myTobago – your questions, review and comment about Tobago

Does anyone know of there is anywhere on Tobago you can get doubles?

We spent a week in Tobago and a week in Trinidad last year and during the Trinidad visit we breakfasted on doubles one day. After the lobster in Tobago Christine and I both agreed that this was one of the culinary highlights of our tour.

We are planning on a fortnight in Tobago in the future and I would love to be able to sample this again.

Thanks

Hi Charles

You've got me there. To be honest, I don't know if I've ever enjoyed or seen Doubles anywhere in Tobago. It will obviously only be available in local roti shop type establishments. Maybe somebody else has come across it on Tobago.

For those of you wondering what Doubles is, it is a particular Trinidadian favourite originating from their East Indian population. It is basically a curry sandwich - curried channa (chick peas) between two Baras (a type of bread). Particularly delicious with a touch of mango chutney.

I can't believe that you have never seen the queues for doubles at the airport, Steve! There is a vendor selling doubles from a small cart with an umbrella by the side of the road next to the car park, on the opposite side to the terminal. I think they are there every day.

There is also often a vendor with a small cart just by Penny Savers in Bon Accord - she is usually on the pavement between the car park entrance and the small convenience shop next to Penny Savers.

You know, I think I may have noticed the guy at the airport - the umbrella over the cart rings a bell. But, to be honest, I'm always so keen to get away from the airport that I would never have given it a second thought. Mind you, it answers Charles' question of where to find Doubles.

[quote="There is a vendor selling doubles from a small cart with an umbrella by the side of the road next to the car park, on the opposite side to the terminal. I think they are there every day.

There is also often a vendor with a small cart just by Penny Savers in Bon Accord - she is usually on the pavement between the car park entrance and the small convenience shop next to Penny Savers.[/quote]

Ah Rachel, thanks for that. I thought we were going to be out of luck.

We went for hot sauce rather than mango chutney when we tried them before. There is something delightfully different about curry for breakfast!

the doubles at the airport are great. it is by the way an indian lady most of the time. her pies are excellent as well!
She is only there until her stock is finished, wich is mostly before 12 noon. locals have their snack break early.
she also sells non alcoholic drinks (be there early and it is not only chubby and busta....jak!)
a next doubles lady is often in Scarbourough opposite pizza boys. very spicy, also great stuff.

good appetite!

steph&ali

Hi Brian,
that's a disaster, our flight won't get in till around 5 and you tell me the doubles will be gone by noon.

I have been looking forward to doubles and a beer while waiting for the Taxi to Speyside to turn up ever since this post started. Now my hopes have been dashed you bounder!!

Regards
Kevin

so sorry...
the airport have a reastaurant, not bad. but what is really good there is the saltfish and bake. try that instead and "cheers" to you first carib an tobago grounds....

steph

Hi Steph,
I thought thought the place at the airport only did things like burgers and fries. It was the chance of doubles or a rotie that I was really looking forward too . Still the saltfish sounds nice.

The second week we are moving down from BWI to the Kariwak so I'll get a chance to walk round and have one for my lunch.

Regards
Kevin

especially with doubles and roti you got the stuff that they only sell early...
I once had a roti in speyside, that is years ago, but I believe the shop is still there. when you reach speyside and go downhill, pass the lookout and when you reach the socca ground it have some little shops on the right. try your luck and you might not have to wait until your second week...

steph

More good news for doubles fans.... another doubles vendor has appeared outside "Canaan Food Basket" fruit & veg shop on the main road from Crown Point towards the Shirvan Road. I have noticed that they are there late in the afternoon, so if you are arriving on a late flight, you might be in luck there...

Great news, there! I'm glad to hear that, as I will be (conveniently) staying in Canaan . I LOVE Doubles , but unfortunately I haven't had the chance to stop @ UWI for a while (like 2 years), because all I do is work- but not to worry, will make up for it while on vacation .....

...and I'm sponsoring which ever forum members I meet at the Doubles stand! 'hope you guys wake up @ 6 am....

Great news for you doubles fans that happen to to be passing Penny Savers around 1 P.M.

There is usually a mobile vendor there selling his tasty food.

Quite a sight, I was waiting in a parked vehicle when up rode a man on a bicycle with a big box on the front. Out came the parasol. From nowhere came a load of School children maybe 10 or 15. Jostling for their Doubles as I later found out.

Hope you find him, beat the rush though !!!!!

Mark

The airport doubles lady is worth taking a cab to. They are only $2TT and as food if not better than ones I had in Trini. She is there from 8 - 10 or whenever she runs out. She sells from her car boot, not sure about the drinks though. They are in reused unlabelled bottles!!

that is a normal thing here. at the roti shop close to scarborough secondary school they sell juice (lemon, guava, passion fruit...) in reused unlabeled bottles.
absolutely great and never a problem with it.
I feel people who sell food in the street from their cooler and do it clean (as for example the airport doubles lady) keep the same rule for their bottles...
and homemade juice or lemonade is unbeatable...
steph&ali

yeah - being over cautious. If the food is that good thge pop will be too.

By the way, is doubles pronounced the same as doubles matches in tennis? For some reason, I wonder if it's pronounced "doo-blays."

Hi Steph

Yes, I totally agree with you except for one caveat. Be wary of bottled coconut water. I had a good drink of some during my last visit and ended up in bed for 24 hours. My feelings were that the bottle hadn't been properly washed before refilling with coconut water. It was the only thing I'd eaten or drunk in the last four five hours, so I'm totally satisfied it was the cause.

Hi Steve,

Sorry to hear of your bad experience with bottled coconut water. Rather ironic when you consider that coconut water is meant to be one of the healthiest drinks around! I must admit that I wasn't aware of that fact until I visited Tobago. It seems that - you name it - it fixes it (ailment-wise).

It was the gardener of the villa we were staying in that actually introduced me to this delicious drink. I was still adjusting to the heat (33C in Sept) and high humidity when he said that I should try some coconut water. Good for the blood he said and would cool me down as well as being full of minerals and vitamins.

He cut us some yellow/green coconuts (think he called them Chinese Coconuts?) - anyway looked like very young coconuts to me. We then put them in the fridge and in a few hours - lopped the top off - just like a boiled egg - and poured the water into a tall glass. Really delicious - and he was right - felt "cooler" and certainly full of energy.
Apparently once coconut water is exposed to the air it starts to lose its 'goodness' and will start to ferment. I think this fact plus probably a "dirty" bottle could make an unpleasant combination as very unfortunately Steve found out.

Terry

"Full of vitamins and minerals" is stretching it a bit!

However, as a dietitian, I can tell you that fresh coconut water is a great natural rehydration fluid - it does contain potassium and some sodium - and is often used during illness (ie those NOT caused by dodgy coconut water in the first place!). Equally good on a morning after a few too many rum punches