CHARLES KONG SOO
charles.kongsoo@guardian.co.tt
Local chef Finbar “Barry” Bartholomew showed Nicki Minaj his "sweet hand" for Carnival.
During the Trini-born rapper's time in the country for Carnival, Minaj was so impressed with Bartholomew's mouth-watering local dishes that he catered for her and her entourage that she posted her rave review online on Saturday.
Minaj posted "@cheffinbar
The best chef in Trini. Lmk if you wanna come to the states for a bit. (Contented/pleased emoji) I have a permanent job for you." (Dark sunglasses smiling emoji)
In response, Bartholomew posted on his Facebook post:
"Short story: So my Carnival week suddenly became way more active than I had planned (astonished emoji)
Got a call Monday morning asking if I could pull off providing food for Nicki Minaj & full entourage–starting with lunch on said day and ending with dinner on Ash Wednesday.
I hesitated at first, knowing most supply shops were closed but when they said "she would really like 100% local cuisine" ...I thought (mischievous smile smirk emoji) “LETS DO IT!”
Here are some of the dishes whipped up…
@nickiminaj
Ps–Feedback was (blast emoji !! (Winking emoji)"
Minaj and her entourage were treated to curry coconut jumbo shrimp, curry chicken, curry beef, split pea dhal, Basmati rice, pakchoy salad and his signature Cocopine pepper sauce and Cocopine pimento sauce.
About Chef Barry
Bartholomew is a classically trained chef from the famous New York’s Institute of Culinary Education (ICE).
After culinary school at ICE, he did his internship at the popular Indian/French fusion restaurant Tabla on Madison Park, Manhattan.
Bartholomew then went on to the iconic soul food/Jamaican restaurants “Mo-Bay” in Brooklyn & Harlem where he spent the next six years and became the head chef at both branches.
He left Mo-Bay and started working at another soul food restaurant, Baton Rouge which specialised in New Orleans’ cuisine where he was chef for the next several years.
Bartholomew's love for spicy Asian food led him to his culinary trail of discovery for several weeks in a Szechuan/Thai restaurant, however, he eventually left the restaurant scene to do personal chef gigs in New York.
During this time he met many well-known people in show business, who would walk into the restaurants he worked at in New York City over the years, especially in Ft Green, Brooklyn. He was only willing to give one entertainer's name; Queen Latifah.
Bartholomew said that it was fun meeting these celebrities and then cooking their special selections.
He returned to T&T in 2014 and started the Cocopine line of pepper and other fruit-infused sauces.