"Those who eat the cascadura will, the native legend says, wheresoever they may wander end in Trinidad their days. " (Johnson and the Cascadura, Selvon, 1957)
That's right, here in the Caribbean we too have food filled with legends and folklore. This week's column is about the prized member of the catfish family that in Guyana and Brasil is called hassar and in Trinidad & Tobago, Cascadura or Cascadoo. Read all about it here.
Here's a synopsis of the story Johnson & The Cascadura
Johnson and the Cascadura is a fictional short story about a white Englishman, Garry Johnson, who went to Trinidad “to get background material for a book he was writing, on superstition and witchcraft.” While there, Johnson met an Indian girl, Urmilla, who worked on the estate where Johnson was staying. The two fell in love. They were from different worlds, he a white, affluent man, and she an uneducated country girl. Rumours of their love circulated and there was disquiet and disapproval.
Johnson decided to return to England. The night before he was due to return, Urmilla brought him some curry cascadura she had made, believing in the folklore that, “Those who eat the cascadura will, the native legend says, wheresoever they may wander end in Trinidad their days.”
Johnson returned to England and wrote his book. Three years later, he was diagnosed with a rare blood disease. Doctors did not give him much time to live and so he wanted to go back to Trinidad.
Upon his return, Johnson and Urmilla began planning their wedding. Sam, the overseer who had unrequited love for Urmilla said to Johnson, “So the cascadura legend really worked, and brought you back to Trinidad.”
“I can’t get Urmilla to believe otherwise,” Johnson laughed.
Urmilla was positive that the cascadura had worked the charm.
Now go read the column.
This week at Forgive Me My Nonsense... Imitation, Flattery or just plain cheating?
Saturday, 5 July 2008
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)







62 comments:
Cynthia, loved the column and the fish curry photo too... it will have to be catfish for me :)
Not fish person but curry looks delicious! Have a great weekend Cynthia. Hugs to you my friend!:))
Cynthia, this is a most unusual thinking fish...looks like an armadillo but I know better...I love any fish!
What a great story! I love folklore and a good love story.I had never heard of this fish before. That nice curry sauce makes me want to have some!
Wow, what an interesting looking fish, and an equally-interesting legend!
This has got to be THE most beautiful fish I've ever seen! I love the way it gleams all silvery, metallic, deep blue and the symmetry of its scales. Interesting column and legend, too, Cynthia!
ohhh, I love cascadoo. Curried with pigeon peas and eaten with rice. Yum. There is no other fish that has that dark sweet taste. And that's one of my favourite Selvon stories, also because he writes about dancing the cocoa in that on too! And by the time I read it, even at a young age, I had eaten nuff cascadoo to make sure I'd be in the homeland to die :-D
What a cool-looking fish! Seems like something from the age of dinosaurs.
So, the scales(?) and/or skin are fully edible, I guess?
Once again Cynthia, I've learned yet another dish from reading your blog. :-) I've never heard or eaten for that matter Hassar. Thanks for sharing.
I, too, love folklore and a good love story. I think that's why I went the Literature/English direction with teaching. Hmmmm.... The fish looks great. I need to get past the whole the fish head thing. I don't know why it makes me a bit queasy. hee hee...
Every time I see a picture of that strange fish, I always think it looks soo prehistorical... Really unique and eye-catching! I'd love to taste it. A great dish!
Cheers,
Rosa
this is the craziest fish; it looks like a trilobite. thanks for writing about it, I wouldn't know about it otherwise. As for the scapes (thanks for visiting, btw), find a garlic seller and ask them to give you the tops.
Those are some ugly fish!!! But I bet that curry is tasting awesome! That's a cute story, too :)
I was browsing your latest entries just as you commented on my blog...we must be in sync!
That fish curry looks delicious Cynthia! I have had a lot curry-based dishes, but not enough featuring fish.
www.chocolateshavings.ca
Lovely looking curry. I d believe the way to a man's heart runs through his tum!
If I were a fish I'd want scales like that. And those who eat me would eventually end their days in New York!
oh! this is my first time seeing this extraordinary fish!!..can you eat the scale?.I love curry fish,especially indian style curry.Anyway,my neighbour is from Jamacia,I'm going to ask her about this fish!
The love story is very sweet.. Have a lovely weekend dear..
Hugs
Swati
wow and it translates loosly to tough shell or tough skin...what a very unique looking fish...nice story maybe I can make it happen to me.....
Lovely story and the fish looks delicious.
Wow Carabian fish very interesting. I never see before and cook pics amazing.
