Before I talk about Trinidadian food, I’d like to write a little ode to the Dinner Gong at Pax (thanks to Abby for the pic).  Each evening we spent at our home away from home, regardless of the crazy adventure that we’d had during the day, or how disgusting everyone was from hiking, swimming, penultimate frisbeeing, or general “learning”, we could solidly count on one thing; the Dinner Gong.

Since Trinidad sits about 10 degrees above the equator, with the day and night length at an almost even 12 and 12, the sun sets fairly consistently at about 6:30 or 7 pm year round.  As this nightly milestone approached, chances are most of us would be freshly showered and chilling on the veranda reading, writing, napping, right up until we heard that sweet sweet note that signaled dinner.  What followed the slow, rising escalation of sound was nothing short of a civilized stampede.  We weren’t juggling for the best seat, but the honor of being settled first and ushered by Gerard to start the queue for the delicious feast at hand.

Just think of the anticipation, the wait, the GOOONG, then the food.  Beautiful.