My Haitian Plate: Lalo Legume Fey

My mom made Lalo  legume (fey) I was so happy I took a picture haha. That's one of my favorite food ever.     This stuff takes forever to make ... I almost never have the patience to make it but as a proud Artibonitienne it's essential that one knows how to make this dish properly or so I've heard lol

Artibonitienne: mostly means from the region above

( BTW All 5 of the A l'Haitienne crew are from Saint-Marc and Gonaives)

. It's an Artibonite staple (White Rice, Beans, and Lalo).
This dish is hearty and filling. It naturally contains a good amount of iron and protein as much as it is tasty.
 If you are interested to learn more about this dish (the recipe and better pictures) comment so that I can work on it. Otherwise, enjoy!

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Featured: Kwase le 8

This is one of my favorite music videos. The song is called Kwase le 8 and the group is ZatRap.  I think they capture Haitian beauty very well. It's also a catchy song that fuses Troubadour style with rap kreyol. I love the song (and Zatrap)

All pictures are stills from the video. Watch the video to see these scenes :)

I think this girl is absolutely gorge.  I wanna be like this next time I go to Haiti lol

Here's the video

Zatrap kwaze le 8-

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Touristic Dreams: Jardin Botanique Des Cayes

I think most of my touristic dreams have been in the South.  There's just so many beautiful places... I can't help but want to be there for my next trip

The Jardin Botanique in Les Cayes is one of the places in my must see list.

Check out some pictures courtesy of Haiti Tourism Inc -  They have been doing such a good job of showing places in Haiti!z They make my Haiti Touristic Dreams so much easier (haha)

A little about the garden from their website.

• Cayes Botanic Garden was founded in September 3rd 2003 and has 8 hectares. This garden mainly focuses on: conservation, education and research. It is located between the two majors protected areas in Haiti: Pack Macaya and Park La Visite. On the Google map it is easy to find it on 18.234397, -73.755347. The establishment of this garden is rooted to the biodiversity loss and lack of long-term structures to conserve biodiversity in Haiti. In consequence the garden has been involved in helping the government to conserve Haitian biodiversity and encourage the parliament to elaborate laws for its management and the establishment others.

See more here http://www.haitigarden.org/index_.php

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Moso Manman

Grandma, Me, Mom, and my sis

In honor of Haitian Mother's Day today I wanted to post a couple of songs about mothers. These are some of my favorite songs to listen to because I love my beautiful manman cherie to pieces.
Mothers are so important. Especially in a country like Haiti where the mother is basically the heart of the family. Most Haitian mothers that I know are like super heroes.



 I appreciate fathers and give them props for taking care of their families but everybody that has had a mother, especially one who has made so many sacrifices for her children like mine knows that they are indispensable.
So to every mother out there I say Bonne Fete Manman!
Show love to the mothers in your life everyday and share some of these songs with them sometime. They will appreciate it.

The song that I know the best out of all of them is Emeline Michel's "Moso Manman"

Old School Manman-

 Tropicana

Herold Christophe

Some of my favorite newer manman Songs

Beethova Obas

Freedom- Manman

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: Our Haitian Plate: Grilled A l'Haitienne

 We haven't done a food post in a while so at the last minute I decided to share these pics from our impromptu grilling craze .



 No preparation or recipe for this one... just the pictures :/
It's only grilled beef ribs marinated with a mix of Haitian spices or "Epice" and  corn on the cobb.

Starting the fire A l'Haitienne...

Na being extra fanning the flame lol

Ready!!!!

Our huge Haitian plate lol

It was our first time but certainly wont be the last because it was YUMMY! We're gonna make a meal real Haitian meal out of it next time.
Thanks for reading :)

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Arcahaie Touristic Dreams and Flag Day

Haitian Heritage Month posts continue with pictures of Archaie, both touristic dreams and May 18th 2012 celebrations. Enjoy and share if you feel compelled to.

Every year on May 18th, there are wonderful parades and celebrations everywhere that has an Haitian population. Of course it is always big in Arcahaie where it all started. I watched some of the festivities on tv this year and I have to say that it was really nice! So here are some of my favorite pictures from the May 18th 2012 Fete Drapo in Archaie. Courtesy of the president's page :)

Some of the women ministers looking fly in white :)

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Haitian Heritage month feature: Catherine Flon

There are two different versions of the incidents leading to the creation of the Haitian flag. It really doesn't matter which version is more truth than folktale because in the end, the General Jean Jacques Dessalines ripped the white out of the red white and blue French flag (like the BOSS that he was) and handed the remaining red and blue bands to this awesome lady by the name of Catherine Flon.

 She was Dessalines's goddaughter and a nurse who gave her service to the rebellion and ultimately ended up sewing the Haitian flag. She is a reminder that all talents and willingness can be used for a good cause. Having her sew the first Haitian flag helped give the Haitians their identity in battle and showed their seriousness about fighting for their independence.

Here she is on the 10 gourdes Haitian banknote!

P.S. May is Haitian Heritage Month in the diaspora because there are a lot of celebrations during this month.  Haitian Flag on May 18 is the most celebrated with parades and all kinds of fun a l'Haitienne style. Stay tuned for the next posts and happy Haitian Heritage Month!

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