Monday, July 30, 2012

Queen's Diamond Jubilee, Royal Poinciana, Pimms, Scones and Pork Pie



click on the links in green

 Llewellyn Xavier: Vermillion from the series: Flame of the Forest

Royal Poinciana,
Flamboyant Trees


At this time of year, one of the most magnificent flowering trees of the Caribbean, known as: Flamboyant, Royal Poinciana, Flame Tree, Shak Shak tree, and also by its botanical name Delonix Regia, blooms glorious showers of flowers in reds, oranges and yellows.  The show can go on into September and it is well worth searching to find the most beautiful natural flower display and follow its growth over the years.

Orange Flamboyant Tree
Red Flamboyant Flowers
  Red Flamboyant Tree and waterfall at Cap Estate 


Orange Flamboyant Flowers
Red Flamboyant Flowers
Orange Flamboyant Flowers

Yellow Flamboyant Flowers


The name Shak Shak is a regional name for the tree because of its long seed pods that are amplified and used as a percussion instrument in folk bands. 


Shak Shak sound Click on arrow above to hear sound.


Shak Shak seeds


Flamboyant pods


Yellow Flamboyant Flowers

A Taste of Britain

Three British things to enjoy:

Pimms - one of the most refreshing summer beverages, add a  few Caribbean fruits to make it more exotic;

Pork Pie - It has always been something that I believed was impossible to make unless you were a Cordon Bleu chef or you had been handed down a family recipe or you just bought some at a store.  The recipe I used was from Gordon Ramsay, Ham and Pork Pie.  I substituted Italian Sausage meat, either hot or mild will do, instead of the regular sausage with added Tabasco sauce.  As I didn't have any pork fat I used bacon fat instead of the lard, which is pretty easy to make and store in a jar in the fridge.

Tea Scones - either wonderful sweet fruit scones with Strawberry Jam and Clotted Cream or the savoury cheese and herb are an integral part of a British High Tea.  If in London, do go and have High Tea at Brown's Hotel



PIMMS ON ICE




PIMMS AND YELLOW FLAMBOYANT
 

 


P I M M ' s

Take a tall glass and fill it with ice.
Mix 1 part PIMM'S No.1 with 3 parts chilled Sprite; add some mint, cucumber, and for that extra special Caribbean twist a paper thin slice of lime

Pimm's was first produced in 1823 by Pimm, a farmer's son from Kent who became the owner of an oyster bar in the City of London, near the Bank of England. He offered the tonic (a gin-based drink containing quinine and a secret mixture of herbs) as an aid to digestion, serving it in a small tankard known as a "No. 1 Cup", hence its subsequent name.  Pimm's began large-scale production in 1851 to keep up with sales to other bars.




HAM AND PORK PIE
HAM AND PORK PIE

HAM AND PORK PIE WITH MANGO CHUTNEY


TEA SCONES
Afternoon tea with scones at
Brown's Hotel, London - A MUST



Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II
Diamond Jubilee Celebrations

This year Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II celebrates her Diamond Jubilee (60 years on the throne).  Various forms of celebrations are taking place throughout the Commonwealth and Great Britain.   In St. Lucia, the Governor General, Dame Pearlette Louisy, GCMG, started off the celebration with a visit by His Royal Highness Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex , KG GCVO and Sophie, Countess of Wessex  followed by a Gala Banquet and Ball at Government House.

Llewellyn Xavier at his investiture receiving the OBE (The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire)  from Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace


Talk about being born with a silver spoon in your mouth, some of us were born with two!  Silver spoons from Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II for children born the week of the Coronation.
(Rosa in the Bahamas: do you still have yours?  Maybe we could press for the rest of the set!)


Government House, St. Lucia
Royal Palms - Government House
Government House, St Lucia 1900's



Queen at Government House by CX
Croton at Government House


Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II at the Henley Regatta 2012 - photo by Jessica Koomen



The Swan Uppers on their boat at Henley - photo by Jessica Koomen

Thank you Jessica for letting me use your two wonderful photos of the Henley Regatta.

Swan Upping is an annual ceremonial census of the mute swans on the River Thames.  They are checked, marked and let go.  The Monarch retains the right to ownership of all unmarked mute swans in open water, but only exercises ownership on certain stretches of the River Thames and its surrounding tributaries.  This dates from the 12th century, during which time swans were a common food source for royalty.

The Henley Royal Regatta is a colourful rowing event held every year in July on the River Thames by the town of Henley on Thames.   Anyone wanting to enjoy the finest Henley has to offer can stay at this charming Bed and Breakfast: The Lyndons .



