First Stop Queens: Country Kitchen and Annie's Roti Shop

Redneckhunter and I were flying out from JFK for our honeymoon, so we got up to Queens early to avoid NYC rush hour traffic. So with some time to kill we decided to start our trip with a mini food safari (after all parts of Brooklyn and Queens almost feel like foreign countries - all the Cyrillic seen in Brighton Beach, Indian in Jackson Heights - hell, Edison, NJ is a foreign country!)

So a quick chowhound search brought up a thread: Where to grab a bite within 15 minutes of JFK airport. We were able to hit 2 of the spots mentioned: fried chicken and black eyed peas at Saratoga Country Kitchen on Atlantic Avenue; and curry chicken with chickpeas and potatoes with the biggest roti I've ever seen at Annie's Roti Shop on Rockaway Boulevard. I wanted to try Fish and Wings (also on Atlantic Ave.), but we couldn't fit in the food we had gotten as it was. I had to bring my curry and roti and eat it at the airport!


Saratoga Country Kitchen
1991 Atlantic Avenue

Annie's Roti Shop
127-07 Rockaway Boulevard

Back to Trinidad Gourmet

As promised, I returned to Trinidad Gourmet a few times to explore their menu.
First up (above) I had the Curry Goat Roti - oh my gosh- delicious. The roti was clearly fresh with what seem liked corn meal in it's layers. This was topped with curry potatoes and chickpeas, and then covered with delicious, fall off the bone goat. I was lucky to get some tendon as well.
Accompanying this, I got this great hot sauce. I think it had scotch bonnet. I also got some amazing tamarind chutney to die for.
While eating there, Chuck, one of the owners proceeded to describe pretty much all the dishes on their menu. I really need to come for breakfast sometime.
I took home for a snack later a beef pattie and the Aloo Pie. The Aloo pie is a bread, fried so it's crispy outside, then sliced open and filled with potatoes and chickpeas. It was really delicious.
Last night, I happened to be across the street from the place again for a concert, so I decided to grab the oxtail stew combo plate for dinner. I got a side of pumpkin as well as rice and peas. Again, the dish was great and the meat was cooked perfectly.



Trinidad Gourmet
418 E. 31st St.
Waverly
Baltimore, MD 21218
410-243-0072

Jerk Chicken at Trinidad Gourmet

Local NPR show, The Signal, did a profile on a restaurant in Waverly called Trinidad Gourmet. The owners make authentic food from Trinidad which has an Indian influence. I'm went there for a late lunch and ordered the Jerk Chicken plate with a side of steamed cabbage and rice with peas. I got all dark meat, my favorite, two drumsticks and a thigh piece. The chicken was delicious, and the jerk seasoning was great.
The owner came out and gave us samples of Trinidad Cheddar Cheese which was yummy. He said it's really good melted on Coco Bread.
I'm going to come back here for their Roti sandwiches for lunch, and I will post that then.

Trinidad Gourmet
418 E. 31st St.
Waverly
Baltimore, MD 21218
410-243-0072