Wrap roti

For other uses, see Roti (disambiguation).

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.

Origin

The wrap roti originated in southern Trinidad. 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.

Culture

The wrap roti is generally thought of as an Indo-Trinidadian 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.

Roti shops

Wrap Rotis can be found in some general restaurants but are normally purchased either from street vendors or at delicatessens 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.

Pop-culture references

The popular St. James and Port of Spain "roti-lady" was featured on Andrew Zimmern's Bizarre Foods (2007) on the Travel Channel.

See also

• Cuisine of Trinidad and Tobago
• List of sandwiches