Wrap roti
Encyclopedia
Wrap roti, often referred to as a roti, is popular in the Caribbean
consisting of a curry
stew folded tightly within a Dhalpuri roti
. The stew within a wrap roti generally contains potatoes and a meat such as chicken, goat, beef, conch
or shrimp. A wrap roti with only bony pieces of meat such as the neck is generally referred to as a piper roti.
. It was first created in the mid 1940s
by Sackina Karamath who later founded Hummingbird Roti Shop in San Fernando
, Trinidad
. The wrap roti became a very popular lunch dish because of its quick preparation and portability.
dish. However, it is a popular sandwich with all demographics throughout the Caribbean. It can also be found worldwide in cities with a large Caribbean population, such as Toronto
and Montreal
, Canada
.
s that specialize in the dish, called roti shops. A roti shop is generally a small restaurant with counter service that sells both wrap roti and traditional roti (curry stew with the roti bread served separately). Here you can also usually purchase snacks, juices, carbonated beverages and alcoholic beverages and novelties from the Caribbean. The atmosphere at a roti shop is lively and is treated as a lounge by regular customer. There is often loud calypso
, soca
or chutney-soca
music being played. It is not uncommon for a sink to be installed in these shops as to facilitate wash-up after what can often be a messy but delicious experience.
and Port of Spain
"roti-lady" was featured on Andrew Zimmern
's Bizarre Foods (2007) on the Travel Channel
.
Caribbean
The Caribbean is a crescent-shaped group of islands more than 2,000 miles long separating the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea, to the west and south, from the Atlantic Ocean, to the east and north...
consisting of a curry
Curry
Curry is a generic description used throughout Western culture to describe a variety of dishes from Indian, Pakistani, Bangladeshi, Sri Lankan, Thai or other Southeast Asian cuisines...
stew folded tightly within a Dhalpuri roti
Roti
Roti is generally a South Asian bread made from stoneground wholemeal flour, traditionally known as atta flour, that originated and is consumed in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka. It is also consumed in parts of the Southern Caribbean, particularly in Guyana, Suriname, Trinidad and...
. The stew within a wrap roti generally contains potatoes and a meat such as chicken, goat, beef, conch
Conch
A conch is a common name which is applied to a number of different species of medium-sized to large sea snails or their shells, generally those which are large and have a high spire and a siphonal canal....
or shrimp. A wrap roti with only bony pieces of meat such as the neck is generally referred to as a piper roti.
Origin
The wrap roti originated in southern TrinidadTrinidad
Trinidad is the larger and more populous of the two major islands and numerous landforms which make up the island nation of Trinidad and Tobago. It is the southernmost island in the Caribbean and lies just off the northeastern coast of Venezuela. With an area of it is also the fifth largest in...
. It was first created in the mid 1940s
1940s
File:1940s decade montage.png|Above title bar: events which happened during World War II : From left to right: Troops in an LCVP landing craft approaching "Omaha" Beach on "D-Day"; Adolf Hitler visits Paris, soon after the Battle of France; The Holocaust occurred during the war as Nazi Germany...
by Sackina Karamath who later founded Hummingbird Roti Shop in San Fernando
San Fernando, Trinidad and Tobago
The City of San Fernando with a population of 55,419 according to the 2000 census, is the larger of Trinidad and Tobago's two cities and the second largest municipality after Chaguanas. It occupies 18 km² and is located in the southwestern part of the island of Trinidad...
, Trinidad
Trinidad
Trinidad is the larger and more populous of the two major islands and numerous landforms which make up the island nation of Trinidad and Tobago. It is the southernmost island in the Caribbean and lies just off the northeastern coast of Venezuela. With an area of it is also the fifth largest in...
. The wrap roti became a very popular lunch dish because of its quick preparation and portability.
Culture
The wrap roti is generally thought of as an Indo-TrinidadianIndo-Trinidadian
Indo-Trinidadian and Tobagonian are nationals of Trinidad and Tobago of Indian or other South Asian ancestry.Indo-Trinidadian and Tobagonians has now become interchangeable with Indians or East Indians. These were people who were taken from India by the British either as workers or educated...
dish. However, it is a popular sandwich with all demographics throughout the Caribbean. It can also be found worldwide in cities with a large Caribbean population, such as Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
and Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
.
Roti shops
Wrap Rotis can be found in some general restaurants but are normally purchased either from street vendors or at delicatessenDelicatessen
Delicatessen is a term meaning "delicacies" or "fine foods". The word entered English via German,with the old German spelling , plural of Delikatesse "delicacy", ultimately from Latin delicatus....
s that specialize in the dish, called roti shops. A roti shop is generally a small restaurant with counter service that sells both wrap roti and traditional roti (curry stew with the roti bread served separately). Here you can also usually purchase snacks, juices, carbonated beverages and alcoholic beverages and novelties from the Caribbean. The atmosphere at a roti shop is lively and is treated as a lounge by regular customer. There is often loud calypso
Calypso music
Calypso is a style of Afro-Caribbean music that originated in Trinidad and Tobago from African and European roots. The roots of the genre lay in the arrival of enslaved Africans, who, not being allowed to speak with each other, communicated through song...
, soca
Soca music
Soca is a style of music from Trinidad and Tobago. Soca is a musical development of traditional Trinidadian calypso, through loans from the 1960s onwards from predominantly black popular music....
or chutney-soca
Chutney-soca
In Trinidad and Tobago, Guyana & Suriname Chutney-Soca music is a crossover style of music incorporating Soca elements and Hindi-English lyrics, Chutney music, with Indian instruments like the dholak and dhantal....
music being played. It is not uncommon for a sink to be installed in these shops as to facilitate wash-up after what can often be a messy but delicious experience.
Pop-culture references
The popular St. JamesSaint James, Trinidad and Tobago
St. James is a suburb of Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago. It is known as "the city that never sleeps" because of 24 hour activities there. The main road is the Western Main Road. It runs from Woodbrook to Cocorite...
and Port of Spain
Port of Spain
Port of Spain, also written as Port-of-Spain, is the capital of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago and the country's third-largest municipality, after San Fernando and Chaguanas. The city has a municipal population of 49,031 , a metropolitan population of 128,026 and a transient daily population...
"roti-lady" was featured on Andrew Zimmern
Andrew Zimmern
Andrew Zimmern is a James Beard Award-winning TV personality, chef, food writer, and teacher. As the co-creator, host, and consulting producer of Travel Channel's series Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern and Andrew Zimmern's Bizarre World, he travels the world exploring food in its own native...
's Bizarre Foods (2007) on the Travel Channel
Travel Channel
The Travel Channel is a satellite and cable television channel that is headquartered in Chevy Chase, Maryland, US. It features documentaries and how-to shows related to travel and leisure around the United States and throughout the world. Programming has included shows in African animal safaris,...
.
See also
- Cuisine of Trinidad and TobagoCuisine of Trinidad and TobagoTrinidad and Tobago cuisine is indicative of the blends of Indian, Amerindian, European, African, Creole, Chinese and Lebanese gastronomic influences.-Breakfast dishes:Hot Breakfast:Popular Breakfast Fast Food - D roti which is usually served with:...
- List of sandwiches