THE second season of the US reality show Below Deck Sailing Yacht premiered on the Bravo network on March 1 and featured a local among its cast – Trini chef Natasha de Bourg.
De Bourg is among the crew of the Parsifal III helmed by captain Glenn Shephard.
"(He) puts his trust in an all-new crew as they sail along the sparkling coast of Croatia to provide an unforgettable, luxurious experience for the guests and their over-the-top requests," Bravo's parent company NBCUniversal said in a release.
The release reported that season one of Below Deck Sailing Yacht has averaged 2.7 million total viewers across all linear and digital platforms, to date, and ranked as the number-three new series on cable last year among the ages 18-49 and 25-54.
"Additionally, the inaugural season was the network’s highest-rated new reality series in three years among all key demos."
In the new season, Shephard is joined by de Bourg, chief stew Daisy Kelliher, chief engineer Colin Macrae, first mate Gary King, second stew Dani Soares, third stew Alli Dore and deckhands Sydney Zaruba and Jean-Luc Cerza Lanaux.

"When the chief stew and chef discover they're on different pages, mistrust and miscommunication makes for an extremely volatile working relationship that impacts everyone on board. As department heads undermine each other’s authority, arguments trickle down the chains of command as tension reaches an all-time high between the interior and exterior teams. With new safety protocols in place, the crew must stay on the yacht in between charters, blurring the lines professionally and personally, leading to a boat-load of nauti-yachties."
The release said de Bourg escaped a difficult childhood and a troubled marriage to take a leap of faith and attend culinary school in Europe. After finishing school, she focused on working at top Michelin-star restaurants.


"Her skills are sharp as a knife and (she) eventually became an executive chef in France before getting (into) yachting. Natasha’s headstrong nature often puts her at odds with other crew members – especially her counterpart, Daisy, the chief stew."
Newsday posed ten questions to de Bourg about the experience of the show.
Q: Your profession is a chef, not a television personality. How did you feel about entering this world?
A: I was fairly optimistic, never afraid to embrace new challenges. I am a person who is always up for a new challenge. I guess Below Deck was that for me.
You had to hide the news of your part on the show for months. How was that? And how did you feel when you could finally tell people?
It was particularly hard to hide it from my friends and family. No one understood why I was leaving home during a tumultuous time, especially during a pandemic. It was a relief to finally explain why I had been away.
How would you describe chef Natasha on the show?
Chef Natasha is quite feisty and silly – like in reality for those who know me.
I saw there was some friction between you and the chief stew Daisy. Without spoilers tell me a bit about that.
Drama! That's all I can say! You'd have to tune in to the show to see the rest.
I also saw because of the new safety protocols the crew had to remain on the yacht in between charters. How was that experience?
It was a bit difficult staying in a contained space with so many people, it was a little overwhelming at times. Working, living and breathing the same air 24/7 isn't that easy (but) it's the perfect recipe for drama.


What aspect of being on the show did you enjoy the most?
Certainly, it was the fact that it was a new experience: meeting the guests and crew; building friendships that I now have, experiencing the film industry and challenging myself in challenging situations.
What aspect did you find the most challenging? And how did you overcome that challenge?
The challenging aspect was being away from the people I love and also having little or no privacy; cameras were always in your face. You eat, sleep and wake with cameras and mics.
If you were to describe Below Deck Sailing Yacht to someone who has never seen it what would you say?
It's a reality TV series that features the yachting industry and shows everyday life and the challenges aboard a yacht. It always seems fancy, but letting people see the authentic reality of living in a confined space is great.
Is there anyone you would like to thank and/or recognise?
In the words of Snoop Dog: "I wanna thank me for believing in me." (lol). On a serious note, I would like to thank my close family and friends for supporting me, and also, the people of TT for their continued love and support. What I did was not only for myself, but to also represent my country and the Caribbean by extension.
Do you plan on continuing in reality television?
It's not in my plans, but who’s to say that we have the last say in what happens in our lives. You never know!
Source: T&T Newsday, March 4, 2021

