ROTI !! (flickr TaranRampersad)

A fantastic roti tour of south Trinidad courtesy of Sterling M. in his own words:

As a Southland-born and bred fella among the no longer existing cane fields, let me tell you about roti in South.

A proper roti spot has no particular color, the shop color is usually the leftover paint from last year’s Christmas cleanup.  The shop must have a counter, a barrier between the owner and patrons that resembles a large table-top.  I remember this because in the parlor where I lived as a small boy, I sat on the counter and listened to stories from Mr. Crick about “dong d main” (i.e., Venezuela).

A roti shop sells roti.  Plain roti or roti with this dat and the other.  Don’t know where the term “roti skin” or “sada bake” came from.  If you say “pepper roti” you are roti-cally correct.  Pepper roti is usually found in Hindu prayers where when the fellas finish cook, remaining vegetables are used to make the last roti.  Obviously, the main ingredient is pepper.  If you taste a pepper roti, it “krips” and nice and real hot, Scorpion hot.

Now to six great roti shops in South…

#1 – Good roti shops include Mona’s in Marabella, opposite the Police Station. Next time you go to make an accident report, buy a roti one time.  Mona’s is well-known and you can’t go wrong here.  Link to Mona’s pictures.

#2 – Shaffies Catering in Marabella near the Marabella cemetery makes roti on order.  The buss-up-shut is silky smooth and delicious – you could eat the roti by itself.  This is mainly due to the ghee.  One roti could feed about 5-6 adults.

# 3 – Staying in Marabella, there’s also the well known Amin’s Roti Shop.  Here you get buss-up-shut and dhalpuri roti.  (868) 658-1691.

#4 – On Todd Street, Les Efforts East, Sando.  S&D Roti Shop is jam up every day at lunch time.  You lucky if you get roti or food after 1:30pm.  Roti, dhal and duck is real trouble.  S&D is very breezy and open, real cool and relaxed ambiance.

#5 – On Matilda Road, off Matilda Junction in my hometown Princes Town, is Quilly’s – also known as “Kresh” to anyone up there.  Great tasting roti with chicken, goat and duck.  And, usually available up to about 4pm.  Remember the calypso with “She gone Matilda Road, She gone to look for obeahman,” that is where I talking about.

#6 – Karamath’s Roti on Coffee Street, Sando.  This roti shop is the mainstay of San Fernandians and has been around since!  They’re open late in the night and is the only place in Sando you could get home-food so late.  Here you have the interesting ‘Piper Roti’ which is basically chicken neck and back.  I don’t know the etymology but I suppose you had to be real tight to eat this.  (868) 653-1142.

Check the comments below for additional recommendations and don’t miss our post on the top roti list for Trinidad!

Related Links

• Sando’s ‘BESS’ BBQ, Roast Pork, Pizza, Roti, Black Pudding, Indian Food & Ice Cream
• Top 5 for Roti in Trinidad (South, East-West corridor and POS area)
• Ed’s 5 Must Try Foods in Trinidad
• Sterling’s 6 Must Try Foods in Trinidad (and locations)
• Link to original post with all the suggestions for must try foods in Trinidad & Tobago