’”

Of course, he hadn’t had anything to do with it, but it felt like an auspicious beginning. The idea for a prize that was not just for travel books, but something far wider and more interesting — “a distinguished work of fiction, non-fiction or poetry evoking the spirit of a place” — arose out of conversations between the travel writer and biographer Sara Wheeler, and then-RSL president (and distinguished biographer himself) Michael Holroyd. They felt that while fiction writers had prizes to win, non-fiction was less well served. There was already a travel book prize (the Thomas Cook), and anyway, says Wheeler, “there

JOURNALIST Aida Edermariam

Part I

aren’t enough really good travel books to go round.”

Colleagues remember writer and editor Ferdinand Mount, then also a member of the RSL Council, coming up with the animating phrase “spirit of a place” – but these and his own memories are, as Mount puts it, “extremely unreliable”; what is sure is that Holroyd approached Ondaatje. “He had read my books – in particular Sindh Revisited and Journey to the Source of the Nile,“ says the 88-year-old financier and publisher turned author, adventurer and philanthropist — and onetime Olympic bobsleigh competitor for Canada.

“He had also read my brother’s book, Running in the Family” — a memoir of their childhoods in what is now Sri Lanka, told in poems and fragments of memory and oral history. “I thought it was a really good idea right away. He didn’t have very much convincing to do.”

Holmes remembers the first judging meetings, held in rooms in Somerset House, on the Strand,

SIR MICHAEL HOLROYD, biographer and former president of the Royal Society of Literature

Friday, December 17, 2021

The Tribune | Weekend | 13

clear when they considered lyric poetry, and in fact a poet did win that year, Pascale Petit, for Mama Amazonica, which melds evocations of the Amazon with the psychiatric ward housing Petit’s mentally ill mother. “That’s what makes the prize radical.”

The rubric is of serious wider importance, too.

You start to realise, says Nagra, that setting and place are “the bedrock of everything we imagine” — but also that they “become political whether they’re meant to or not. It’s a way of speaking directly about the world in a very indirect way.”

Almost everyone I spoke to brought up the complicating issue of empire; the necessary critique of geographical and economic power, and the ways in which power alters or marginalises the less powerful. But awareness is not the same as dismissal.

“One can deplore the empire,” says Roberts, “but given that it happened, one can then look with interest at modern writing about place — which has its roots in empire.” So one legacy of empire is untold loss; loss of place, loss of a holistic sense of self and of cultural history, a sense of personal and historical division. This is also true of globalisation, of course.

“As displacement and migration sweep the world,” says Warner, “more millions on the move than ever before – the whole complicated relation

LOUISE Waugh ship of place with the imagination has become very important. So many people have lost the with Daunt (“terrifically good — he had a wonderplace they come from, and the place that they ful panoramic view of it”) and the late Bainbridge, come from has itself vanished. The whole question “a wonderful, sweet, charming, mischievous charof literature making a home is very interesting. acter.” That first year they read over 100 books.

Literature can make safe places across time.”

“It was exciting because we felt we were given It can also, for want of a better word, be an something to create” — though in fact, speaking to judges from subsequent years, there is a sense advocate: the act of reading about places and that each group, meeting over sandwiches and people other than oneself is — or should be — cakes and tea provided by the prize’s long-term an act of openness, of willingness to listen and administrator Paula Johnson, has in a way to reimagine other ways of being. Of compassion, and interpret the rubric for themselves. So for Holmes empathy. “Whether a place is wild and far away, it came to be about “a particular kind of rootedor somewhere quite domestic,” says Thubron, any ness that may exist in geography, or in history, good evocation must involve the emotion as well or in memory or in a particular people. Travel as the intellect. “It is so important to understand literature is by definition unrooted, isn’t it, about where others are, to feel at least as if you particitravelling through – whereas all these books really pate in it a little. have a sense of really getting inside a place.”

It often occurs to me that if people in the White “All the books I admired,” says novelist and House or 10 Downing Street had ever sat in a poet Michèle Roberts, the only person to have café in Kabul or Mazār-i-Sharīf, or even if they’d judged the prize twice, “were about soul – they read sufficiently to get a feel for what the society gave you the soul of a place, which is deeply involved in history and culture. It’s not just visual was really about, might they have gone as blithely – I’m going to give you a chunk of description with about their business as they did?” a capital D. It’s not that at all.”

