Panorama now on DVD

It is all over but the 49th installment of the National Panorama Finals can now be as a testimonial of excellent steelband music at your leisure. The scintillating music and bands’ performances at the Medium and Large Conventional Finals are captured live on DVD and CD—two and three discs sets collections, respectively.
Panorama Finals 2012—The DVD is produced by Pan Trinbago, in collaboration with Advance Dynamics, which has already demonstrated its capability to deliver a high end quality product. The DVD promises to be a collectors’ item with sights, sounds, interviews and music never before experienced on digital format. It also promises to fill the void for many Trinbagonians at home and abroad and those who want a souvenir of national culture and heritage—Pan—reserved and displayed like never before. Retail price for the DVD is $300.

The DVD albums were recorded, mixed and mastered by Japanese Yoichi Watanabe and Katsunari “Kats” Imai of the University of Trinidad & Tobago (UTT) (The Academy for the Performing Arts/Music Technology), and duplicated by AD; while the CDs were duplicated by Crosby’s. The CD comprises three discs featuring the 21 Medium and Large Bands finalists, and bonus tracks of Small Conventional Band and Single Pan Bands winners as they performed at the Queen’s Park Savannah, Port-of-Spain, and Skinner Park, San Fernando, respectively.
The CD package is being sold at $300.

Panorama 2012 was in tribute to cultural icons, Dr Pat Bishop TC HBM and Ralph Mac Donald.

The original Panorama DVD and CD are available at most of the major music stores, ie Cleve's One Stop Music Shop, Frederick Street, Port-of-Spain; Crosby's Music Centre, Western Main Road, St James; Kam's Record Store, Long Circular Mall, St James; Rhyner’s at Piarco International Airport; and, at Pan Trinbago Head Office, Victoria Plaza, Park Street, Port-of-Spain.

Parents Can Cook steams up Lakshmi Girls’

It takes a lot to impress me and I must admit I was most impressed last Saturday when I attended the Parents Can Cook event, hosted for the first time by the Parent Support Organisation (PSO) of Lakshmi Girls’ Hindu College. Held at the St Augustine institution, also home of the Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha (SDMS) headquarters, on Eastern Main Road, the cook out attracted several alumni, current faculty and students, past principals and special guests. In case you are wondering how I managed to be there in the first place, I was invited by my Guardian Media Ltd (CNC3) colleague Hema Ramkissoon to co-judge with her and boy, did I have a ball. The food and entertainment were super, and I made some wonderful new friends, especially school principal Sonia Mahase-Persad, a most affable and cordial educator.

Much acclaimed veteran chutney singer/musician Anil Bheem, whose daughter attends Lakshmi Girls, organised the evening’s entertainment and that too was tops. Performing in guest slots were alumnis Sally Sagram who possesses a very beautiful voice and 2010 National Chutney Soca Monarch Ravi B. The Sankar brothers (Vijay and Roshan) also kept the crowd thoroughly entertained through the overcast evening. One of the attractions on the day was the giving out of door prizes every half hour to patrons, while another was the popular Bouncy Castle.

As far as the food was concerned, parents showcased their culinary talents in a variety of dishes ranging from authentic Indian (matter paneer, rasmilai, aloo gobi etc); local Indian cuisine (curried duck, curried goat etc); Chinese and Creole cuisine. Hema and I were blown away when we tasted the Arabian fusion macaroni pie by Sadhna Kallie-Khan. Also teasing our taste buds was the curried corn prepared by The Alumni group. Also available were hot on the spot phulourie and wontons, and an extensive dessert menu. Addressing attendees, principal Mahase-Persad said that proceeds accrued from the effort would be used in updating the school’s technical and electronic facilities.

Winners

Best Authentic Indian Dish—Matter Paneer (The Alumni)
Best Appetiser—Corn soup (Dhanmattee Singh)
Best Meat Dish—Curried duck  (Anjanie Rahamut)
Best Chinese Style Dish—Chinese style chicken (a group effort)
Best Creole Dish—Arabian fusion macaroni pie (Sadhna Kallie-Khan)
Best Fusion Dish—Arabian fusion macaroni pie (Sadhna Kallie-Khan)
Best Dessert—Rasmili (Sursatee Bharat & The Alumni).