F I N A L        DE S T I N A T I O N . . . .

TRINIDAD & TOBAGO

So if you read my previous post “its time for a vacation” you would have read that I had planned to go to Hanoi, Vietnam. So due to unforeseen circumstances I decided to go to my home country of beautiful Trinidad and Tobago. I have not been home in over 10 years so saying this trip was over due is an understatement. Besides visiting the beautiful beaches, waterfalls and my friends and family, I was most excited about the street food experience I would be gorging on! From doubles, to burgers, to KFC (trust me its 100x better), street BBQ, soups, corn, ice cream, roti, trini Chinese food etc etc, I was determine to get my hands on all of it. I even started dieting in preparation..#dedicated.. So if you ever decide to visit my homeland, whether it be for carnival or just for a good ole’ vacation be sure to try lots and lots of the local delicacy.. Here are my top favorites, in no particular order, which I all ate while there.

Special shout out to my childhood and oldest friend, Shaunelle that took time to take me all over Trini when I was visiting. She basically was my personal tour guide and I definitely would not have had such an awesome time had it not been for her!!!..Love You BOO 🙂

ICE CREAM!

So if we are gonna talk about food, why not start with my favorite dessert. ICE CREAM!! Trini’s love their ice cream and B&M’s is the place to go. It’s a family own franchise with all of our culture flavors, and absolutely delicious. You know there are ice cream that taste too milky or you just don’t tase the flavor thats said in the name? This is not the case at B&M ice cream. The flavor burst through each and every lick and its soooo cooling on those hot Caribbean days. Growing up my go to flavors were peanut and coconut on a sugar cone and I have never found that combo in NYC. So when I told my friend I needed ice cream she knew exactly where to take me and it was just as I remembered it. Click HERE

Doubles 

Doubles, not to be pronounced in a singular form when only eating one, is a local staple, must have and almost synonymous with Trinidad. I can guarantee Every Trinidadian has had one or at the very least, know what it is. It’s one of our most popular street food and it is eaten any time of day as a light snack or in between meals. It consist of 2 “baras” filled with curry chana aka chic peas and you can add other toppings such as mango chutney, tamarind sauce and everyones favorite, pepper sauce.  These doubles stands can be found all over Trinidad and everyone has their favorite stand they go to fill up on some doubles.

I usually have mine with tamarind sauce and mango chutney..soooo good !! Click HERE

Royal Castle

Royal castle is a fast for chain based solely in Trinidad, notable for its chicken and chips. You can taste the seasoning in the chicken and it is best eaten with ketchup and mustard and of course hot sauce. The chicken in the Caribbean has a distinctively different taste than Western countries which is usually very much appreciated by visitors and myself. It was my very first and last meal on my visit. Make sure to get your box of our culture and our taste!!     Dig-In

Bake and Shark/King Fish

I’d like to believe every beach going culture has a must have food or beverage that is enjoyed while spending a day at the beach. These food or cool drink makes that beach day even more enjoyable and of course memorable and in T&T its Bake and shark. The deep fried shark is served in a bake, which is a fried dough and you then choose an array of condiments to put in this fish sandwich. Since I do not eat shark there is the king fish option and I tell you its just as amazing. Bake and shark can be found served by many vendors on Maracas Bay Beach and again everyone has their local favorite that they frequent, so if you’re a tourist, try Richards or Lydias, you won’t be disappointed.

Marios

Marios Pizza is another Trini fast food chain serving up pizza and other menu items. It’s the go to place for pizza cravings with tons of local specialities to try with fresh and traditional ingredients. Locals eat their pizza with ketchup and mustard so when in ROME! Click Here

Chinese Food

Trinidad Chinese food is not like traditional Western Chinese food, but mostly consist of fried rice, Lo Mein, Chow Mein and Chinese style chicken. Trinidad has a huge Chinese following and you can find a Chinese restaurant basically on every corner but locals will tell you not all are made equal so I would recommend to only eat from restaurants recommend to you by a local. For me I was recommended Jennys on the boulevard and the food was exceptional. Click Here

Chicken Foot Souse 

Caribbean people usually find way to use all parts of the animal when cooking and souse is a way to use the renderings of such animals. Souse is another local street food that you usually find in the late evenings or nights selling by local vendors. Traditionally pig feet or snouts are used but different variations such of cow heel and chicken feet are used mostly for non-pork eaters as myself. Souse is a spicy pickle water based dish, seasoned with onions peppers and cucumber. I understand that the site of chicken feet can be ghastly but you have to try it before you judge and be open minded. So if you get the chance, give it a try.  Click HERE

BBQ

There is nothing like a good Trini BBQ, maybe I’m a little bias, but it is really mouth watering. It’s usually served with chips or fried rice, macaroni pie and salad ( green or potato). You can find good BBQ all over the island but my local spot is in Curepe at Chinee Chopper Grill. This place has been around for years and the food is still as good!

Roti

Now you can’t come Trinidad and not have a roti. Roti is eaten throughout the Caribbean but it prominent in T&T and can be found in restaurants and also part of the street food culture. Roti is a soft thin dough served with curry chana & potato, and either curry chicken, beef, shrimp or goat. You can also get it with other fixings such as pumpkin, sweet curry mango, bhaji aka spinach and other sides depending the vendor. Roti itself can have different variations such as dhalpuri or paratha or buss-up-shut all very tasty.