The impact of quality food trucks delivering unique and delicious cuisine is undeniable for those of us who live outside the center of the universe. Today I got lunch at our local farmers market from a truck that serves food from Trinidad. I had a sandwich of salt cod, avocado, fried plantain and tamarind sauce served on fry bread, and it was delicious. Please note that this comes from a guy who is really not a seafood fan. The tamarind sauce really made it, giving the sandwich a tangy-sweet bite. Jamaican food with its famous jerk sauce, meat pies, etc gets most of the recognition, and this was a real eye opener. Are there any other kinds of Caribbean cuisines that deserve notice?
Caribbean Cuisine
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I love carribean food, one of my favorite recipes to make is a Martinique coconut milk chicken curry, which involves the use of papaya and mangoes!
Some of the dishes made with the dry salted cod I have had are some of the best meals ever, We have a large caribbean community here in NYC. Jerked chicken, as you said Bob- Jamaican meat pies on Coco bread. Wedding cake, curried goat, spotted dog. Damn I am going out to lunch tomorrow.
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I stayed in a place called Lucea,in the Hanover district...just a village shack,but the food was great...salt fish and ackee,ox tails,breadfruit roasted for hours..and the sweets ! grate-a-cake , drops , raisins & rum ice cream ,and the most wonderful fruit drink,cashew nut tree flower juice....also,the jamaican fresh carrot juice made with freshly grated nutmeg,vanilla and a little dab of condensed milk...believe me,when your in that sweltering climate and are rapidly dehydrating,it tastes like it came from heaven...
Funny that you mention meat pies on coco bread. I was introduced to that here in TO, however, when we were in Jamaica a few years ago, I was trying to get that for mid-afternoon snack and everyone looked at me like I was nuts (to be fair, it's sort of like ordering a grilled cheese sandwich sandwich). Upon checking with a Jamaican ex-pat friend after we returned, I was told that it's really a local thing. She thought it was specifically a Toronto thing, but I suppose if you have them in NYC it's just an element of the Jamaican migrant communities.
Another common West Indian food that gets overlooked but is one of my favourite treats is a curry roti. Roti of course is just the flat bread, which is yummy on it's own, but they use it to wrap up the curry of your choice, and then put a wicked spicy hot sauce on the side, and voila it's curry to go.
My wife and I got married in Tobago in 1999. She's Indian, and we had a fantastic Hindu ceremony on the beach at sunset.
While there, we spent a little time in Trinidad. We both agree that it was some of the best cuisine we had ever experienced! The roadside "doubles" with mango chutney were amazing. I think it's important to note that about 40% of Trinidad is of East Indian descent. Used to be a Trini spot a couple of towns over from us here in the U.S. called D'Roti Shop, but they sadly shut down some years ago.
We try to hit a different Caribbean island every time we go down there. We've been to several, but have many more to cross off our list. I would like to submit an honorable mention for the cuisine of [REDACTED]. It's a very small island, but the seafood there was just spectacular. For our next trip I am considering Grenada, known as the Island of Spice!
While there, we spent a little time in Trinidad. We both agree that it was some of the best cuisine we had ever experienced! The roadside "doubles" with mango chutney were amazing. I think it's important to note that about 40% of Trinidad is of East Indian descent. Used to be a Trini spot a couple of towns over from us here in the U.S. called D'Roti Shop, but they sadly shut down some years ago.
We try to hit a different Caribbean island every time we go down there. We've been to several, but have many more to cross off our list. I would like to submit an honorable mention for the cuisine of [REDACTED]. It's a very small island, but the seafood there was just spectacular. For our next trip I am considering Grenada, known as the Island of Spice!
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Shhhh... don't talk about Nevis.
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The truck had just sold out of doubles when I got there. Must try it next week. I'm very familiar with IndiN and SE Asian curries. What distinguishes Caribbean curries?
Slash McCoy
I freehand dog rockets
Belizean style:
conch fritters
Lobster balls (no, not testicles so no corny jokes please)
Fish balls (see above)
Iguana, hiccattee, or other bush meat, stewed in recado sauce
Creole bread
Cowfoot soup
conch fritters
Lobster balls (no, not testicles so no corny jokes please)
Fish balls (see above)
Iguana, hiccattee, or other bush meat, stewed in recado sauce
Creole bread
Cowfoot soup
We have a local diner called Starliner that I need to revisit. Small place,but stays busy. Interesting menu. Some of he desserts are created by a grandmother each week, but they never last into the weekend.
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