And if these conditions are met, the other con“I think it was Joan Didion who said a place dition of the prize, that the work must be of the belongs forever to whoever claims it hardest,” says highest literary merit, somehow becomes easier Colin Thubron, who was president of the RSL to achieve. “It’s amazing,” says Johnson, who for from 2010-2017, and to whom, as a travel writer, the first few years was also non-voting chair, “how the prize is especially important. really getting to the heart of something is not It’s “place as character, as temperament, as perparticular to any form of writing” — rather, it’s SIR CHRISTOPHER ONDAATJE, sponsor of the sonal profile,” agrees Dame Marina Warner, who about how it’s done: “The quality of writing,” says annual Royal Society of Literature Ondaatje Prize succeeded Thubron. That was an aspect of the Holmes, “becomes absolutely key.” prize that surprised then delighted poet and RSL broadens – being in someone’s consciousness is chair Daljit Nagra, who judged it in 2018.

• Aide Edermariam, who has worked in New being in a place. A mood is a setting. You may not “Initially I thought it had to be a specific York, London and Toronto, is also the author of have an address or time of day – but it is still a postcode somewhere. But once you start reading your understanding of place and setting place we can relate to.” This became particularly ‘The Wife’s Tale: A Personal History’.

14 | The Tribune | Weekend

Friday, December 17, 2021

history

The history of Magna Carta Court

I

’ve been involved in discussions about Parliament Street, which is not shown on the older maps of Nassau, and in researching this subject, I came upon a May 5, 1976, article in The Tribune talking about ‘New life for old home’.

The author is Gordon Knowles.

FORGOTTEN FACTS It is now the chambers of Edward Roberts and called Magna Carta Court. His late father restored the old building.

“When Miss Olive Moore, the last resident of the old house on the corner died, last year, at the age of 93, those of us, who have sadly watched the remnants of old Nassau architecture gradually disappear, were inclined to think that another building was slated for bulldozing.

“Its occupants gone, the building stool, with doors and windows shuttered against the sunlight, which once filled its spacious, high-ceilinged rooms. With paint peeling and woodwork rapidly, it waited for some romantic to discover its quaint charm and old-world beauty.

Only recently, it took on a brighter look as a fresh coat was applied to the exterior and the noticeably decrepit state of the building crept from ancient decline to new life.

In the past few weeks, the doors and windows have been re-opened and the rooms of the 18th century building filled with furnishings and collectors’ items from a bygone era. With a sign on its upstairs story, Commonwealth Antiques were in business – and a bit of our past had been saved.

The building, the boyhood home of Sir Walter K Moore, has seen many changes of ownership, since the time it was built, probably back in the 1700s.

Before it came to Sir Walter’s father, Mr Ernest Moore, the building was owned by John Alday, whose daughter, Moriah, by his second marriage to Sara Elizabeth Preston, married Ernest Moore.

Sara Elizabeth Preston Alday had operated a bakery on the premises, which is probably why there are two large, brick ovens, in the wing of the house. The original showcase and stand, used to display the bakery goods, is still in the building.

PAUL C ARANHA

THE BUILDING behind the horse and carriage houses the chambers of Edward D Roberts, Jr, and is called Magna Carta Court. Behind the traffic light is the octagonal building that is home to the library and uses to be the goal. The chain fence, near the library, is where the wall once stood when it enclosed the prison grounds.

The western wing was once used as a boarding house, for overflow guests from the Royal Vic, in peak season.

The house seems to have been destined for home industry and, in the following generations, the widow of Ernest Moore also turned to baking cakes and preserving jams,

back home, to support and feed her children. Her cake shop was a focal point for pedestrians, who stopped to chat, and catch up with the latest gossip.

The house seems to have had as many luxuries as was possible, at the time of its construction, including a well, under the kitchen floor, for easy

access; ovens, in rooms joined to the house and an outdoor-type toilet, built into the ground floor of the house.

Changes continue at the residence and future plans for the building, although as yet shrouded in an air of secrecy, seem to indicate, apart from the antique shop, that there will be room to exhibit the works of local artists, crafts and artwork

by Bahamian school children, and general historical displays.

Adhering to a request for a bit of secrecy, at this point, I shall go no further than to say that Commonwealth and Museum is the latest and, from the looks of it, the most enjoyable project of a well-known Bahamian realtor and his wife, who are also antiques lovers.”

