[here] Magazine.

His Crazy Caribbean Style definitely shines through his music selection, his energy, and his food.

DJ Nasty Naz’s professional career in the music industry as a tour chef, tour hype man and a tour DJ has allowed him to work with artists like the Black Eyed Peas, The Game, Akon, Wyclef, Danny Fernandes and Sean Paul, to name a few. This attitude of continuously being on the grind has pitched this Trinidadian-born entrepreneur into a class of his own, with not only being a top DJ in the East Coast, but to having an award winning restaurant in Fredericton “” Caribbean Flavas.

His skills in the kitchen have allowed him to cater for a number of groups, including Akon, Sean Kingston, Girlicious, Hedley, The Trews, and even rock and roll legend, Leonard Cohen.

DJ Nasty Naz Flava of the Week will be a weekly column where Naz takes readers inside his world of cooking, performing and rubbing elbows with the stars. For more information on DJ Nasty Naz, visit www.djnastynaz.com, Join the fanpage “” www.facebook.com/djnastynaz or follow him on Twitter www.twitter.com/djnastynaz. Or, to taste d’island life, visit Caribbean Flavas on 123 York St, Fredericton.

I was the Deejay for an event this weekend, and I played the track Jai Ho by A. R. Rahman, and I remembered everyone had the Oscar Fever, especially with the many build ups and sneak previews the networks aired during that week. After it was all said and done, I think that Slumdog Millionaire definitely deserved all the credit it has gotten. It was a total underdog project that no network wanted in the first place to now an Oscar award-winning film.

That hits close to home, as my award winning restaurant Caribbean Flavas was an underdog project as well, which no one wanted or believed in at UNB. Now, four years later, we have won BEST restaurant in the province, where to dine in Canada and we have gone on to cook for acts like Hedley and Snoop to Leonard Cohen and the Trailer Park Boys.

So I decided in keeping with the Indian theme that I would do up a nice recipe for some curried duck. Of course any protein can be used here, from chicken to lamb, including tofu, which would be an excellent choice. I didn’t want to have beef in this recipe, as I said I am sticking to the Slumdog theme, and the cow is seen as a sacred animal in their beliefs.

Having lived in Trinidad most of my life, curry was always part of our Sunday traditional “River Lime.”

I guess I should lend some insight to this new lingo:

Lime/Liming “” a party or any get-together/to hang out with friends and acquaintances. Example: Hey Johnny, we are liming at the mall, you should swing by.

Anyway, our “River Lime” would entail having most of the family and many friends pack up the trunks of their cars with coolers “” properly stocked with drinks and duck, and head down to the nearest river to “make ah cook!” We would then find a suitable spot, bring out the cast iron pot, start up the fire, bring out the playing cards and blast tha music from tha trunk.

Slumdog Curried Duck

Main Ingredients:

Duck: 2lbs (if you are ah true Trini, the whole duck would be used here!)

Frying Oil: 4 tbsp

Onion: 1 (large)

Garlic: 3 cloves

Coconut milk: 1 cup

Yogurt: 1/2 cup

Fresh ginger: 2 tbsp (grated)

Curry powder or curry paste: 3 tsp

Salt: 1/4 tsp

Black Pepper: 1/2 tsp

Coconut flakes

Slivered almonds: to garnish

Cooked jasmine rice for 4 (to serve with)

Note: Again if you are a crazy Trini like me, Scotch Bonnette Peppers are in order here, probably at least 2-3 whole peppers.

Directions:

1. Peel and chop the onion. Peel and finely dice the garlic cloves.

2. Rinse the protein (lamb, duck, tofu etc) with lime juice to take away some of the freshness; pat dry. Cut into one-inch pieces

3. Heat 3 tbsp of oil in a large frying pan over medium-high heat. Add half of the chopped onion and sauté until tender. Add duck and sauté about 5 minutes or until slightly browned. Transfer the duck to a medium-size bowl.

4. Add remaining 1 tbsp of oil to the pot. Add the rest of the chopped onion and garlic. Cook and stir until onion is tender. Drain.

5. Add coconut milk, yogurt, grated ginger, curry powder, salt and pepper to the pan. Bring to a simmer. Add the duck and water, simmer for about 30 minutes.

6. Transfer the curry to the serving bowl, garnish on top with slivered almonds, chopped cilantro (coriander) and grated coconut (optional). Serve with jasmine rice.

After serving up such a great dish, you would surely get a great nod of approval but if you are going for the Oscar award, like my good friend Marion (aka Dev Patel look alike), then a lovely side of Naan (which means bread “” similar to a pita bread) and some mango chutney would surely give you a standing ovation and the Oscar for best role as a leading Chef.

The post Slum Dog – Curry Duck. appeared first on DJ Nasty Naz.

Fredericton DJ serving up a menu for Cohen http://www.cbc.ca/canada/new-brunswick/story/2008/05/22/nb-naz-cater…

22/05/2008 11:19 PM

Fredericton DJ serving up a menu for Cohen

Last Updated: Thursday, May 22, 2008 | 12:04 PM AT

CBC News

A Fredericton restaurateur has spun his way into catering for Leonard Cohen and his crew while the

singer-songwriter tours the Maritimes.

Naz Ali travels North America spinning records in clubs and concert halls when he isn’t operating his

restaurant, Caribbean Flavas, in Fredericton.

Also known at DJ Nasty Naz, Ali’s job in the music industry has led him to rub elbows in L.A. and Miami

with some big stars.

“The light bulb went off in my head and I thought, I can cater and chef and DJ at the same time, so that is

what I would do,” Ali said. “I would DJ during the concert and as soon as the concert is done, I would throw

back on my jacket and start cooking up a storm for these artists.”

Ali started catering for the stars about three years ago and his clients have included Snoop Dogg, Akon and

the Pussycat Dolls, as well as Canadians the Trews, Hedley and Bedouin Soundclash.

Ali was recently asked to make lunch one day while Cohen and his crew were performing in Fredericton.

The musician liked the food, and a single meal led to several others, Ali said.

“By the third day he is in love with the food, his entire crew loves the food and he makes a joke to … his tour

manager, ‘We should take Naz and his family on tour with us,'” Ali said.

The request was no joke, and on Monday, Ali packed up his dishes, cutlery and Cohen’s favourite ingredients

to travel to Moncton with the crew.

Cohen, a Montreal-born singer, songwriter, poet and novelist, was inducted into the U.S. Rock and Roll Hall

of Fame in March, and the day after the New York gala announced he would be embarking on a tour,

including major stops such as three days prior to the Montreal International Jazz Festival (June 23-25), four

dates in Toronto (June 6-9) and a headline slot at Glastonbury Festival in the United Kingdom (June 29).

It is Cohen’s first string of concert dates in 15 years, and includes many smaller, more intimate performance

dates in Atlantic Canada, Ontario and Quebec.

Ali said he hasn’t yet been asked to stay on tour with the musician but he’s prepared to serve as Cohen’s

personal chef for as long as he’s needed.

For now, he’s adding a photograph of Cohen and an autographed menu to his restaurant’s walls, which are

already plastered with images of celebrities.

The post Legendary Rock Icon – Leonard Cohen back on Tour appeared first on DJ Nasty Naz.