… ago to combat the Puerto Rican government debt crisis. 
Long … 39;s debt transactions, Puerto Ricans on the island will directly … deal. 
“There were many Puerto Rican savers that had exposure … at the University of Puerto Rico, said contractors and others …

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By Caribbean News Now contributor PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad — The electorates in both Grenada and Antigua and Barbuda voted against the proposal to have the Trinidad-based Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) as their highest appellate court in separate referenda held on Tuesday. In both countries, the turnout of voters was low and in neither […]

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By Melanius Alphonse Caribbean News Now associate editor melanius@caribbeannewsnow.com CASTRIES, St Lucia — In an op-ed published today, opposition Member of Parliament for Castries South, Ernest Hilaire, asks the question “should we not be scared?” after reviewing the level of proposed borrowing by the government of Saint Lucia and the real cost of the Hewanorra […]

The post Opposition MP in St Lucia says, ‘Should we not be scared?’ after examining government borrowing appeared first on Caribbean News Now.

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By Alexander Britell and Guy Britton

WE’RE SOMEWHERE near Saint-Esprit, stopped on the side of the road at Willy Poul’, a poulet boucane-focused food truck.

The chicken is superb, with a resplendent garlic curry sauce, and it makes me think about that too-often-thrown-around term: the culinary capital of the Caribbean.

Every island says it’s the one, touting the number of restaurants, the celebrated chefs or just the mere fact of, well, saying it.

But what’s the real one? What is the culinary capital of the Caribbean?

For years, it was Grand Case, Saint Martin, a culinary Mecca temporarily derailed by Irma, and, while it’s making an impressive comeback, we’ll remove it for consideration for now.

So what is it? Where is it?

And how does one even define the term?

Is it simply having a large number of restaurants? Or having a large collection of top restaurants?

Sure, many islands have that trio or quartet of famous food havens, or the celebrity chef-driven tables.

Many islands call themselves the CulInary Capital, for precisely these reasons.

But is that the best standard? How do you define a culinary capital?

We’ve been coming to Martinique for a long time – since the very beginnings of Caribbean Journal.

And year after year the food here continues to amaze us.

Yes, the high-end spots are here, from the eponymous spots by Jean-Charles Bredas and Marcel Ravin, with the sort of locally inspired, Michelin-quality food we all crave.

But what about the local spots? What about the street food?

Here, yes, the local spots are innumerable — the little cafes, the “snacks,” the aforementioned poulet boucane (Martinique’s signature smoked chicken) corners on the side of the road.

But the local food, while never abandoning its roots, is also constantly evolving, finding new manifestations.

What about the restaurants themselves?

Martinique has them, multitudes, but does them one better: beach restaurants. For every inland eatery, there’s a toes-in-the-sand restaurant with magnificent food.

Le Carbet’s Le Petibonum is the most famous, but there are dozens more, from north to south, from the fancy to the ultra casual.

And what about the sheer level of gastronomic quality?

The French food here is remarkable. The Martinican food is remarkable.

The fusion of the two is out of this world.

And then there are the markets, something all too often ignored when considering a destination’s culinary moxie — so important for the travelers who are staying in villas or Airbnbs, both among the best ways to experience Martinique, it should be said.

There are markets like the ones you get in mainland France, all manner of cheese, unparalleled wine and rhum offerings, fresh fish and beef and everything in between. (On the rhum count, it should be noted, that it does not hurt its culinary credentials to have the most impressive lineup of artisanal rum making companies in the world concentrated on a single island.)

It all adds up to a culinary offering unmatched in the Caribbean both in size and scope.

In short, good food is a way of life here.

But there is another standard we consider so important.

The question: can you have a bad meal on this island?

And the answer, resoundingly, is no.

At least, in nearly a decade of traveling here — we haven’t had one yet.

And that’s the strongest endorsement of all.

— CJ

The post Why Martinique is the Culinary Capital of the Caribbean appeared first on Caribbean Journal.

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By Dana Niland
CJ Contributor

Norwegian Breakaway arrives in New Orleans this weekend, where it will sail five to 11-day cruises to the Caribbean.

 At 1,068 feet and 145,655 gross tons, the recently-renovated ship is the largest to homeport in the city of New Orleans, as well as the youngest in port this season.  

“We are excited to introduce Norwegian Breakaway to New Orleans, providing our guests with another premium destination to cruise from when sailing to the Caribbean,” said Andy Stuart, president and chief executive officer of Norwegian Cruise Line. “New Orleans is well known for its lively music, culinary scene and entertainment, a perfect complement to the high-caliber experiences guests will discover on Norwegian Breakaway.”

The namesake ship of the Breakaway class has 25 dining options, 22 bars and lounges, a water park featuring the fastest waterslide at sea, one of the largest ropes courses of any ship and an entertainment program that mirrors the spirit of the ship’s homeport city.

Following her renovation in May 2018, Norwegian Breakaway debuted updated staterooms and public areas and introduced a new bar and lounge concept to the fleet with Syd Norman’s Pour House.  

“Norwegian Cruise Line is a valued cruise line partner and we are thrilled to welcome Norwegian Breakaway as the largest cruise ship ever to sail from Port NOLA,” said Brandy Christian, Port of New Orleans president and chief executive officer. “With our commitment to high-level service and the Crescent City’s vibrant energy, we look forward to offering Norwegian Cruise Line passengers a memorable cruise experience as they begin and end their vacations in our unique American city.”

Norwegian Breakaway will sail from New Orleans through April 12, 2019, offering five, seven, ten and eleven-day Western Caribbean cruises.

— CJ

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