Feral Cat Shampoo


Ti Noir was one of our first feral kittens to visit.  However she decided that she preferred to spend the better part of her day in our air-conditioned bedroom than roaming the wild foraging for food.  She leaves home at 5 am and returns at 6 pm unless she has been mousing or birding!   She has a penchant for shampooing hair.   Click on arrow above to see video link. 
Music : Mille Cherubini in Coro sung by Luciano Pavarotti.



Ti Noir


Ti Wouge shampooing Ti Noir!

First encounters: Feral Ti Gres bringing her offspring Ti Noir and Ti Wouge home 



and finally,

congratulations to Great Britain for hosting such a wonderful opening ceremony for the 2012 Olympics.

Special congratulations to Danny Boyle for his brilliant creation and to Thomas Heatherwick for his magnificent Olympic Cauldron which included children, representing the 204 competing nations,  carrying the copper petals to the main sculpture and the flower closing together magnificently.  Absolutely fantastic  A R T.



2012 Olympic Cauldron by Thomas Heatherwick




2012 Olympic Cauldron from Heatherwick.com

JERUSALEM BY WILLIAM BLAKE

And did those feet in ancient time
Walk upon England's mountains green?
And was the holy Lamb of God
On England's pleasant pastures seen?
And did the Countenance Divine
Shine forth upon our clouded hills?
And was Jerusalem builded here
Among these dark Satanic mills?
Bring me my bow of burning gold:
Bring me my arrows of desire:
Bring me my spear: O clouds unfold!
Bring me my chariot of fire.
I will not cease from mental fight,
Nor shall my sword sleep in my hand
Till we have built Jerusalem
In England's green and pleasant land.




 

Monday, May 28, 2012

Saint Lucia, Mango, TAO and the bodyholiday LeSPORT

click on the links in green
SAINT LUCIA


St. Lucia Coat of Arms



antique map of the West Indies by Joannes de Laet 1593-1649


Santa Lucia song:  These are several different versions of the Neapolitan song Santa Lucia.  This tune is usually played by Steel Bands  in Saint Lucia but these are the sung versions:
The great Italian tenor, Enrico Caruso, 1916 and the The Three Tenors version, the most magnificent Tenors Luciano Pavarotti,  Plácido Domingo and José Carreras.   The Andrea Bocelli version  and the beautiful voice of Elvis Presley.

This is the better translation from the original, of course, nothing like the poetic Italian version!

The silver star shimmers on the sea,
The wave is peaceful, the wind is favorable.
The silver star shimmers on the sea,
The wave is peaceful, the wind is favorable.
Come to my sprightly little boat,
Santa Lucia, Santa Lucia!
Come to my sprightly little boat,
Santa Lucia, Santa Lucia!

With this breeze so sweet,
Oh, how lovely it is to be on a boat!
With this breeze so sweet,
Oh, how lovely it is to be on a boat!
Come on passengers, come away!
Santa Lucia, Santa Lucia!
Come on passengers, come away!
Santa Lucia, Santa Lucia!

Amid the sails, supper is ready
On this night so serene.
Amid the sails, supper is ready
On this night so serene,
With no demands, with no desires,
Santa Lucia, Santa Lucia!
With no demands, with no desires,
Santa Lucia, Santa Lucia!

This sea so calm, this wind so dear,
Makes the sailor forget his troubles.
This sea so calm, this wind so dear,
Makes the sailor forget his troubles.
And he is shouting cheerfully,
Santa Lucia, Santa Lucia!
And he is shouting cheerfully,
Santa Lucia, Santa Lucia!

Oh sweet Naples, oh blessed land,
Where Creation wished to smile!
Oh sweet Naples, oh blessed land,
Where Creation wished to smile!
You are the realm of harmony,
Santa Lucia, Santa Lucia!
You are the realm of harmony,
Santa Lucia, Santa Lucia!

Now why delay? The night is beautiful,
A cool and light breeze is blowing.
Now why delay? The night is beautiful,
A cool and light breeze is blowing.
Come to my sprightly little boat,
Santa Lucia, Santa Lucia!
Come to my sprightly little boat,
Santa Lucia, Santa Lucia!

St. Lucia National Bird: Amazona versicolor parrot 

St. Lucia Parrot stamps


Amazona Versicolor by Fleur

St. Lucia National Tree:  Calabash


the bodyholiday LeSPORT




the bodyholiday LeSport beach and Tao



and the TAO restaurant


Sushi at TAO
Everyone returns to the newly renovated Le Sport Body Holiday for some reason; the great spa treatments, the fresh and varied menus, the beautiful beach, the elegantly classy hotel, the friendly staff, and we enjoy going to Tao Restaurant, overlooking the sea, for the atmosphere and  good food.  We spent part of our honeymoon here and have been visiting ever since.