• For questions and comments, please send an e-mail to islandairman@ gmail.com

The Tribune | Weekend | 15

Friday, December 17, 2021

animals Animal matters Kim Aranha

Christmas considerations

T

Buddy enjoying his 15th Christmas with the Aranha family.

alone at home more frequently, and frankly they really do not understand why.

Don’t forget, not that very long ago we were locked down in our homes day in and day out; our pet’s idea of pure heaven, to have their human right there with them all day and every day.

Now we are back to running around like the busiest of bees and our furry family have no idea why.

Food is another huge consideration.

We are eating all sorts of nuts and

PET OF THE WEEK

chocolates, fruitcake, mince pies, ham and turkey. Beware, some of these foods are not pet friendly. Chocolate can kill your pet, and very quickly, too. Do not allow them to get anywhere near the chocolates, and if they somehow do, please, phone the vet immediately.

Too much of anything is not good for your pet. If you want to give them a piece of turkey or ham, that’s fine, but you are not doing them a favour loading them up with Christmas foods.

Your pet has a balanced died eleven and a half months of the year; don’t go and spoil things now. A treat here and there, fine, but what they really want more than anything else in the world is your love and attention. They thrive on your understanding them and talking to them kindly. My dogs love to sit with me when I write or watch the TV. They are just happy to be near me, peacefully.

I know it is not always possible to maintain a tranquil and balanced household, especially if you have excited kids in the house, but remember your pets are part of the family too.

Perhaps the most essential thing to remember is that this is a time of the year that people love to let off fireworks. Many dogs are terribly afraid of the noise they make, many dogs run away from home, squeezing through fences or jumping over walls because they panic. On New Year’s Eve, if you go out, secure your dog inside. If you don’t want your dog in the house (we will talk about that another time), put him safe in the garage or the wash house. So many dogs die because they escape, because they are afraid and get hit by a car. Please take this advice and do not make your dog yet another statistic.

I wish you and yours a very merry, happy and safe Christmas!

A gentle giant

By The Bahamas Humane Society

O PHOTO/LINDA GILL-ARANHA

he gifts are all bought (or almost), baking is in full swing and we are all so busy getting ready for that all-important day and the days that lead up to December 25.

Even though with COVID there are less parties and gatherings to attend, I still hear of a bunch of people having get-togethers, and we all know that just might carry a degree of danger. So be careful, my dear readers, and love yourselves enough to stay safe.

There is not as much to do or as many parties to go to, but nevertheless, we are preparing frantically to be ready and have all the traditions in place because, well, we always have done it that way.

“Mamma bake de Johnny Cake, Christmas comin.” Every year I write this same article using different words, but it is so necessary that it has to be said over and over in case somebody forgets: the fact that we have to take special care and be especially vigilant of our furry family members at this time of the year.

As we are so busy it is easy to overlook the signals our beloved pets may be sending us if they are not feeling well or are stressed. Are they behaving differently, are they snapping, or barking or hiding away when they’re normally outgoing and socialable?

There are age-old signs that something is not right. They may not be unwell; it is quite possible that they are just unsettled by the noise (Christmas music playing too loudly), additional visitors (family stopping by), or the tree may be taking up their favourite spot in the living room. So many things are different during the Christmas season and they are all changes that can upset Fido and Fluffy.

Probably the thing that changes most at Christmas time is you. Frequently, in anticipation of the holidays, we are stressed, and if we are stressed our pet is instantly aware of our stress and gets upset. When we are stressed, we have less time for them. We may yell at them for being in the way when we trip over them…oops human, look where you are going! They don’t trip over us.

We are probably out more buying gifts, attending office parties, school Christmas pageants and other seasonal events. This means Fido and Fluffy are

lder dog Max isn’t a full German shepherd, though he looks a lot like one. This gentle giant was dropped off at the Bahamas Humane Society when his owner moved out of the country and was unable to take Max along.

Max is probably close to nine years old and he hopes to spend his next few years in a loving home. He’s not fazed at all by the cats at the shelter and basically ignores the other dogs. He loves a good walk and being outdoors.

Do you have just the right spot for

Max to rest his head? If so, please contact the BHS at 323-5138 for more information. Max looks forward to meeting you!

• The BHS Thrift Shop will be holding a ‘half off’ sale on Saturday, December 18, from 10am to 2pm. Come check out what interesting items are available before they close for their Christmas vacation (reopening January 5). Thank you all for your donations throughout the year. Your support makes all this possible. Happy holidays!

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Friday, December 17, 2021