Jewelry has been a significant adornment for Indian women since ages. Its significance in an Indian woman’s life can be judged from the number of jewelry gifts she receives on a variety of auspicious occasions in her life and how even the poorest of women possess some kinds of jewelry they can afford. Indian women’s decorating themselves with jewelry is not only a customary tradition, but also has a lot of values attached to each and every jewelry piece worn by the women.
Why is Jewelry Important for Indian Women?
Apart from increasing the beauty of Indian women, Indian jewelry is also considered to be a matter of great security in time of financial crisis due to its good value.  To accentuate the feminism factor, women wear jewelry created with precious metals like gold, silver and diamonds. Traditionally, having a good collection of jewelry symbolizes power, good status and immense wealth of the owner. 
Jewelry and Indian women share a deep connection as its value lies not only in traditions, but also has a great significance in scientific terms. We must understand the reason behind each jewelry piece adorned by Indian women as it lies deep rooted in science. It would certainly increase our love and respect for Indian women’s jewelry.
Wide Variety of Indian Jewelry Adorned by Women
Jewelry designs are available in a wide variety in India as each state has its own culture and jewelry is made accordingly to highlight the values of those traditions. Some of the most commonly used jewelry by Indian women includes maangtika, nose rings, necklace, earrings, mangalsutra and bangles.
Now, let’s understand the significance and the logic behind each piece of jewelry worn by Indian women. Here we have a list of some of the most commonly worn jewelry pieces with their cultural and scientific significance
Tika
Tika consists of a chain with a pendant in the front and a hook at the other end.  The hook is used for holding the tika at the hair end, while the pendant embellishes the center of the woman’s forehead. A woman’s forehead, especially the center part is believed to be the place of chakra which refers to preservation. Traditionally, the chakra is visualized to have two petals where the half-male and half-female androgynous deity Ardhanarishvara resides. It symbolizes the final union where there is no division. In view of science, this union is the meeting of the male and female elements in nature at both the physical and the mental level

Nose ring:
Nose ring called as nath by Indian women is definitely the most seductive jewel piece without which a married woman’s make up is considered incomplete. It forms an integral part of traditional bridal jewelry keeping in view its conventional and scientific value. Aristocratic families get special nose rings created for the bride as it’s considered the most auspicious jewel to be worn on the occasion.
Scientifically, it is believed that women having pierced nose experience less pain during childbirth. Ayurveda considers it a valuable piece which is worn on the spot directly connected with the health of the female reproductive organs. As per a theory, nose ring is also connected to emotional, romantic and sexual propositions of a woman. It also prevents a woman from being hypnotized due to its power to control the brain wavelength.
It is one of the most fascinating jewelry pieces worn by both married and unmarried women. Available in a wide variety of shapes, colors and sizes, it attracts every woman towards it and makes an important part of the woman’s fashion accessories. Matching earrings with garments enhance the attraction quotient manifold.
As per the famous legends, evil spirits were believed to enter the body through any of its openings. By wearing ornaments in the ear, the woman attained a state of complete well being. The latest studies have also revealed that ear is a microcosm of the entire body and has an important nerve that connects cervix, brain and kidney. By applying the right amount of pressure in the right ear to which the nerve of the kidney is connected, the health of the kidney and the bladder can be taken care of.
Necklace:
Necklaces worn near the heart are believed to control emotions and strengthen one’s love. Wearing a necklace of stones is believed to bind ourselves with their eternal powers. Since ancient times, necklaces, pendants, strings of beads and elaborate ornamental collars were worn by women to bring good luck and ward off the evil eye. The necklace is also believed as a protective ornament against hypnotizing as such attempts are successfully undermined. So, this neck ornament not only adds an exquisite look to a women’s beauty, but also acts as a potent restraint against effects of evil charms on virtuous maidens.

Bangles:
Bangles, the word itself seem to fill one with the sweet tinkling sound produced by it! Wearing bangles can be easily afforded by any woman whether rich or poor as it is available in almost all metals from highly precious ones to wooden bangles. The attractive designs in which bangles are available make it even more stunning and a woman’s beauty is considered incomplete without ornamenting with it. Apart from being an important ornament worn by a married woman, this ornament also has immense romantic and amorous connotations as well. The sound of a woman’s bangles expresses her presence and her wish to gain attention. Scientifically, it is known to increase a woman’s blood circulation level and channelize the energy passing through her outer skin. This is made possible by the circular shape of the ornament with the cute tinkling sound

Toe rings:
The most eminent scientific theory behind wearing toe rings is its help in making menstrual cycle regularized which is a common problem faced by women. The nerves in toes are connected to the uterus and passes through the heart. While a married woman does her chores while wearing these rings, the friction created help in revitalizing her reproductive organs.
As toe rings are generally made of silver, it absorbs energy from the earth and refreshes the entire body of the woman by passing the energy to it.
Ring:
Wearing a ring on the fourth finger from the thumb is directly connected to the nerve passing through this finger to the brain neuron cells. With metallic friction, women attain good health and get confidence to handle life with ease. The wedding ring worn in the middle finger is believed to be directly connected with the heart which helps in controlling the wearer’s emotions. Nowadays, rings of various stones are worn by women for various health benefits attached to a variety of gem stones.

