TRAVEL: TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO

View of Port of Spain from Fort George

Roadside Vendor selling sweets and chow.

I recently took a week long vacation to the Caribbean Island of Trinidad and Tobago to visit one of my brothers who lives there.  This trip about spending time with him and his new family (he’s recently married) and about exploring the glorious food.  I had a long list of must-eats as opposed to a must-see list.   Before arriving in Trinidad I was sure to send this list to my bother to let him know my intentions-I was there to eat!    He assured me that I would be trying it all and more.  He is a master in the kitchen and when we weren’t out and about he prepared some of the most delicious food I’ve had in years. Within hours of landing and reuniting with my brother, I was standing on a busy street corner at Ram’s doubles stand devouring 2 hot doubles with sweet sauce and slight pepper.  With belly full, he took me on a 5 cent tour. One of the things that I absolutely loved about Trinidad was how many similarities it shares with Guyana.   Apart from our food being the most alike in the Caribbean community, some parts of Port of Spain and other outlying areas reminded me of home.  I would turn a corner and for that moment I was transported back to Guyana.  I felt very much at home.

Chaguanas Market

While there I visited Chaguanas Market which was absolutely amazing, it reminded me of Saturday mornings shopping at Stabroek and Bourda Market in Georgetown.   I was amazed at how much smaller and less uniform the produce was compared to what we have here back in the States-that’s a good thing.   Being in the Caribbean reminded me of a way of life that I had long forgotten about-the slower pace, organized chaotic driving(I spent most of my time on the edge on my seat), simple, uncomplicated meals.  I had a lot to eat while there and everything was good!  
Maybe it’s the freshness of the produce, or the love that goes into each home cooked meal or maybe it’s the fact that a bite of something as simple as fry bake with butter brought me back to my childhood.  Trinidad is a definitely food lover’s paradise.  I was amazed at the fact that there seemed to be a vendors all along the roadside selling some type of food.   There is a lot to eat in Trinidad and I managed to check all items off of my list plus more but here are the foods that I would say are some of the best eats:

Doubles with sweet sauce

Doubles– This is simply lightly curried channa(chick peas) in between two fried breads called bara.  The ones I had in New York are a distant cousin to the original, these are so much better.   These are easily found on just about every road corner in Trinidad and are dirt cheap.  They are less than $1 USD.  You can customize your toppings as you like; that’s if you’re not there when it’s super busy and the doubles man is blindly pelting doubles into open napkins.  Oh and I loved the fact that you ate as many doubles as you like before paying and no one keeps track.  Nope…they trust that you will pay for what you ate and we did.

Richard’s Bake and Shark

Richards Bake and Shark-this is THE famous Bake and Shark in Trinidad and I was pleasantly surprised that it lived up to the hype.  We took a day trip to Maracus Beach and Las Cuevas Beach so we stopped to have a bite.   This was a hefty sandwich with a generous serving of fried shark and there was a bar with a variety of fresh vegetables and sauces.  What’s better than sitting on the beach in your two piece bikini with a belly full of bake and shark and chow?  Yea….that’s why no bikini photos ever have or ever will be posted.

Coconut Water

Fresh Coconut Water and Jelly-from a vendor, still in the coconut-the best!

KFC-a must have if you’re a fan of fried chicken.   The flavor is indicative of the regional cuisine, there’s even a spicy chadon beni sauce for dipping or drizzling.

Pholourie with Mango Sauce

Hosein’s Pholourie-Amazing! While Trinidad’s version differs slightly from ours, they were delicious. These perfectly round balls made from a split pea batter was served with a sweet mango dipping sauce, pepper is available upon request but please know that pepper sauce in Trinidad is fire blazing hot and not for the faint.  Use caution.

Fresh Local Fruits– Visit the local market or stop at a roadside vendor and take advantage of the amazing variety of fruits here.   I was lucky enough to find star apple (caimite), gooseberry, cashew which are virtually impossible to find in the States.

Stew Fish and Pumpkin Fritters

Homecooking– If you’re lucky enough to stay by someone local have them cook…all the time.   I kid you not, I was suffering from flavor withdrawals when I returned home.  My brother cooked up a storm, he made some of the best Bake and pumpkin, roti and fish curry and dulpiti I’ve ever had.   

Maracas Beach

San Fernando

When I wasn’t eating I was busy sightseeing; we visited Chaguaramas, Fort George, San Fernando, the oil refineries, the Savannah where Carnival is held, Maracas and Las Cuevas beaches.  I also spent time with one of my friends that I’ve known since high school who had come all the way from New York so that we can lime(hang out).  I enjoyed my trip to Trinidad and would recommend it to anyone.  I loved the fact that I was able to explore with a local and not have the tourist experience, there’s nothing like it.