Thats a lovely fish. Never seen it before. The curry surely looks gorgeous(as usual) Cyn :).
This is so different from the catfish i have seen.....
Thats a beautiful fish, most gorgeous of all that I have seen till now!
www.zaiqa.net
Very enjoyable article, Cyntha!
Isn't it amazing how a family or cultural favorite food can transport you "home" no matter where you eat it? I am always trying to find traditional southern Italian foods to give my husband the same feeling.
Thanks!
Pat in NY
hi cynthia
The story about fish folklore has three things interesting in it....faith and belief and trust !
Three sacred words..trinity, they say !
Great looking dish and wonderful story .. :)
Very interesting folklore Cynthia... :) Thanks for sharing with us.
Hi Cynthia, I have something for you at my blog :)
WoW...simply mouthwatering...you know fish is our favourite daily item & your fish & the curry looks so tempting.
Delicious!!!!
Have a nice week.
Once again I've learned something new from you! And the way you describe this and the love you have for it, makes me wish I could taste it! Your curry looks fabulous too!
¡Hola Cynthia!, muchas gracias por tus comentarios en nuestro blog.
Cada día es más interesante el visitar tu blog, ya que cada día aprendemos algo nuevo y disfrutamos de tus palabras y recetas.
Besotes,
Ana y Víctor.
Look nice Cynthia! xGloria (I love all fish)
I have never seen or read anything about this fish. It looks so different from the fish I usually see:) So unusual:) Love your column. Your curry looks yummy too!
Cynthia this story was such a great read thank you for posting it.
I must say I am amazed at how in various parts of the world the fish in the sea can look so different. I have never seen fish like this before, the scales are almost metalic looking. Now I wonder so much how they taste. :-)
That fish looks really interesting!
And I thought here in Malaysia we had quirky stuffs. But I guess different country, different culture ... different experience. I only hope more would share like you do so that the rest of us who don't travel much .. benefit from reading it. Thanks !
Great info there. hehee. Love the look of the fish too.
wow, look at those fish! What a great lesson I have learned here today. Thanks Cynthia!
What a beautiful fish! That curry looks delicious! I think it would have me coming back for more too!
Your posts never fail to fascinate. That Hasar Curry looks incredible!
Ari (Baking and Books)
Cynthia, what a lovely presentation and what an enchanting story. I am hoping the mangoes I ate back home are enough for me to die there. Luverly
-A
P.S: We have been to Barbados last year for our hunnymoon. We came there for the world cup as well and had boat loads of fun.
The colour and the scales of the fish looks scary! Reminds me of the movie "The Predators".
Very interesting, and the fish looks kinda different that any other I have seen before. Is that a trick of my imagination. Hehehe
Wonderful column, as usual, Cynthia. And those fish are so unique and beautiful.
I'm with Urmilla, I am certain that the cascadura worked the charm...Look at that dish!!!
What pretty little fishes!
hi my dear cynthia..i miss you dear, i went on vacation :-) my husband will surely love this fish curry recipe :-) as usual these are mouth-watering photos
Those fish look kinda spooky!
What a different fish. I haven't heard of it before. That's why I always learn new things on your blog. Great pictures.
Wow the curry looks yum! The fish scales are so pretty....never seen anything like it. Thanks for the info.
Now I can guarantee we get none of those in our North Sea! What a weird looking fish. The curry looks sensational though!
Cheers
David
hello Cythia,very interesting fish...good night...
wow! what a great story! I'll have to be careful when I eat this dish, eh?
I'm not fish person but I enjoed reading your interesting post.
Good to know this beautiful story!
Have a wonderful weekend, Cynthia!
I love hassar, aah now I want some. :)
hi, cynthia! this fish looks fierce! it's the 1st time i've ever seen anything like it. it looks cool and deadly, but your dish sounds good, too! :)
Cynthia, I have never ever in my long life, seen this tipe of fish. Here in Spain I don't think I'll find it. But as you already know we love all kind of fishes.
This one looks delicious.
Best regards
I've never seen that fish before and the curry looks so good.....yum!
I have never seen a photo of this fish before, but I sure have seen the pattern on its side! When we were growing up two of my cousins would take their long thick hair and plat it into the "cascadoo". It looked exactly like the pattern on the fish. We all just thought it was "cool" and different from a three pronged plat. I wonder if they knew it was a fish inspired 'do.
Hi Cynthia!!!!
I would like to give your blog an award called "Yummy blog award" . For details please see
http://samaikalamvanga.blogspot.com/2008/07/my-first-award.html
Congratulations!
Post a Comment