Mangalsutra:
Mangalsutra is believed to control body pressure levels and make blood circulation regular in the body of the woman wearing it. Traditionally, the bridegroom gives it to the bride during the wedding and it is worn by the married woman symbolizing feelings of love and commitment between the married couple.

Hip/Belly Belt:
Hip or popularly known as belly belts are not regularly used by women, but only during wedding or some festive occasions. Nowadays, it is also used by many women in modern designs to add to their glam quotient. Scientifically, these belts are believed to prevent saturation of fat in the waist and help in maintaining a woman’s figure. 
This describes why a woman does ‘solah shringar’ as it’s not only to add to her beauty, but for various other logical reasons attached to it.
Source: Cultural India.net February 10, 2021

​On a recent trip to Trinidad, English brewer Phil Saltonstall was introduced to some of the best tasting chocolate in the world, made, of course, from trinitario cocoa beans. So, naturally, he did what he does best – he made a beer out of it.
“If you’re a brewer you look for flavour pairings in the world that exist already and you just put them in the beer,” Saltonstall told Business Day in a telephone call last week.
The first batch of Saltonstall’s Brass Castle Brewery’s Trinitario chocolate stout was canned just over two weeks ago and it’s already proved popular.
“I have to ringfence a couple so I can send it to Trinidad or else it’ll be gone,” he chuckled.
The beer is, of course, named after the eponymous cocoa variety that originated in Trinidad in the late 17th century. Trinitario, a natural hybrid of the forastero and criollo varieties, is considered one of the world’s finest-flavoured cocoas. The Trinidad Fine Cocoa Company, with which Saltonstall consulted, advised him on using trinitario cocoa shells and nibs to enhance the already chocolatey flavours that naturally occur in dark beer. (He was introduced to them through his wife, British High Commissioner Harriet Cross.)
“We have done a chocolate beer before, but we’ve done it with cocoa powder – and probably not very good cocoa powder. It was meant to be like a Black Forest gateau, with cherries and chocolate. It was really nice and chocolatey, with the cherries, and that was cool.
“I have since been educated to the fact that Trinidad has the best chocolate in the world, and making that connection with TT fine cocoa caused me to understand that I can use cocoa better – that I shouldn’t just be using powder, I should be using cocoa nibs and cocoa shells. So they effectively enhanced my process.
"And they also kindly explained that Trinidad has the best chocolate in the world, and if I want to have a real chocolate beer (this is the stuff to use).”
Different types of grain and malt (sprouted grain) can give some very gentle chocolate flavours, Saltonstall explained.
“You have to look for them, but they are there. What most brewers do is, they will add a chocolate flavouring or essence or something like that. But when I had the option to have some of the best chocolate in the world, that’s obviously (better).”
Brass Castle tries to make its base as chocolatey as possible and then overlay that with the fine cocoa nibs during the fermentation and conditioning phases.
“The finished beer is very luscious and chocolatey and doesn’t have any of those fake aspects, and that’s all testament to how good the cocoa and chocolate that we’ve used (are).”
Beer is made from fermenting cereal grains. The first step is creating a mash, where the grains are mixed with water to form the base liquid and release the sugars that will eventually ferment. Usually, rice husks are used as process aid, preventing the mash from turning into a porridge consistency that needs to be thrown out.
Brass Castle Brewery's Trinitario chocolate stout, made, of course, from TT's trinitario cocoa beans. -
But, Saltonstall was pleased to discover, cocoa shells did the same job and imbued the mash with a rich chocolate flavour.
“It’s cool, because I didn’t realise that cocoa shells are just kind of thrown away because they’re no good for chocolate, but actually there’s still flavour there, so they are quite good in the mashing process and brewing.”
The next phases – fermentation and conditioning – are when the nibs, shelled cocoa seeds broken into pieces that have a deep, rich cocoa flavour, are added to the mix to really bring create that chocolatey, beery goodness.
Brass Castle is based in the town of Moulton in North Yorkshire. A few miles away is the city of York, which Saltonstall said has a history of being in the chocolate trade.
“I talked to chocolatiers in the town and they are totally thrilled that we are doing something with trinitario cocoa nibs, because they get it. They know how good the nibs are and they know that it’s in relatively short supply.
"It's lovely to see them get enthusiastic and passionate about it, and hopefully drinkers will get the same effect.”
Saltonstall has not yet tapped into the huge Caribbean diaspora in the UK – covid19 restrictions have made that difficult at the moment, so the usual avenues, like bars, restaurants and even Notting Hill Carnival have been restricted. He’s interested in looking into it, though, and even directly reaching out to some high-profile Trinis and sending them some of the beer.
“In normal times this would be obvious and it would be nice to get the feedback from the diaspora.”
Brass Castle is a small craft brewery, so it produces about 4,000 440ml cans of beer at a time. He’s all but used up his initial 25-kg supply of shells and nibs in production, so he’s actively researching how to import a supply.
“I was lucky because I was able to transport this back from Trinidad myself, but I’m now talking to people who can ship it. I’m told shipping is pretty straightforward because (despite covid19 restrictions) commerce is still working and goods are still transiting. So my understanding is that getting hold of some more is not problematic.
"Of course, everything is slightly more difficult now but getting more nibs and shells is not (impossible).”
He’s excited to start back production, though, and already envisions the beer being a regular offering. It’s on sale at the brewery and online, as well as some shops. It also proved to be a surprise Valentine’s Day hit, with lots of orders coming in before February 14. He also hopes to be able to send some soon to Trinidad – and maybe get a new supply of nibs in return.
And as far as he’s concerned, even though some people might see chocolate stout as a dessert drink, the beer will go with anything. “People drink and eat what they like to eat. I know there’s a whole host of people who would want to drink it all the time.”
The labelling. though, is reminiscent of a chocolate bar in the colours of the TT flag.
“I might change the packaging at some point, but I hope that the name and the look are simple enough for people to understand quickly what it is, but also for people who know to appreciate that it’s a Trinidadian beer with Trinidadian ingredients.” https://newsday.co.tt/.../british-brewer-infuses-beer.../

