Trini Paki Boys’ New Chicken & Pigeon Peas Pelau

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I don’t necessarily have some burning desire to eat pigeon (or squab, or whatever you want to call it) from a cart, but I will admit to being slightly disappointed to find that the Trini Paki Boys (on 43rd & 6th) were actually serving pigeon peas- not pigeon- yesterday. I suspected as much when I got the tip, but it didn’t lessen the let down.  I’ve eaten a lot of gross things in the name of Midtown Lunch’ing, but I’m pretty sure pigeon from a New York City street cart would have gotten me inducted into the Andrew Zimmern hall of fame (if such a thing existed.)

As long as I was there, I figured I’d try the “pigeon” dish they were serving… chicken pelau (with pigeon peas.)

This is the first time I’ve ever had pelau, but from what I’ve read on the interwebs it’s pretty much a staple of Trinidad cuisine.  A one pot rice dish (think biriyani, jambalaya, or pilaf), it can be made with any kind of meat (usually chicken, beef, or goat) and usually has pigeon peas, onions, garlic, coconut milk, and some kind of squash or pumpkin.  The meat gets browned in the pot first, and gives the rice it’s dark brown color (apparently the darker the better, like a good creole roux!)

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I’ve got nothing to compare it to, but the Trini Paki boys version tasted pretty good to me.  It was spicy (a good thing) and tasted like you would imagine rice from the Carribean would taste (helpful, right?)  The rice was a little over done, but the cook (Trini Paki “Mom” if you will) told me that it’s been awhile since she made pelau, and it will be better next week. They plan on selling it every Tuesday and Wednesday, alternating between chicken and beef. The chicken was $4 for a small, $5 for a medium, and $6 for a large, the beef will be $1 more.

Personally I prefer their biriyani (which they are now selling on Thursdays and Fridays), but if you’re craving some homecooked Trinidadian pelau, I don’t think there’s another place in Midtown that does it like this. (Or does it at all for that matter.)

Related:
The Hidden Delicious Mysteries of the Trini-Paki Boys Cart
At Lunch Now: Pigeon Peas is Different Than Pigeon

14 Comments

  • is anyone else seeing that ‘cut down 32lbs! you can too! ad?…….looks like the checkout at a arkansas Kmart.

  • Thursday = Doubles at Trini Pak. Tried them last week. But they put the tamarind on it (which they call brown sauce) so it was waaaaay too sweet. I have a beef with carts: why do they convert all the names for sauces into colors? White sauce. Brown sauce. Why not just say tamarind!!! So anyway, not so thrilled with Trini Pak. There are better doubles on Nostrand in BK. See this great article: http://www.alwayshungryny.com/thought-for-food/entry/doubles-quest/

  • Elaine of course there are better doubles in Brooklyn. But this is a Midtown blog, so no that does not apply as a lunch option.

  • No Walgreens sandwich, no hall of fame for you Zach!

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    I hear there are better doubles in Trinidad, anyone want to go for a lazy lunch tomorrow?

  • @dubs: so that is where that new T line is headed towards that they have yet to finish since 1920……

    Trinidad.

    haha

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    Did you watch the amazing Roti Express video refernced yesterday in NY Times? http://bronxflavor.com/
    You will watch, be amazed, and know all. I thought so, anyway.

  • I can see the next ML Sandwich Challenge. Most innovative use of pigeon!

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    Afternoon

    I just joined this site and tried despretely to seek the Trini truck. Im located on 43/8 and had walked all over up and down 43rd, 5, 6, b’way and 7th avenues to no avail. All I saw was a lot of halal carts when all i really wanted was chicken rice and peas. Can anyone guide me to their location…thanks.

  • @Tee69: It’s on the south east corner of 43rd and 6th. It’s directly north of the Grace buildings white open pavilion.

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    A couple weeks ago I made a special trip to the SE corner of 43rd and 6th for this place and could not find it. Do they take certain days off?

  • @ Dan & Tee – It’s not the first cart on the corner… it’s usually parked just East of 6th Ave. on 43rd Street, a few carts in. It also looks like any other halal cart, and you have to look close at the sign to see “Trini Paki Boys”. It’s on the south side of the street as Cheeese mentioned.

  • Yes, corner is an approximation.

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