Bermuda is an archipelago (a large group or chain of islands) consisting of seven main islands and about 130 smaller islands. A British overseas territory in the North Atlantic Ocean, the Islands of the Bermuda are located approximately 1000 miles northeast of Miami Florida. The uninhabited island was discovered around the year 1505, some 500 years ago, by Spanish explorer, Juan de Bermudez, after whom the islands are named. While the discovery was made there was no attempt to land or settle the islands until 1609. In 1609 nine ships owned by the Virginia Company of London leave England with more colonists and supplies for the settlement of Jamestown, Virginia. The fleet is commanded by Sir George Somers whose ship is separated from the fleet during a storm at sea. The ship becomes lodged on one of Bermuda’s reefs. The crew and colonists are able to make it to shore.... Read the Rest →
Belize lies on the eastern or Caribbean coast of Central America and is bordered by Mexico to the north and (partly) to the west. The remainder of the west and the south of Belize is bordered by Guatemala. Belize is the least populated country in Central America. Belize is a diverse society that was the only nation in the region with a British colonial heritage that also has cultural ties to the Caribbean and Latin American countries. Territorial disputes between the United Kingdom and Guatemala held up Belize’s independence until 1981. The history of Belize predates European influence as it was originally populated by the Amerindians (Caribs, Arawaks and Mayas). Mayan civilization spread from the Yucatan Peninsula, to the north, down to Belize. Mayan civilization flourish in Belize from around 200-800AD and begins to decline in the late 800’s to 1000AD. The first Europeans arrived in 1511 when shipwrecked Spanish... Read the Rest →
Having researched a few Caribbean Islands since we began Tastily Touring (previously Worldly Wednesday) we have discovered that the Arawak Indians were the original inhabitants of many Caribbean Islands. Around 1200 the Caribs, coming from Venezuela, conquered the Arawak population on the island of Barbados. By the 1500’s the island of Barbados would be uninhabited due to frequent slave trading raids led by the Spanish. The Caribs were either taken as slaves or fled to other islands. The island of Barbados is located most easterly of the Caribbean Island chain, northeast of Venezuela. Barbados gets its name from the Portuguese as they sailed to Brazil. Los Barbados, or bearded-ones, was chosen by the Portuguese explorer Pedro a Campos. The island had many fig trees, which had a beard-like appearance. Despite the frequent visits by the Spanish, Barbados was first settled by the British in 1627. On May 14th 1625 Captain... Read the Rest →
Casting Call: Guest Bloggers for Oscar Week Wanted MyFudo™ Presentations is casting for immediate guest bloggers for Oscar Week. Do you see yourself tripping the light fantastic up the myFudo red carpet? If you do then submit your post (see requirements below). Contact us at info (AT) myfudo (dot) (com) to submit your photos and recipes, to inquire more information about this contest, please by contact us through our contact us page. At the end of Oscar Week, February 26, 2012, myFudo will select winners in the following categories: 1. Creative Writing 2. Photography 3. Recipe 4. Best Post (Combined superiority in writing, photography and recipe) The Prizes: Essential Pepin Jacque Pepin’s latest cookbook will go to Best Photo, Best Creative Writing, and Best Recipe. For Best post, the contest winner gets a $50 Gift Card to Crate and Barrel. The winners will be featured on our site. Shoot... Read the Rest →
Saffron: expensive and exotic. The saffron crocus produces the world’s most costly spice. Saffron is expensive for good reason. It takes approximately 70,000 saffron crocus flowers to produce 5 pounds of stigmas which are the deep red tips that collect pollen grains within the crocus flower. The 5 pounds of stigmas then must dry in order to produce 1 pound of saffron. Because the stigmas are so delicate they must be harvested by hand and this must be done on the same day that the crocus begins to open. Today, most saffron is harvested in Iran or Spain. However the origins of the spice come from Greece or Mediterranean areas in the vicinity around the Bronze Age. The spice, like most spices, traveled trade routes to the Indian subcontinent around 500 BCE. It traveled via Arab merchants to Spain and by Crusaders who introduced it to France and England. Saffron’s... Read the Rest →
July 4th. Independence Day. The day when all Americans celebrate their freedom. From one region of the United States to the next traditional foods are prepared with the anticipation of backyard feasting and evening fireworks. One of my favorite meals to prepare for the 4th of July is a traditional crab boil. Growing up on the east coast of the United States and having family members who reside in Maryland the crab boil became a focal point of summer family gatherings. When our Maryland cousins visited they brought bushels of blue crabs. My family simply boiled them, set out copious amounts of melted butter atop tables layered with newspaper and, with mallets in hand, the feasting began. Often referring to our great country as a “melting pot”, we are proud of our many cultures. What better way to celebrate the freedoms that allow us to cherish our individual cultural backgrounds... Read the Rest →
July 4th. Independence Day. The day when all Americans celebrate their freedom. From one region of the United States to the next traditional foods are prepared with the anticipation of backyard feasting and evening fireworks. One of my favorite meals to prepare for the 4th of July is a traditional crab boil. Growing up on the east coast of the United States and having family members who reside in Maryland the crab boil became a focal point of summer family gatherings. When our Maryland cousins visited they brought bushels of blue crabs. My family simply boiled them, set out copious amounts of melted butter atop tables layered with newspaper and, with mallets in hand, the feasting began. Often referring to our great country as a “melting pot”, we are proud of our many cultures. What better way to celebrate the freedoms that allow us to cherish our individual cultural backgrounds... Read the Rest →