Usually I look forward to food festivals, because more than likely when you go, you are bound to find some amazing items that you've never seen or heard of or even tried. I really wanted to go to the Food, Wine and Rum Festival in Barbados this year, but it was highly unlikely. Plus Taste T&T is clearly not taking place this year, and I really wanted to attend a food-related festival. I see it as a good way to gather family and friends and just spend a wonderful time together. Earlier on this year, I went to the Blue Food Festival in Tobago, which for me was a bit disappointing, but interesting nonetheless. All in the name of new food stuff, yeah?
So TTRW! How did I stumble upon thee? (Literally)
 |
| The logo for TTRW |
On Facebook, I like a page run by a restaurant/hotel called Mariposa Gardens in Lopinot, Trinidad. I've visited the property on two occasions. The first time was for a hiking experience and the second time, I had some of the best food in my life; cream of pumpkin soup, beef slow cooked in a cocoa-infused sauce, tilapia seasoned with lime and fresh herbs and homemade cocoa ice-cream. Some days I could still taste the goodies I ate there. They posted a question on their Facebook page: What does TTRW stand for? If you got it right, you could have won a free meal courtesy of the facility for this TTRW thing. I was like huh? What on earth is that? Low and behold I find out about Trinidad and Tobago Restaurant Week, two weeks before it was about to take place. I found that it would have run from the 8th - 17th of November, and that some restaurants throughout T&T would be offering dinner at a discount during the time period. I said hell yes!
So there were categories according to price for the restaurants $120 - Savoury, $200 - Scrumptious, $300 - Delectable and $400 - Divine. If I had extra money, I would have gone to as many as I possibly could have. I ended up narrowing it down to two restaurants to dine at: The Lighthouse Restaurant in Chaguaramas or Bella on the Avenue on Ariapita Avenue. I chose the latter because it would have been less of a hassle to get there.
The restaurant had a lovely ambiance, and the menu was simple and seemed delicious. For the starter I ordered a lovely a soup du jour - which was really a coconut and broccoli infused soup. It was absolutely delicious.
 |
| Soup du Jour |
There was also a roasted vegetable tower as the other option for the appetizer.
 |
| Roasted Vegetable Tower |
I heard it was really good as well!
For the main course, I had pan roasted shrimp in a ginger coconut sauce with a rustic vegetable medley and mashed sweet potatoes and plantains. Amazing! The vegetables were perfectly seasoned, and the shrimp was creamy and savoury because of the coconut sauce, and the plantains and sweet potato added a light sweetness to the dish.
The other option was a cumin and garlic rub sirloin served with roasted saffron potatoes and some vegetables. I tried a piece of the sirloin, and it was pretty delicious.
For dessert there was an option of ice-cream or a house creme brulee. Mmm good! I was able to sample the creme brulee and it was unbelievablely delicious! I am a serious ice-cream person, so of course I had my ice-cream.
 |
| Creme Brulee |
 |
| Dulce de Leche Ice-Cream |
When we thought all that was over, the restaurant offered a complementary cocktail. They were pretty great too!
 |
| Pina Colada |
This was a creamy pina colada, and below is strawberry mocktail.
 |
| Strawberry Mocktail |
And yes, after eating here, I would recommend the place. On the regular menu, they offer mostly salads, burgers, pasta dishes and the like. If this is along the lines of what you prefer to eat out, Bella is for you. The staff treated us courteously throughout the night as well, which we appreciated immensely.
I had such a good time with my peeps at Bella on the Avenue! Thanks to Trinidad and Tobago Restaurant Week for this initiative. T&T has great culinary tourism potential, and this initiative was a healthy start. Looking forward to an even bigger and better TTRW 2014!
