LeVeLs UltraBar and Lounge

A dining experience is altered when you are invited to see a true Chef at work preparing your food. When skills displayed were honed over years and bare hands shape and form your meal, feeding the eyes before the mouth can taste. When knives work as an extension of the hand and raw is artfully combined with cooked in perfect balance, a meal is transposed to a pleasure.

Soft Shell Crab, Fresh Vegetables rolled in Rice

Usuzukuri - slices of Tuna with Ponzu Sauce

Yeah, I LOVE sushi. The pomp and circumstance of every roll, the performance art with the ability to satisfy and nourish and LeVeLs is may favorite place in Trinidad to get it.

Located at the western end of Ariapita Avenue in the capital of Port of Spain, this Ultrabar as they call themselves caters for a wide range of clients on four (4) levels, hence the name.

Beautiful Sushi Sandwich with Tuna and Avocado

My longstanding favorite - Acevichado Roll

Why My Favorite for Sushi

With a number of popular places in our small Republic now offering sushi, why is this my place to go to? Three (3) reasons: 1. Consistently great quality (head sushi Chef José rocks!) 2. Meaningful variety (no identity crisis reflected in the menu) and 3. Great, friendly service.

The LeVeLs menu serves up amazing quintessential hot and cold sushi items and includes LeVeLs specialty rolls, Specialities of the Itamae (japanese chef) from their kitchen like Japanese fried chicken - Katsu and their Epicurean delights - Guava Bar-Be-Que Ribs and Crab Cake Sliders alongside creative cocktails like Wasabi Martinis. What more could you want? Maybe something in your choice of atmosphere; outdoor spaces and a deck share the pulse of the avenue (great 'máco' points to see and be seen), the ground floor housing the sushi and drink bars are lively and at times loud, if that's your style, and the first floor with it's large comfy couches and leather armchairs more suited to the intimate art of conversation. The top level is a large private room opulently outfitted for those who can afford its exclusivity.

Classic Harumaki (Riceless) Roll

Must Tries on the Menu

The Acevichado specialty roll, a Tuna based roll topped with a white sauce so delicious I could drink it out of a cup. Ceviche Nikkei; Shrimp, Scallops and Octopus in their LeVeLs Ceviche Salsa topped with Sweet Potato Tempura. The Crunchy Roulette is LeVeLs' spin on pizza with Salmon, Tuna, Tobiko and Acevichado Sauce. The Curfew Roll with Octopus, Mushroom in Garlic Butter is fully cooked and flavorful. Try them all.

LeVeLs Specialty Crunchy Roulette -
a new spin on Pizza

Steak topped sushi

Visit LeVeLs any day of the week except Mondays and make new friends. 

LeVeLs is located at 1 Taylor Street and Corner of Ariapita Avenue Port of Spain and check out their Facebook page for details of their menu and specials.

For more pictures of the great food we've tried and highly recommend, visit the Belly in Hand facebook page and BellyinHand Foodspotting link.

Doubles

Carnival remains both a spectator festival as it is a player's festival, all happening on the streets and mobile for the most part. Food from our diverse ethnic backgrounds in a rage and better still, the portables - Rotis, Wraps, Sandwiches and Burgers (to name a few) all available from vendors on the streets, but holding its own not only at Carnival but all year round is a Trinidad and Tobago favorite - Doubles.

A Doubles - Skillfully Wrapped in Paper 

Doubles is of Indian origin and gets it's name from the two (double) fried dough 'flat breads' called bara each about palm sized, which holds the curried chick peas filling. This messy sandwich of sorts is usually dressed with tangy chutneys, hot pepper sauces and cooling cucumber and coconut preparations. It is eaten with the hands and best when hot (not warm).

Curried Chick Peas (or Garbanzo Beans)

Vendors are all over the country, in most every neighborhood, selling at make shift road side stands or out of car trunks (seriously).  Some have been an established family business for years, perfecting family recipes and gaining loyal followers while putting generations through school.

Wildly Popular - Soft Bara and Delicate
Chickpeas in a Sea of Curry Flavor

To find out where to get the best I thought may have taken time, effort and the fielding of much fierce debate - turns out not. Though the average citizen may enjoy and recommend his neighborhood doubles man's offerings, he will also agree that three vendors rise to the status of Best in all the lands: U-Wee, Medford Boys and Sauce. Don't take my word, poll the forty-six thousand fans of the Facebook page 'I Love Doubles' or the  thirty-six thousand strong of 'I love Doubles by Trinbago' (we did) and see for yourself. The three names topped the list.

U-Wee Doubles & Roti Shop near to the
University of the West Indies (UWI)
Campus in St. Augustine, Trinidad

U-Wee (my favorite) is for those who like a thick bra, filling with body and great condiments (thick too) :)

Medford Doubles: Located on the Main Road
Opposite the Medford Gas Station

The boys near the Medford flyover in have a yellow bara, not too thick not too thin and flavorful curried chick peas (channa as we call it). Their pepper sauce is wicked good. Have it slight if you are not accustomed to spicy foods.

