John M.
Yelp
I'd been a devotee of Island Foods since my Trinidadian husband first introduced me to his country's delicacies- roti, doubles, aloo pie- when we first met in 1995. I emigrated to Canada to join him in 1997 and end the cross-border long-distance thing, and since then I've had more Trini food than I can recall, mostly, again, at Island Foods.
In 2000 we moved to Calgary for my job and West Indian, never mind Trini, is thin on the ground there, so when I come back to the 6ix (which Drake must have named Toronto in deference to the massive popularity of cricket in the city, right?), I make a beeline for my faves- almost all of which have closed or moved. In the city centre, all of Drupati's, Island Food at Village by the Grange, and Caribbean Roti Palace are no more, so I walked the hour-long walk from my Airbnb to Island Foods....
And it wasn't that good. And they hadn't made the barra for doubles yet. So I finished my meh eggplant and spinach roti and headed the 15 or so minutes to the NW and hit Ali's. I'd never been there before- yes, in 23 years of acquaintance with Trinidadian cuisine, I'd never been here.
I wish had got to know Ali's way back when. The doubles are astoundingly good! And big! I got two for $2.75 apiece and that's dinner. I'd love to try more of the menu- and it's a big menu.