Apart from the writing what also really lets this blog down is the photography. I'm a food blogger who hates taking photos, plus every camera I own seems to meet a grisly fate, whether stomped on a dancefloor or drowned in a swimming pool. I assure you though, what appears in the first photo to be the unfurled contents of a well used nappy was in fact a bundle of fiery joy, the jewel of Trinidadian street food, the roti.
A legacy of indentured workers from the Indian subcontinent (roughly 40% of Trinidadians are of South Asian ancestry), roti refers to the style of flat bread as well as the dish as a whole. It's a meal in one, a generous dollop of curry (usually goat, chicken or prawn) wrapped in a pocket of roti which has been cooked on a large flat pan called a tawa.
I've been several times to Roti Joupa, a Trinidadian takeaway in North Clapham which has a bit of a cult following, it's packed with customers on a Saturday afternoon. The kitchen behind the counter is a hive of activity with rotis being freshly made in front of you. On this occasion I went for a curry goat roti (which was boneless). You're given a choice of spiciness 'mild, medium or hot' as they add hot pepper sauce to it afterwards. I'm a chilli fanatic, but the cooks at Roti Joupa are fiendish. I find medium there is just right, I've made the mistake of going for hot before and it's a painful experience.
The curry goat was superb, tender chunks of goat melting into a thick, spicy, meaty gravy. It's topped with aloo choka, basically a curried mashed potato, which made it all the more satisfying. The roti itself tasted fresh with a pleasant chewiness and took on a whole new beauty when soaked with the curry juices.
I also had 'doubles' (picture no.2), another Trini street food favourite of East Indian origin. It's curried chickpeas sandwiched between two pieces of fried bread, very similar to the puri you get with prawn puri in curry houses. Topped with a cucumber relish and more hot pepper sauce it's a delicious snack.
Roti Joupa Restaurant. 12 Clapham High Street, London, SW4 7UT - Tel: 0207 627 8637
A legacy of indentured workers from the Indian subcontinent (roughly 40% of Trinidadians are of South Asian ancestry), roti refers to the style of flat bread as well as the dish as a whole. It's a meal in one, a generous dollop of curry (usually goat, chicken or prawn) wrapped in a pocket of roti which has been cooked on a large flat pan called a tawa.
I've been several times to Roti Joupa, a Trinidadian takeaway in North Clapham which has a bit of a cult following, it's packed with customers on a Saturday afternoon. The kitchen behind the counter is a hive of activity with rotis being freshly made in front of you. On this occasion I went for a curry goat roti (which was boneless). You're given a choice of spiciness 'mild, medium or hot' as they add hot pepper sauce to it afterwards. I'm a chilli fanatic, but the cooks at Roti Joupa are fiendish. I find medium there is just right, I've made the mistake of going for hot before and it's a painful experience.
The curry goat was superb, tender chunks of goat melting into a thick, spicy, meaty gravy. It's topped with aloo choka, basically a curried mashed potato, which made it all the more satisfying. The roti itself tasted fresh with a pleasant chewiness and took on a whole new beauty when soaked with the curry juices.
I also had 'doubles' (picture no.2), another Trini street food favourite of East Indian origin. It's curried chickpeas sandwiched between two pieces of fried bread, very similar to the puri you get with prawn puri in curry houses. Topped with a cucumber relish and more hot pepper sauce it's a delicious snack.
Roti Joupa Restaurant. 12 Clapham High Street, London, SW4 7UT - Tel: 0207 627 8637
I have eaten this food and have excellent taste.delicious and rich food.iberian ham Thanks
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