An all-inclusive with class.  Just check out Trip Advisor.





view from Llewellyn Xavier's Studio at Cap Estate, in the North of St. Lucia,
overlooking the Caribbean Sea, the Atlantic Ocean and the St. Lucia Golf and Country Club.
photo by Zeno Frediani




and on to mangoes



from mango blossom to fruit


The mango season is here!  Hurrah, collect them,  then peel, cut and freeze the pulp.  Store in the freezer in a ziploc bag.  They will last for the whole year.  They freeze well, you can slice the pulp for any dish, juice or fruit crumble.


Driving along St. Lucia one sees mangoes on the roadside in abundance.  Palwi, (my favourite when ripe straight from the tree, sweet and crunchy), mango long, Tin kwem, Graham, lovely Julie, Madame, Mango Pont, mango bouteille, mango dirizdu, mango a la rose, mango cocobef, ceylon, bombay, Tommy Atkins,  Zill,  and a host of other names far, far too numerous to mention.


The Trindidadians are the best in the Caribbean at putting mangoes to good use making a green mango salad as well as chutneys, pickles, sweet and hot as accompaniments to a variety of dishes.


chicken  with mango and coconut 
2 roughly cubed chicken breasts
1 crushed garlic clove
2 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp Soya sauce
1 tsp fish sauce
1 tsp crushed ginger
50 ml coconut milk
3 tbsp oyster sauce
1/2 thinly sliced Jalapeno pepper or 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes or to taste
2 tbsp pureed mango or a couple of slices
2 tbsp chopped red onion
1 tbsp chopped cilantro or Shado Beni and 1 tbsp grated coconut
pepper and salt to taste
Heat oil and gently fry crushed garlic. Add chicken cubes for a few minutes until cooked through,
about 3 minutes.  Add red onions, and then all the remaining ingredients, except cilantro and grated coconut,
mix well and cook  for 5 minutes add the last two ingredients.  Season to taste.


antique print of Mango and Mango Blossom


antique print of Mango


Paul Gauguin


Paul Gauguin travelled to the Caribbean, painting in Martinique.


Mango Pickers, Martinique, 1887



Two Tahitian Women with Mango Blossom, 1899



Mango Pannacotta

mango, soursop and guava pannacotta (left to right)


Pannacotta is not as daunting as some people think.  Once you get the exact amounts of gelatine and cream right, you will be experimenting on all sorts of pannacottas with fruit, herbs or spices.  For Soursop and Guava use the basic recipe, removing any seeds, before pureeing.

 1 cup chopped fresh mango
2 cups heavy cream (room temperature)
1 1/2 teaspoons unflavoured gelatine 
2 tablespoons water
1/2 cup white sugar

Puree the mango until smooth.  Add 1 cup of the heavy cream and puree in a blender until smooth.  Strain the mango puree through a fine sieve over a bowl, pressing down with the back of a spoon to extract as much of the puree as possible.




Knox Gelatine Powder


In another bowl, sprinkle the gelatin evenly over the water and allow to soften, about 5 minutes.  Scrape the gelatine into a saucepan with the sugar, add the 1 cup of cream and cook over very low heat until the sugar is dissolved.  Do not let the cream boil.  Cool completely, about 10 minutes, then whisk in the mango puree.  Put in glasses or small bowls.  Refrigerate for 5 hours or overnight.



 Dr Oetker Sugar Butterflies


Urdu poet Mirza Asadullah Khan Ghalib was very fond of mangoes

So, Ghalib ji, can you advise us on the fine qualities of these heavenly fruits? He opined, "In my view, there are only two essential points about mangoes: they should be sweet and they should be plentiful." Exactly! Sweet as honey and plentiful. On receiving a basket of 65 mangoes from a friend, he wrote in 1859, "I thought of each mango as a sealed glass, filled with the liquor of the grape, and filled with such superb skill that not so much a single drop spilled from any of the 65 glasses."

(References: Ralph Russell and Khurshidul Islam, 1994, "Ghalib: Life and Letters", OUP, New Delhi.)

[Source: Daily Times, Lahore]





The logwood is still blossoming
Cap Estate, in the North of St. Lucia, is surrounded by ancient logwood trees, known locally as Campeche and by its botanical name of Haematoxylum campechianum. It is a virtual fragrance diffused landscape and the thrill of waking up to this intense scent of logwood blossom which perfumes the whole valley is pure caribbean ecstasy. Bees feed on the nectar of the logwood, producing the finest honey. Logwood is one of the sweetest smelling blossoms, pretty yellow flowers, and although it is short-lived, the mesmerising intensity of the perfume lingers in ones thoughts. The tree is used in medicine and also as a dye creating deep purple blue hues.




and the yucca is now in bloom

yucca flowers

yucca and the day moon

The Flamboyant Trees are flowering..............next time