Soft and melt in your mouth fried 
dough called Bara (Medford's)

Sauce (d Original) is at a busy junction in Curepe (North) Trinidad. Theirs is thin bara and slightly 'runny' curried chick peas but really tasty. The hot sauce is nuclear but addictive. Take it ever-so slightly.

Famous 'Sauce' in Curepe, Trinidad

Doubles remains very affordable ($3TT - $4TT) on average, with a few exceptions: D Doubles Den also in Curepe is one such extreme selling larger bara and choices of curried meat and fish to go with the chick peas for around $15TT - something new for the adventurous.

If you want meat....

D Den is the Doubles place for you. 
A Spicy Chicken Doubles

For more on the Best Food available in Trinidad and Tobago visit our Facebook page and our sightings on Foodspotting.

Never Far Away

I'm back!

Its not that I have not been inspired to write all this while, more like I have been overwhelmed. 

From Valentine's Day into pre-Carnival festivities, Carnival and its post season (Lent) I remain in awe of the place I call home. 

Infectious Soca/Calypso music, gatherings of friends & family that lasts all night into the morning with great food & wine. I found myself many times, stepping away form the party or the thick of the 'lime' just to drink it all in. My cheeks in pain from constant laughter, clothes stained from a spilled drink or sauce and leg muscles throbbing from dancing or standing for hours - then happily returning to the fun, having taken note (& being grateful). All joy.

Taking it all in

Lucha Libre San Diego, California

Though one can connect the South/Central American and Spanish influence in Trinidad & Tobago cuisine, the distinct tastes of Mexico are not common here and during my recent trip to San Diego, California, I wanted to learn more first hand about Mexican food. The plan was to cross the boarder into Mexico, but with recent escalating incidents of violence, I thought it best to not give my parents a heart attack and stay States side. :-)

Outside the Famous Shop in Mission Hills,
 San Diego

Please Place Your Order!

With my brother (the world traveller) as my guide, we visited a Taco shop which I thought would be typical and reflective of the main trends in American/Mexican fare that are so very popular in California. What I had the privilege to experience was something more, more in keeping with my culinary quests - some of the best. 

Almost Every Bite is a Different Combination of
Delicious Fillings

A Gourmet Burrito (Flour Tortilla that looks like a Roti)

Lucha Libre Taco Shop is anything but typical, first they are categorized as a ‘Gourmet’ Taco Shop and their combination of great food with the imagery of Lucha Libre - the colorful and entertaining Spanish/Mexican version of American wrestling puts this place on the map. They are famous! 

Committed to the Theme -
the Lucha Libre Decor

First giveaway, the line to order that on any given day is out the door. Next, the accolades which line the walls and are impressive given this place opened its doors in 2008. They have been mentioned and featured in many magazines, newspapers and guides and in June of this year Adam Richmen visited and shared with the many fans of Man v. Food why this place is the best. 

It May Look Messy - Messy Delicious;
Inside Peek at the Surfin' California

Fillings of the Surf & Turf Burrito (with Rice) 

The menu is short, in my experience I have found that to be a positive; they do a few things really well, perfecting it, not a laundry list of anything anyone may ask for. Tacos, Burritos, Quesadillas and five specialty items. Check out their menu for yourself http://www.tacosmackdown.com/menu.htm and see even by description how amazingly complexed, layered, colorful and delicious the components and items are.

Salsa and Corn Tortillas
I Could Just Drink the Green One (container to head) :-)

Deep rich sauces like Mole (pronounced Mo-lay); dark reddish brown with chilies and chocolate served over meat, Serrano sauces with immense flavor for the shrimp and chicken, Pico de Gallo (Salsa Fresca) on everything and Adobaba (oh Adobada!) Pork marinated in red chili sauce with vinegar and oregano (to name but two of the herbs expertly used). 

In Keeping with the Scheme of the Decor,
the Champions Booth is Understated and Tame

Everything here is good, but I would advise a gourmet Burrito be tried at least once in a lifetime. The Surfin’ California is awesome in both size and flavor with a secret Chipotle Sauce, this wrap is chocked full of grilled Steak, Shrimp, Avocado, Cheese and Fries (yes, French Fries). The Surf & Turf Burrito is similar but includes rice bursting with authentic Mexican spices. 

Great Artwork Everywhere Especially in the Bathrooms

The themed decor is truly original with Lucha Libre masks all around, the seats of chairs, the walls and in the art adorning even the restrooms. 

Hey, You Have to Keep it Authentic with a Mexican Soda

So if ever you are in San Diego, look this place up for some great food, lasting memories and the chance to say you had one of the best Burritos ever!

Visit my Facebook page for more pictures and Lucha Libre details: http://www.facebook.com/BellyinHand