“Less is more when it comes to power and words.  If you can say it in two words, better than one.” Author Unknown

Move Forward

Between the Gulf of Paria, The Caribbean Sea, and the Atlantic Ocean floating lightly above and touching azure seas is a land called the Holy Trinity by Columbus – Trinidad.  On its streets - you choose the city - Arima, Chaguanas, Port of Spain are tightly tucked, between market stalls - or visit the contradiction of Little Guyana nestled in Jamaica Queens, New York City, where lined up on Liberty Avenue stand storefronts bustling with bright Saris, Lehengas and Kurtas, Hindu Temples, Laundromats, and Shisha Shops  and on every other corner stands a Bodega.  But between 133rd and 132nd on Liberty Singh’s Roti Shop and Bar contains a messy, sumptuous, sloppy, sandwich doughed up and pillowy called Doubles.

Before vegan was vegan and cool was a cucumber cool, Doubles modestly boasted a schizophrenic, psychedelic amalgam of flavors alternating combinations of sweet and savory, tangy and spicy, and hot and hearty.  Doubles is a power packed snack, stacked with two pieces of barra (fried flat bread).  Between the bread, goodness sops as:

·      Channa – curried chickpea filling, geera powder (ground roasted cumin seeds), garlic, cilantro, onions

·      Boiled mango chutney-diced mango, cilantro, tabasco sauce and kosher salt, scotch bonnet

·      Tamarind chutney

·      Kuchela – pickled mango with amchar masala

·      Bandhania chutney – blended bandhania with garlic, hot pepper and salt

·      Cucumber chutney – grated cucumber with the skin and sprinkled with ground bandhania, pepper and garlic

·      Coconut chutney- roasted dried coconut (charred bits scraped off, grated and seasoned with the bandhania, garlic, hot pepper and salt

Doubles is definitely a 5 napkin, two sleeve meal.  It’s frowzy, sloppy and sloggy.  It is shambolic and leaves you in shambles.  It is a hot mess, first date equalizer.  Better yet don’t eat it on your first date, or, for that matter since we are on the topic, a mango, strings between the teeth don’t make for a great optic.  However, if you decide to take the leap of Channa, follow the next instructions very, very carefully.

 Seize with your dominant hand the Doubles while being alert to the timed slow-release fall apart of the hot, spicy, doughy, goodness.  Raise simultaneously your landing pad, or plate, for the doubles drip so that nothing is lost.  Angle or position your mouth to secure as much of the Doubles you can handle while continually balancing your plate.  Embrace the drip and the unsolicited audible and inaudible sounds of “oh ma goodness.”

“Be Yourself”