The handwritten label on the foil-covered tray, "candy shark," explained little. The handwritten label on the condiment told all, or so I thought.
My first thought about the condiments still does hold water: Larger containers imply greater demand. At this bake-and-shark stall, tamarind sauce and — surprise — ketchup seemed more popular for dressing the Trinidadian fried-fish sandwich than chadon beni (culantro), bbq, and pepper sauces. More popular, too, than "candi sauce," which I'd never seen before at a Trini-run business but whose name made sense in light of its listed ingredients, pineapple and mango. That covered tray of candy shark, I reasoned, must also be a special, fruit-flavored batch.
But no; write me up for overthink. The shark was standard variety, and the pineapple-mango I added myself, from that squeeze bottle of candi sauce. Turns out that the fried fish and the fruity condiment were both the doing of one particular lady, who when the stall kicked into full gear was handling the cash box. Her name is Candy, or perhaps Candi.
Also shown: a pair of mango salads, one more golden and mild, one paler and hotter, and a crimson serving of spiced mango jam still warm from the cookpot. For a few more photos of the chow, see the EIT page on Facebook.
Trinidad and Tobago Culture and Fun Day
Old Boys and Girls High School athletic field, 710 Maple St. (at Troy Ave.), East Flatbush, Brooklyn
www.EventsNearHere.com/find-events/NY/BROOKLYN/Fairs-and-Festivals/Kids-and-Families/addetail/37001/Trinidad--Tobago-Day
(The 2014 event was held on July 12)
