A little Taste of Haiti in South Florida

It is a BIG weekend for all foodies and fans of Haitian culture. In the spirit of Haitian Heritage Month, both Miami-Dade and Broward Counties will be hosting pre-Haitian Flag Day celebrations. The first of the two being held in Miami is called the Taste of Haiti (TOH).

This is the fourth annual Taste of Haiti. It is an event organized by the Haitian Culinary Alliance (HCA). It will not only display the foods native to Haiti but modernized versions of everyone's favorites crafted by many talented local chefs. Many of these local chefs will also be there with their own exhibits to share their talents. Click here for a full list of exhibitors.

The TOH will not only give you a sample of Haitian Cuisine, but its culture as a whole. The event spans May 9-11 with different events tailored for those who work in the culinary world, the general public and a special Mother's Day brunch. My focus will be on May 10, the main event of the weekend. It will be a day full of food and activities for everyone. There will be a kids’ corner so the ti moun are welcome as well. Admission to the event is free but there will be food, drinks and crafts for sale. The event will be held at the MOCA Plaza from 4pm-10pm. The address is 770 NE 125th Street, Miami, FL 33161.

Taso and Banan Peze

So the first Haitian Food recipe I will be sharing with you guys is a double header.

Goat Meat Taso

The first dish is called Taso. The photo and recipe comes from KreyolCuisine.com. Taso is traditionally made from beef or goat meat. But for those who prefer a leaner meat, turkey is also used. Personally I love Taso because it is my alternative to Griot. I don't eat pork so I believe it is a great replacement and it is similarly prepared. The following recipe is for goat meat Taso.

Haitian Food

Ok so I understand everyone around the world says this in their own right...but there's nothing, I mean NOTHING as DELICIOUS as MANJE AYISYEN (Haitian food). I mean the spices, the fresh ingredients, the variety, the love it's all prepared with...WHOOSH!!!! Ok wait, hold on, I am getting a little ahead of myself. As you can tell I am a big fan of food. I love all kinds of food. Asian, chicken wings, Latin, chicken wings, Southern style Soul Food, chicken wings, and did I mention how much I love chicken wings? But there's something about going to manmi's (mom's), my nenen's (godmother's) or ma tante's (my aunt's) house right after they THREW DOWN on some queue boeuf (oxtail), di ri ak jonjon (black rice with mushrooms), makawoni au gratin (macaroni and cheese) and my personal favorite some boulettes (meatballs)!!!

Haitians have their signature dishes that other cultures have come to know well like griot (deep fried pork), tassot (deep fried goat or turkey meat), banan peze (pressed and fried plantains) and of course pikliz (put plainly...a spicy coleslaw). Aside from those and the ones I listed earlier, Haitian cuisine is very diverse and has influences from French, African and Latin cuisine. Also the beauty in the food is that it is a perfect representation of the island. Fresh seafood bears witness to its geographical location. The farm raised animals and fresh grown crops used in the foods are all indigenous to the island. And the blend of spices and the hint of heat in the food shows the fire that burns within the people. (I know I know, I'm pretty deep and poetic.)

FLAGS UP!!!!!!!!

Just a month away from May 18th and I am already brimming with excitement!!! I just can't wait!! Red and Blue everywhere, kompas blaring in the streets, fritay (Haitian version of a fish fry) in abundance...wait, don't tell me you don't know what is happening on May 18th?!? Umway, pitit chita kite m' di ou itswa a (OMG, child have a seat and let me tell you the story).

All over the world the Haitian diaspora celebrate May 18th as Haitian Flag Day. On the same day in the year 1803, Catherine Flon, at the request of Haitian Revolutionary leaders Jean-Jacques Dessalines and Alexandre Petion, sewed together the vertical red and blue bands torn from the French flag to create the first flag to represent the Independent nation of Haiti.

10 little known facts about the Haitian Flag

Since the first flag's inception in 1803, Haiti's banner has undergone much evolution up until its current form was adopted in 1986. The development of the flag is intertwined with Haiti's history of rulers and government officials. Through each reincarnation of the flag a different aspect of today's version was added in. Below you'll find a link to a timeline of Haiti's past flags.

Haiti's flags through the years...

The 2014 A La Mode Beauty Fashion and Comedy Show

This past Saturday evening, March 29, 2014, I was fortunate enough to attend the Second Annual A La Mode Beauty Fashion and Comedy Show presented by CarnaFam and it was quite the gathering. Food, drinks, live music, stand up comedy and of course models sporting apparel from some of Haiti's finest designers. Yeah, there are fashion designers straight from Haiti, I had no idea! A few names present were Bijou Lakay, Kaltural, Murielle Creations and David Andre Collections. But lets start from the beginning.

Yours truly and the event's organizers
Djenane (left) and Tanisha (right)

What is CarnaFam? "It is a production company that makes the connection between the different genres such as arts, books, fashion, gastronomy, music, and photography. CarnaFam, a Haitian cultural organization in South Florida, is inviting the South Florida community to journey through Haiti". Through the efforts of President Tanisha Ade and Vice-President Djenane St Fleur, CarnaFam puts on events to promote Haitian culture, literature and social interaction. Alongside some of the community's favorite artists, authors, designers and leaders, CarnaFam looks to impact South Florida by highlighting the best Haiti has to offer.