IF you’re heading down south to Trinidad and Tobago, we can guarantee you a feast of creative, exotic and delicious meals.

Getting to soca country from Jamaica takes some patience. Total flight time, including two stops, is six hours.

Now that you are there it is time to sample Trini food which is an international fusion of tastes.

A trip downtown to Frederick Street is as much about shopping as it is a variety of street foods. There’s Nagim and Sons selling Doubles — flat pancakes filled with chick peas, eaten as a sandwich and for just TT$1 provide quite a filling breakfast, lunch or dinner.

Further down on the corner of Chacon Street, Cleveden Lam is peddling his home-made peanuts sold for a dollar.

The nuts are sold in cute brown paper bags of salted or unsalted protein. Chicken is loved as much in Trinidad as in Jamaica and the Kentucky Fried Chicken outlet located at Independence Square is said to sell some TT$1 million worth of chicken.

After learning these statistics, it’s time to chill out over a cool beverage at Roxee and watch the crowds go by.

Trinidad is the place to eat a good roti and I try my first, which is filled with boneless chicken and chutney.

Breakfast at Coblentz Inn comprises bul jol (pickled fish) and coconut bakes, which is definitely the right way to start the day.

Evening meals in Port-of-Spain are served in a variety of restaurants. Veni Mangé located (on the soon-to-be restaurant district of Port-of-Spain) at Ariapita Avenue welcomes diners into a beautiful Caribbean environment for plates of its exotic Caribbean and International cuisine.

The atmosphere is decidedly artsy and the fun loving owners, Allyson Hennessy and Rosemary Hezekiah, are very much part of the positive vibes flowing through the rooms.

Allyson, a Cordon Bleu trained chef, has an impressive background, with one of her clients being the late Princess Margaret.

The waitresses at Veni Mange are all stunning and are beautifully dressed in bright sarongs and headwraps.

The celebrated Peter Minshall was in the house when we visited.

Thai cuisine is served in an elegant 17th century plantation style estate overlooking the Savannah at Tamnak Thai. Wooden banquettes are positioned around ponds and the service is keeping in line with the formidable Eastern elegance.

By the time the soup, with its subtle coconut flavour, and crispy beef salad are served, one is already in touch with the soul.

The portions are more than ample. In fact, they can be shared for two persons.

The desserts are excellent. They cannot and will not be shared.

Over in Tobago, the excellent crab and dumplings are a must, as are the tasty phoulouri (flour and split pea in the form of dough which is served with curry or mango sauce).

Lunch at Jemma’s Sea View Kitchen at the end of an island tour is a favourite stop for both locals and tourists.

Locals in any restaurant are proud to speak of their beloved home cuisine.

We enjoy huge portions of freshly caught kingfish served alongside pigeon peas, fried rice and an absolutely delicious breadfruit au gratin.

Over at the Hilton Tobago, the Robinson Crusoe Bar is the place to enjoy the legends of this celebrated pirate over the most delicious Pina Colado made by Gerardo, the affable bartender.

It’s dinner time and this takes us to Kariwak Village located at Scarborough.

The fresh herbs and spices, which add great flavour to the meals, are used separately to lift the taste of each course.

The green salad is prepared with cumin, cucumber, grapefruit and lime juice and is excellent.

Our evening meal continues with christrophene au gratin, lemon rice, sauteed pak choy and curried shrimp — totally scrumptious and ends with home-made ice-cream and plain cake for dessert.

Take a tour after dinner to the yoga centre and the herb garden.

Owners Allan and Cynthia Clovis play an active role in the daily running of this establishment and it’s clearly reflected in the excellent service. Little surprise that the Dalai Lama is just one of the many visitors to Kariwak Village.

Breakfast the following morning is at the popular House of Pancakes with owners Wayne and Catherine Sesanker. Located at Milford Road and John Gorman Trace Crown Point Tobago.

The fresh tropical fruit plate and a pancake topped with nutmeg syrup is what we enjoy. This puts me in good stead for the Buccoo goat festival.

After the Buccoo Goat Festival, we stopped by Mt Irving Bay and purchase freshly caught dolphin for dinner from fisherman Peter Joseph.

Today has been an excellent one for him with a whopping 20 pounder valued a TT$180.00 or US $30.