What’s your job? What do you love about it?
Right now I’m on a sabbatical, but I’m trained in Architectural Science and Interior Design.  I also recently started doing custom designed party cakes and wedding cakes.  I’m one of those people who know how to do so many things but cannot decide on which one to truly follow.  I also blog frequently about my life and do product reviews and giveaways on my blog, Bewildered Bug.

Check out Serena’s blog here: http://www.bewilderedbug.com/

Why do you like Invite For A Bite?     
Since September 2011 my husband and I have been living in separate countries.  For the decade we’ve been together, we have done everything together and used to love trying new restaurants and just going to our favourite familiar haunting grounds for an evening out with a good bottle of wine.  Now that he’s not here, I need a partner in crime.  Invite a Bite is excellent to connect people in similar situations just to get you to go out there and socialize.  Very exciting stuff.

What have you invited people to on Invite For A Bite?
I’ve only joined recently and I invited anyone in the Greater Toronto Area to join me for dinner somewhere – anywhere, preferably a good restaurant downtown – just to get to know each other and have an enjoyable dinner with new people.

(If you’d like to join Serena on April 19th, check out her invite. Go to ‘Search Invites’ at the top of this page and input Toronto. Simple!)

What’s the most unusual thing you’ve ever eaten?
This is a fascinating question….um probably wild meat?  I’m originally from Trinidad (in the Caribbean) and they sometimes say that “Trinis eat anything that moves”.  When they hunt they hunt EVERYTHING.  I’ve had some meats that I’m not 100% sure what they were – they were good but very gamey.  Other than that, I’m pretty tame I think with regards to what I’ve eaten.

What’s your guiltiest food pleasure?
I’ve now been gluten and dairy free for about four years because of a gluten intolerance and a casein allergy.  Before that though, I used to eat everything.  Guiltiest food pleasure – definitely my sister’s cheesecake!  Now?  I sneak dark chocolate when I am down.  Definitely not the same but does the trick.

Which women, living now or in the past, would you invite to an ifab dinner party?
This is a hard question because there are so many to choose from!  Um. Definitely a mish-mash to make things interesting.  Mother Theresa, Cleopatra, Marilyn Monroe, Margaret Thatcher, Dita Von Teese, Jodi Foster, Jennifer Hudson, Dita Von Teese….I think….the more I think of it the more names pop into my head.  Maybe all of Henry VIII’s wives?  Mary Queen of Scots?  Mata Hari?  ”The Little Rose” St Therese?  Mary Magdalene?  Mary, Mother of Jesus? There are so many spectacular women in both real & fictional history that would definitely make interesting evenings!

Where are you from, and when you’re traveling what food from your country do you miss the most?
I’m from quite an eclectic family.  I was born in England, grew up in Trinidad, moved to Toronto for school and married a Canadian.  That’s only my story.  I think I miss sancoche.  It’s a thick, flavourful soup they make in Trinidad.  I miss it because it was just so comforting and no matter what I do I can’t seem to make it right.  Also, Trinidadians use a lot of shadow beni (bandanya) in their food.  It is a really strong flavour similar to cilantro…I substitute cilantro at times but it’s just not the same.  I also miss the fresh seafood of the islands – “Fresh” means something completely different when you live inland in a city like Toronto as compared to what you get on a small island.

Name a country you’ve visited whose food you love. What not-to-be-missed dish should people eat there?
I was pleasantly surprised by Malta.  My husband is Maltese-Canadian so we went there a few years ago.  The rabbit stew is spectacular. Their seafood is usually caught the day of and usually across the road from the restaurant in the bay. Their fruit was spectacular – the watermelons were huge!  There’s prickly pear EVERYWHERE.  Their ice creams and iced drinks are really good.  Their pizzas to die for!I also loved having authentic tapas in Spain.  In Valencia my family and I discovered this little hole in the wall who made the most spectacular paella.In Jamaica, you definitely have to go to the birthplace of Jerk.  It’s called Boston and is quite a drive, but so worth it.  They make it with fresh spices and barbecue it the traditional way in the ground between pieces of galvanized steel.  Very raw and real, but so good.  Just tear off a chunk of hardo bread, eat it with some jerk sausage and festival.  Wash it down with a Ting.  Perfection.

If you could be in one place right now, where would it be? Why?
England, because my husband is there and I miss him.

Nosy, we know, but what are you having for dinner tonight?
I have no clue at the moment.  Possibly pasta and pre-made Christine Cushing sauce (boring I know….that’s why I need iFab!!)