Goat Water is a slow-cooked stew made with goat meat. Being the national dish of Montserrat, it is a direct reflection of the island’s African and Irish ancestries. The estimated preparation time of the dish is 30 minutes and the cooking time is 2 hours and 30 minutes. It goes best with sourdough bread.

Ingredients (Serves 6)

1 lemon, juiced 1 kg goat meat, cut into 5cm chunks 1 tbsp vegetable oil 1 tbsp brown sugar or molasses 2 tsp cloves 2 tsp pimento 2 tsp ground mace A few thyme sprigs, plus more to serve 1/2 garlic bulb, cloves peeled and crushed 1 Scotch bonnet chili, chopped 1 celery stick, chopped 1/2 green pepper, chopped into 1½cm chunks 1 red pepper, finely chopped 2 spring onions, finely chopped 1 onion, chopped 1 tsp gravy browning 1-2 bay leaves 1 tsp cornflour 1 tbsp rum (optional) 1-2 tsp plain flour or cornflour

Directions

Step 1

First, mix the lemon juice into a large bowl of water. Rinse the goat meat in the lemon water and drain. Then pat the goat meat dry with kitchen paper and set aside.

Step 2

Next heat the oil in a large saucepan or casserole dish set over medium-high heat. Then stir in the sugar and cook for a few minutes until golden and caramelized. Add the goat meat and cook until browned all over. Add 1-liter water, the spices, and thyme, and bring to a boil, skimming off any scum that rises to the surface. Meanwhile blend the garlic, scotch bonnet, celery, peppers, and onions in a food processor to make a coarse paste. Add it to the meat along with the gravy browning and bay leaves. Bring to the boil. Then reduce the heat, cover, and simmer for about 2-2½ hours until the meat is very tender.

Step 3

Finally, combine the cornflour with 50 ml water and add to the pan. Simmer for another 10 minutes, uncovered, until the sauce has thickened to the consistency of single cream. Then stir in the rum. Serve hot with more thyme scattered over and bread on the side.

There was a time when people would plan trips one at a time, but things have changed drastically since the pandemic. More and more people are booking their trips in twos and threes as backups. This new tends is on the rise and has been titled ‘trip stacking.’ Wondering what it is all about? Read on to find out. For all you know, you could be part of this trend too.

What Is Trip Stacking

This trend involves people booking more aggressively. For instance, if you book a trip for a cruise experience then you may also book another one as a backup to another country. You can then end up going on a trip that may not be canceled considering the current game of life and the travel rules constantly changing. So, travelers plan multiple trips at a time and pick the one that suits them best, based on the current climate and postpone the others.

When Did it Begin

It is not a very new trend. Trip stacking began somewhere from May to June, once the vaccinations began rolling out in Europe and the US. The trend spiked further when the new Covid-19 variant started disrupting travel plans. People, who had waited for months to go traveling, had to cancel their plans. By the time it was August, over 50% of Americans had either canceled or had changed their plans to travel.

Who Benefits From This Trend

Trip stacking is a boon for some and bane for others. When travelers book more trips, travel agencies end up earning more money. However, tour companies, cruise lines, and hotels may not benefit much from it when travelers cancel. There are other pitfalls to consider. For instance, when a traveler books a flight ticket they do not intend to take, the airline will hike up the prices for others as the seats fill up. However, many believe that this trend will fade once the pandemic comes to an end.