Deborah Barocas grew up in Guyana, South America. One of her fondest memories of childhood was cooking with her Mom, Grandmother, Aunts and her Cousins in Grandmothers gigantic kitchen. Deborah’s grandmother Violet planted a huge kitchen garden consisting of many types of tropical vegetables while maintaining a small farm of various types of farm animals on her property. Her father owned and operated a small chicken farm on the same premises. Whenever Deborah and her siblings visited, they happily engaged in helping to rear the chickens and garden with their Grandmother.

During the 1960´s to the 1970´s, most of Deborah’s relatives and family migrated to England, the United States and Canada. She soon followed in 1980 moving to the US. Her traditions continued, and she incorporated some new ones from her new homeland which added to her style and balance. Deborah lived in Brooklyn, NY, in an area that consisted of people predominantly from the Caribbean. So it was only natural with her friendly disposition that she had acquired an abundance of new friends from many of these countries. She immersed herself into Caribbean cultural events, exhibitions and parades. Her visits to the homes of her new acquaintances, dining at various Caribbean restaurants, and attending social events, greatly enhanced and flavored her life of a shared culture.

In addition to her many vacations in various countries throughout the Caribbean, her enrichment was constantly upgraded through their newspapers, television, and talk radio. On the lighter side, she enjoyed dancing to the beat of Soca, Steel Pan and Reggae music, while attending cricket club parties, cricket matches, and other Caribbean cultural events like the famous Labor Day Parade on Eastern Parkway in Brooklyn.

Today Deborah resides in Manhattan. The other boroughs are only a train ride away from the roots of her culture and her pride of country is clearly visible through her postings on her website and food blog. Deborah´s upcoming cookbook serves as an ode to her formative years. For a glimpse of her food culture and recipes from her upcoming cookbook, visit her at: www.guyanastastyexotic.com and blog with her at: www.guyanastastyexotic.blogspot.com

Finally as the Caribbean Culture Editor for Bellaonline, Deborah plans to cover various topics of interest and to inform or answer questions that anyone may have for her on the subject matter. Her benefit as a NYC resident, along with her affiliation and access to Caribbean people, places, travels, as well as being a Caribbeaner herself, lends itself to her expertise on this topic. Stay tuned to Soca, Reggae or Steel Pan with her as she hops from island to island.

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