Today, I’m happy to announce the launch of a new site geared towards highlighting the often overlooked charms of the Caribbean. The Antilles are so much more than just beaches. The local people, food, drinks, music, natural wonders like volcanoes, hot springs, and more all add up to a unique experience that is best enjoyed by directly immersing yourself in the culture. Something you won’t find on any massive cruise ship.

So, for those looking for a deeper look into what the beautiful islands and people of the Caribbean have to offer, head over to the brand new Uncommon Caribbean site, become a fan of the UC Facebook page, look out for our latest videos on YouTube, or follow UncommonCarib on Twitter.

I need to remember to get down to the islands, explore new places and take as many photos as possible!

Le M Burger Avec Bacon

While in Martinique, I kept seeing ads for the Le M burger at McDonald’s. When traveling, I try to sample local McDonald’s just as an experiment to see how different cultures and local tastes shape international products, so naturally I had to try Le M.

This is not your average Mickey D’s! Just check out the photos.

This is real food. It tastes like a real burger! It has real bread!!! And it even uses real cheese!!!!

I should remember that even McDonald’s is capable of making real food… if only for French people.

I’ve hit Beer Table twice since it opened last week. Once on opening night (Saturday) and then again last night. It’s so refreshing to have a good beer spot without all the potential baggage a place like that could bring with it… especially in Park Slope. Luckily it’s a bit too far south to be right in the center of stroller-land. In the end, the place just comes off as a cozy (and a bit busy) neighborhood place I could swing by now and again. They even remembered my lady from last week…

I should remember to check them out often.

Cold Cuts and Beer., originally uploaded by DonnellyImages.

My woman (and myself to a lesser degree) has been looking for some new plates and stuff, so when I walked by Tart on Melrose and saw these very, very cool plates in the window, I had to take a photo and show them to her. The store was closed at the time, so I couldn’t go in for a closer look, but I figured we could get them online later…

Sure we could… for $80 per plate! Awww damn. A little out of my price range… I mean, even the coffee mug was $70!

I need to remember to get rich so I can have fancy plates one day.

All you need to know about this place is: Korean style steak and eggs with kimchi rice. OH MY DAMN, it was delicious.

Seems like some GQ reviewer liked the place, too:

The Good Fork’s Pacific oysters, lightly coated in cornmeal, were cooked just long enough to become warm and creamy, and they came with a salad of beets, fennel, grapefruit segments, tomatoes, and reduced grapefruit juice. When my friends finally arrived, I ordered more. You’re unlikely to have a more memorable fried-oyster plate in your life.

I need to remember to eat there as much as possible.

(Photo by uberfrau)

Sometimes you see a product so ridiculous, you can’t even begin to imagine the meetings that went into the creation of them. I mean, who comes up with a breakfast cereal named Mini Swirlz Fudge Ripple, then shapes it like mini turds, then really hopes that people will love it?

I need to remember to stay out of the breakfast cereal aisle.

I saw on TV that Asia catches around 60% of the world’s fish and Tokyo Fish Market (or Tsujuki) is the largest fishing market in Japan. The place is enormous and the amount of fish (especially tuna) that go through the place is staggering.

First the fisherman bring all their catches into warehouses where auctions are held at around 5am. Of course the proceedings made no sense to me, but it had to do with people with numbers on their hats poking fish carcasses with pointy things, some guy yelling stuff, guys making subtle hand signals, the yelling guy jotting things down on a clip board, something being painted on the fish in red, a bell ringing and finally some people hauling off their spoils. All very cool.

Once all that’s done, walking further inland into the fish market, you can see all the tuna and other fish being processed, mostly by hand. There are these guys who look like they’ve been doing this for years. Expertly, they wield these 4 and 5 foot knives slicing perfectly weighted hunks of fish which are then put at the outskirts of their area where another round of purchases are made by a new group of people.

One of the best parts of the whole place, though, has to be the sushi joints that surround it’s outskirts. Here you can get the most amazingly fresh sushi I’ve ever tasted. Many of the fish served are kept alive in large tanks, so when they are ordered, they can be fished out by net, then sliced up into itty-bitty pieces and finally served within moments of swimming around for people’s enjoyment. Really, really, amazing.

I have to remember how great fantastic sushi tastes for breakfast!

Finally ate at Sheep Station last night down on 4th Avenue in Park Slope and all I got to say is if you even romotely like the idea of a steak sandwich, you gotta try theirs. It was melt-in-your-mouth delicious.

I need to remember to head back there again for some beers and that sammich.

(image sheep station back room, originally uploaded by scaredy_kat.)

Yesterday was Christmas which started with my woman seemingly not loving her presents due to there being no toys in the mix and me absolutely loving my presents mostly due to the new 50mm lens and flash additions to my photo kit. Additionally, my woman managed to craft some delicious buljol for breakfast, we watched Scrooged and ended up having Christmas dinner at my cousins (shockingly seeing my family twice in one year).

One more thing to remember about Christmas this year is that James Brown died. He was slated to host New Years Eve at B.B.Kings in Times Square, but I guess the Godfather of Soul won’t be making it.

Ate at The Tasting Room the other night for the first time. The appetizer was absolutely delicious, however the rest of the meal was just good. Additionally, the decor in the back dinning room wasn’t my thing (except for this giant fake orange peel installed on the wall above us which was pretty cool) and the staff was more than just a little cold.

I should remember to keep trying, undaunted, to find as many great restaurants as possible. Mmmm… food.