Cousomeh (pronounced coo-sue-may), of French origin (Cosume), can be loosely defined as to allow ingredients/food to simmer or marinate for an extended period of time. In doing so, it facilitates the release of flavors, adding that extra ‘umph’ to the pot. Examples of this can be found in popular Caribbean dishes like Pepperpot (Guyanese), Callaloo (Trinbagonian) or even Oil Down (Grenadian). With this definition in mind, the fusing of different ingredients to create a single, unique flavor is what inspired the birth of Cousomeh Collective. Though Trinbagonian (creole) in origin, we believe that it best describes the shared Caribbean history that is food. It is such a powerful coping mechanism, and oftentimes offers a place of comfort and community. Gatherings are and have always been an integral part of our customs. Food offers a safe space for us more than just a means of nutrition; it is history, it is tradition, it is culture, it is survival, it is also resistance in the face of adversity. For example, the scraps of meat that were once considered waste during the period of African enslavement are now prized, popular pieces, from oxtail (there have even been jokes around ‘make oxtail cheap again’ movements) to even pigtail – a beloved staple in Oil Down, sometimes added to Callaloo, and popular in Bajan cuisine.

We at Cousoumeh Collective (Joshua Cabral – Trinidadian psychiatric/mental health technician/chef, Katherine Kennedy – Barbadian visual artist/writer/curator and Shanice Smith – Trinidadian visual artist) at its core believe in the spirit and immense potential of collaborations, particularly through food. We seek to provide a safe space with a focus on Caribbean people and people of the diaspora to come together, whether to rejoice, to cry, to vent or just simply share experiences. It should also be noted that food does more than just offer temporary distractions from the happenings of the world; it provides us with the means to feed not only ourselves, but our communities. We all have similar stories, be it of an older family member, mothers or grandmothers, or someone – usually a matriarch – in our community/village who was known for feeding everyone, who always managed to conjure up a meal with little to nothing. This kind of resourcefulness, resilience, nurturing and ingenuity is the backbone of what Cousomeh Collective aims to celebrate and amplify; to see what can be achieved by affording our ideas the opportunity to combine, ripen and reach maximum richness.