If you thought Trinidad and Tobago was a dot on a map, 29-year-old Dr Alexandra Amon knows Earth is just a speck in the cosmos. She is a cosmologist studying the origins and development of the universe. A graduate of the University of Edinburgh, Amon won the prestigious Michael Penston Prize for the best doctoral thesis in astronomy or astrophysics completed in the United Kingdom during 2018 with her thesis, Cosmology with the Kilo-Degree Lensing Survey.
Now she's a Kavli Research Fellow at Stanford University in California and leading a team of international experts analysing data to determine just what the universe is made of.
Amon spoke with Business Day via e-mail to talk about her experiences as a woman in STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) and how she's trying to encourage and inspire more young women to join the field.
What inspired your love of science?
I’ve always loved maths, but for me it was space that sold it. It represents the big unknown and the most fundamental questions: How did the universe begin? What’s out there? These questions make us human.
I’d be lying if I didn’t admit that I was desperate to be an astronaut, to be out there. That couldn’t work out, but I discovered the wonder of learning about space, from planet Earth.
It’s a pretty fantastic consolation prize to get to speak at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Lab, and even to be offered a job there.
What is it about astronomy that fascinates you the most?
I was first attracted to this field that seemed to constantly be turned upside down, debunking often egotistical theories – like the discovery that Earth wasn’t the centre of the universe, or that our Milky Way galaxy was one of many in the cosmos.
Now, I love the perspective it gives: it’s hard to comprehend the vastness of our cosmos and our place in it. One one hand, it is an incredibly humbling field.
But at the same time, it's hard not to be passionate about how special this is: in the grand story of the universe, our tiny rock grows forests and harbours life – this is all we have and we must protect it.
More than that, we humans, in such a short amount of time compared to the grand story of the universe, design cameras as big as cars, launch them into space and image distant worlds. My job is a privilege and an opportunity that anyone should have – so I get a little fired up about the field’s big issues with diversity.
Tell us (go easy) about your main focus of research/study?
My research focuses on what the universe is made of, and how it evolved to form complex and beautiful galaxies and stars that we observe when we look up.
Most of our universe is dark: 95 per cent of all the stuff is dark matter and dark energy, and we don’t understand what they are.


