My First Roti Experience Left Me Underwhelmed

Ali's Trinidad Roti Shop - Bedford Stuyvesant
1267 Fulton St., Brooklyn, NY

High reviews on the Internet and proximity to our apartment meant checking out Ali's Trinidad Roti Shop was inevitable. When I inquired if I should order the lamb, chicken, or beef, the friendly man behind the counter suggested chicken--it's the most popular.

Just a few minutes later we walked back to the apartment, roti in hand, to enjoy them on the couch. As this was my first roti experience, I was surprised to pull out a large pouch. Not open like a gyro or falafel, not neatly wrapped like a burrito, roti is corn tortilla stuffed to bursting with meat, potatoes, and a sauce that reminded me of the Indian style potatoes I ate with zeal at my Indian friend's house growing up. All the ingredients are packed in and messily folded into a full-bellied pouch.

Not quite as flavorful as an indian curry, the roti left me wanting. I couldn't quite put my finger on it, but the "umph" just wasn't there--only chicken, potatoes, and sauce. No tang of tzatziki, no subcontinental spice, no Mexican picante. Of the ethnic wraps of the world, this one didn't do anything for me.

Ali's Trinidad Roti Shop was friendly, convenient, and good--but just not great. I won't be rushing back for more.

Corner Grind Is Where Worker Bees Type Quietly With "Good" Coffee In Hand

Corner Grind - Bedford-Stuyvesant
1183 Bedford Ave., Brooklyn, NY 11216

Currently, I sit at a round, marble table at The Corner Grind. There are six patrons--myself included. There are six computers. (Three Mac, three PC, which represents surprising technological diversity for what I can only call a hipster hang).

Having ordered an earl grey tea, I dropped some whole milk and honey into the plain white, cafeteria style mug and sat down. My Breakfast Cup ($5) arrived, and I smiled as the sunny egg yolk looked up at me atop a bed of cheesy grits and fatty bacon. 

"Looks good. I think I approve." I said.

"I have to question their form of serving it. That looks like a hospital cup." My roommate responds.

She's right. The V shaped wooden wall panels, wooden benches, communal oak table, stout leather blue armchairs with silver studs, and graphic chalkboard menu are a bit offset by the cafeteria mugs and hospital paper cups.

But everyone is just quietly enjoying their coffee. (My roommate says its "good" coffee that "doesn't have that sour taste" coffee gets from not changing the filter. She's non-discerning when it comes to caffeine intake). Everyone is typing away, plugged into their headphones, getting into the grind. 

The Corner Grind isn't a place I'll come just to relax, but next time I have some work to do, this seems like a peaceful spot with good food to boot. 

Stroll Over To The Park For A Glass of Wine Under Illuminated Trees

The Park - Chelsea

118 10th Ave., New York, NY 10011

Firefly lights illuminate the indoor trees at The Park, a multi-purposed bar in Chelsea. My friends and I sat in relative quite under the twinkling lights while a steady bass pulsed from a nearby room (from which we could see drunken people stumble out from the crowd). The space is composed of not only The Garden, where we were sitting, but also the Main Room, the Atrium, the Red Room, and the Penthouse. 

For my friends and I, this was a quiet last stop to a laid-back evening of cocktails and banter; so we were in no mood to join the fray of boozy club goers. It was also too late for dinner--or even dessert. However, the calm of nature brought under the warmth of the indoors, friendly waitresses, and reasonably priced drinks (for Manhattan) indicated this would lend itself to a very pleasant mid-day repast.

As they also serve brunch, lunch, and dinner, I intend to go back to The Park  to experience it under a different light. It's particularly tempting when the cold and rain-drenched city is begging for a spring that just isn't quite ready to blossom yet.