The “ramblin retiree” has been spreading his wings lately. First it was Jamaica, Caymans and Cozumel (on a cruise)...then Trinidad. Recently I was asked to do some work down in Trinidad. Now I “had” said I’d done enough international travel (more than forty countries), but, this offer was interesting enough to accept.
Arriving late in an evening rain and jumping into work the next day, I didn’t really have any time to sample any Trinidadian sights, sounds or food. However, and life is full of “however”, on the last day I was treated to a local favorite called a “doubles.”
Along the perimeter road around the Port of Spain airport were a selection of roadside vendors, some with a cart and a canopy and others were more elaborate, with popup tents. Under a large tent was “Richards”, said to serve the best (and safesty) “doubles”.
Doubles is a common street food in Trinidad and Tobago. It is a sandwich made with two flat fried breads, called "bara" (hence the name "doubles"), filled with curried chick peas or garbanzo beans, commonly called channa (from Hindi/Bhojpuri "chanaa"). Topped with a variety of spicy chutneys (mango, cucumber, coconut, tamarind) and extra pepper sauce (ranging from a dash "slight" to much more), this delicacy is undoubtedly the most popular fast food in Trinidad and Tobago. It is usually eaten for breakfast.
Since these little delicacies are usually sold by roadside vendors, which I’ve normally steered clear of (no need temping those little “microbugs” lurking in roadside cuisine) I was reluctant to try one.
Our host ordered three bags of doubles, six each, to feed everyone at our exit meeting. One normal, one hot and one that was said to be “really spicy” (read that as HOT!).
Once seated everyone grabbed a “double” and began to munch away...they are really juicy so care is needed not to have the sauce dribble down your hand and arm. The other non-Trinidadian and I looked on longingly as the aroma waffled around the room and everyone, slurping away, seemed to be really enjoying their “double”.
Well fear of the little microbugs finally gave way to temptation. We cut ours into four pieces and said...”I’ll just try this little piece”...a forth. Wow...that was so good we tried more!
Fortunately, the next morning, we both got on the airplane back to Houston with no ill effects and a pleasant memory of having had a “double”.
Arriving late in an evening rain and jumping into work the next day, I didn’t really have any time to sample any Trinidadian sights, sounds or food. However, and life is full of “however”, on the last day I was treated to a local favorite called a “doubles.”
Along the perimeter road around the Port of Spain airport were a selection of roadside vendors, some with a cart and a canopy and others were more elaborate, with popup tents. Under a large tent was “Richards”, said to serve the best (and safesty) “doubles”.
Doubles is a common street food in Trinidad and Tobago. It is a sandwich made with two flat fried breads, called "bara" (hence the name "doubles"), filled with curried chick peas or garbanzo beans, commonly called channa (from Hindi/Bhojpuri "chanaa"). Topped with a variety of spicy chutneys (mango, cucumber, coconut, tamarind) and extra pepper sauce (ranging from a dash "slight" to much more), this delicacy is undoubtedly the most popular fast food in Trinidad and Tobago. It is usually eaten for breakfast.
Since these little delicacies are usually sold by roadside vendors, which I’ve normally steered clear of (no need temping those little “microbugs” lurking in roadside cuisine) I was reluctant to try one.
Our host ordered three bags of doubles, six each, to feed everyone at our exit meeting. One normal, one hot and one that was said to be “really spicy” (read that as HOT!).
Once seated everyone grabbed a “double” and began to munch away...they are really juicy so care is needed not to have the sauce dribble down your hand and arm. The other non-Trinidadian and I looked on longingly as the aroma waffled around the room and everyone, slurping away, seemed to be really enjoying their “double”.
Well fear of the little microbugs finally gave way to temptation. We cut ours into four pieces and said...”I’ll just try this little piece”...a forth. Wow...that was so good we tried more!
Fortunately, the next morning, we both got on the airplane back to Houston with no ill effects and a pleasant memory of having had a “double”.