Right now I play a leading role in a huge international team, the Dark Energy Survey, working through an enormous dataset to understand this grand puzzle (and I have always loved jigsaw puzzles, this really isn’t very different!). With cutting-edge technology, we’ve measured the shapes of and distances to 100 million faraway galaxies, and use that to test models for how our universe works.
Tell us about your journey.
I wouldn’t be where I am without a national scholarship – I’m so grateful for that opportunity to go out into the world and represent our country on a platform that’s new for us. It’s special to see people’s eyes light up to hear about the Caribbean, and to watch them google map our islands. Being the only woman of colour in my undergraduate degree and PhD programme – so different to our sweet melting pot of culture – I think contributed to feeing often behind and not good enough.
There were setbacks along the way too – like everyone has their own challenges – I had a stroke in my master’s year. I think this made me work harder – I wanted to learn more and do something useful. I guess it’s working out – I was the first woman to win that Royal Society prize in over a decade. To be honest, I still pinch myself every time I step onto Stanford campus.
What was it like at home? Were your parents science-minded? How did they encourage your curiosity?
You know the Caribbean saying, it takes a village.... I’m lucky to have a village, including the BeeWee aunties that worked with my mum. But really, I wouldn’t be where I am without all of the people who lent a hand when things were tough.
Tell us about some of your more interesting/exciting assignments.
Well, being an astrophysicist takes you to the most remote areas of the world, literally! The largest telescopes are on mountaintops in the middle of nowhere.
My first “observing run” was at the Australian Anglo-Telescope in the Warrumbugnle National Park in Australia. After our first night of work, we left the telescope dome at sunrise to get some sleep and there were kangaroos outside!
My favourite experience was heading to Cerro Tololo, Chile, to observe for the Dark Energy Survey – it was just incredible. It’s hot and dry and 2,200 metres up, and then the sun sets, and the telescopes open their domes, like guardians of the sky, and the stars come out.
Do you feel like schools in TT were equipped to really develop your love of science, especially as a girl?
I think St Joseph's Convent, Port of Spain played a huge role! That school teaches you to work hard, and I think being all girls in some ways protected us from the sexism of the world. Back then, it was so normal to have mostly female science teachers.
Did you have to face any major challenges, especially because of gender or even race/ethnicity in your STEM journey?
Ha, is the sky blue? It’s a white man’s world and physics is reputably one of the worst on an international platform. The number of minorities drops the higher you go. It’s a leaky pipeline.
I’m grateful that growing up in diverse Caribbean communities cultivates tolerance and acceptance of people with various backgrounds. Now, we just need patience as the rest of the world catches up.
Are you starting to see a pivot in the way women are embracing STEM studies, including more encouragement to join the field and recognition for contributions?
Things are changing, but we have a long road to go in physics: not just to dismantle the outdated idea of a scientist, but to build structures that protect minorities, create opportunities for people from developing countries, and advocate for change in the STEM world. This is an uphill battle but one I’m determined to fight, alongside my research.
Who were your role models/inspiration (male or female)? Were any of them local?
Oh, so many! Dr Camille Alleyne, our only NASA rocket scientist has been a guiding light. As a student, I first saw her give a talk at UWI and was honestly too intimidated to introduce myself, but years later I reached out. Our fields are quite different between academia and industry, but her patient listening, and encouragement to “take up space” has not wavered.
There are others: both my PhD adviser (Prof Catherine Heymans, Edinburgh) and current boss (Prof Risa Wechsler, Stanford) are world-leading experts in our field and unbelievable supporters in navigating this challenging field – and they happen to be women!
I've been lucky enough to feature on a PBS documentary series, and Al Jazeera – I hope that I can light the spark for the next generation, to pay forward what Camille stood as for me.
What would you say to a little girl who wants to do what you do?
There are so many weird and wonderful careers in science – and so much that we as humans still have to understand: be brave and bold in your dreams. The universe is the limit.
There’s no replacement for hard work, but more importantly, we must learn to use our voices – they’re absolutely valuable in these fields, especially those of strong Caribbean women who have so much to offer.
Follow Alexandra on Instagram @astroalexamon, where she regularly shares facts about outer space.  
Source:Newsday, Feb 11, 2021