Doubles

The guy on the left is the Doubles Guru and the guy on the right takes the money

Ask anyone that has been to Trinidad about Doubles and they will tell you that they are awesome, -practically the national dish.

Our favorite Doubles stand outside Powerboats Marina and Boatyard in Chaguaramas

They are sold from roadside stands.  Two Double tents compete for your business outside the big market in Port of Spain as well.  They are generally sold as breakfast food with most stands disappearing by mid-morning.  The exception is the Doubles stand at the airport.  YES, you can get your Double fix prior to getting on a plane to depart Trinidad OR the minute you get off the plane when returning to Trinidad.  I guess they are also a standard snack or late night food as well so maybe some stands pop up to service Trinidadian liming (chillin) and the late night snackers!

Just the right amount every time

The Doubles maker (Guru) expertly places two small flour/eggy pancakes on butcher paper and then quickly scoops just the right amount of four different ingredients onto those overlaid pancakes. And when I say expertly, I mean an exact amount of each ingredient lighting fast with a giant spoon.  I would totally over fill or slop stuff everywhere with such a big spoon but not these Doubles Gurus.  The filling is channa Masala (chick pea curry),  shandon beni - (aka culandro/long coriander NOT to be confused with common cilantro we all know), Kuchela (spicy chutney made with mangoes) and "peppa" (hot sauce)  

Doubles fixings

The Double Guru making yours will ask you "Peppa?"  OR as the case with me, "Slight Peppa?"  It took several visits to our favorite Doubles stand before the Guru really trusted that Tom not only meant "Peppa" like a local but could take it!  HOT STUFF!  Have I mentioned that Trinidadians LOVE their "Peppa" (hot sauce)!  

Double with "peppa" for breakfast - good stuff

The Doubles Guru folds it over and then gives the butcher paper a quick twist before handing over to the eagerly waiting cruiser/worker.

Tom dives in

Eating Doubles is an art form.  It takes practice.....luckily!  Newbies are very easy to spot as they usually have the filling from a Double dripping off their hand, down their arm and splattering onto their Keens or flip flops!

This Doubles filling is just waiting to ooze out

Very, very messy!

Each Doubles stand has a water cooler for cleaning up - NOT for drinking.

Double are super cheap and I mean SUPER cheap.  $4 TT which figures out to be about $0.75 in US dollars.  Paul, Tom and I have taken to converting all other prices to Doubles Pricing.  Example - We want to get our old SSB mic fixed so we have a backup.  It is going to cost the equivalent of 16 Doubles or $65 US dollars!  Because Doubles are such a cost effective breakfast food, each morning dozens of cruisers from various marinas and yards make their way to and from the Double stand outside Powerboats Marina and Boatyard using a well worn foot path beaten in the grass beside the roadway.  A steady stream of cars with workers from all industries comes and goes like the busiest Quiktrip, McDonald's or Starbucks as well.

If you are ever in Trinidad you MUST try a Double.