Eating a Double in Trinidad

She may be acting single but I’m eating Doubles in Trinidad. Photo above is said Double.

On the plane over an American lady who is a school teacher here sat next to me. As I was leaving the plane I asked her to name one thing that I should do in Trinidad. She says, “Eat a Double.” After seeing my dumbfounded look (not hard, by the way), she explains it’s a sandwich that is sold by street vendors. I thought to myself, “Fat chance, I’ll stick to restaurants, thank you.” But, remember I was one of 4 people who used to buy jerk pork and jerk chicken on the roads of Jamaica.

So, the guy we’re auditing this week comes in one morning and asks if I want a Double, and of course I go oh sure! Come to find out one of the locals in the office goes somewhere in the neighborhood most every morning and gets a bag of them and brings them back. The only decision you have to make is how spicy do you want it? Mild, medium or hot. I like spicy but figured I better go mild, and gosh, I’m glad I did. It was plenty spicy enough.

But… it is very tasty. It’s hard to tell from the pictures - fried bread folded over like a tortilla with a chickpea filling and spicy sauce that includes curry - like a very mushy bean burrito with an Indian taste. The bread is excellent, light and doughy. Will definitely do again - though it may consume at least half the day's calories – but apparently I experienced no backlash, if you know what I mean.

Here’s a link that does a better job of explaining:

http://www.seriouseats.com/2007/10/serious-sandwich-the-trini-double.html

Trinidad is a very tropical place as you might imagine. Warm and subject to daily showers. The temperature is not that hot, but in mid-day the sun is very intense. Something about that equator thing.

The driving here is same as in U.K….wrong side of the road. Thus, we have drivers assigned to us. We have 3 Audit Teams of 2 each. The office I’m working at is not far from here and usually only takes about 10-15 minutes each way. However, since we require drivers we haven’t gotten out much so far.

Staying in a Marriott Courtyard and there is a big shopping mall next door that is anchored by a multi-screen Cinema. It is a very busy place and is a hangout for young people. Expecting an uptick in activity this weekend as guys in their souped up cars and stereos blaring drive around over there. First 3 nights we walked over there for dinner – there’s a Ruby Tuesday, Subway, Popeyes, Burger King – you know, the biggies. But, as you can see there are lots of stores and restaurants that are American chains we’re used to. Tonight we got one of our drivers and four of us went to dinner at a good restaurant – I had a shrimp and lobster bisque and a grilled swordfish and salad. It was all very good. The place reminded me of a Humphrey Bogart movie – wooden windows swung open, ceiling fans, brightly colored walls. In the middle of the restaurant was an enclosed Havana Cuban Cigar Room.

Actually all the food I’ve had has been good here – if not too much. All the portions are huge so I usually eat about half (or at least that’s my goal!). At lunch we go across the street to this big popular Sports Bar called Trotters. It has a massive menu so it’s easy to have something different each day – had mahi-mahi, crab cakes, chicken, etc. All good and, did I say, LARGE quantities?

And speaking of sports – my eyes just lit up – the two most popular sports here are soccer and cricket. Across the road from our hotel is a big complex of 3 stadiums. There have been cricket matches over there the last couple of nights. I’m tempted to try and go see one. On the soccer front, James informs that T&T is the smallest country to ever qualify for the World Cup, though I think they missed out in this year's qualifications. USA rocks.

But, the best news on the sports front is the hotel tv. We get two ESPN channels, one Fox Sports Net and Versus, which carries some games, the NBA Network, as well as the 3 networks from Miami. (Think Cowboys-Eagles on NBC last Sunday Night). So obviously I’m looking forward to the weekend and seeing what football games we’ll get. I know, I know…I’m 7 miles from Venezuela and I’m sitting on my butt watching football. Hey, I need the rest and break from the week long work rigors. I may get out this weekend, but am going to play it by ear. Working Saturday a.m. but then taking the rest of the weekend off.

And home, er Austin, next Friday. Hook’em!!

Should mention that people here are black and most speak English in a lovely, lilting tone. Though some can be just as hard to understand as a Scotsman. Their music is truly calypso. All the drivers always have music on the radio and I enjoy our driver's music. But the guy we rode with tonight plays it very loud and it is distracting. I asked him to turn it down, but heard later when Pete was riding with him, he reached over and turned off the radio. You gotta love it.

I like my driver. Her name is Allison John. I was originally sent an email with her name and I thought they had sent it with last name first. She drives a new shiny black Camaro and all is good.

Alright, that's it. Everyone have a good weekend!