Taste of the Caribbean, Purple Hibiscus at the St. B. Grill

I realized the other day that some people might not realize what a post-call day is. For those not in the medical field, a call shift is where a medical staff stays in the hospital for, here in Winnipeg, 24 hours. Although sometimes grueling, it is made up by a post-call day where you are able to take the next 24 hours off from your usual clinical duties. One of my missions is to try a new restaurant on my post-call days.

Purple Hibiscus at the St. B Grill has been on my radar for months. Touted as a hidden gem tucked away in St. Boniface, Purple Hibiscus is ran by a native of Trinidad & Tobago who strive to make authentic Caribbean cuisine and offer it to Winnipegers at reasonable prices and astounding quantities.

The first thing one notices when you arrive is the aroma. The litany of spices and aroma from the grilled meats would make anybody's mouth water. Despite my growling stomach, I took the time to peruse the menu. The lunch menu is unique and only houses a few dishes. The main tour de force of Purple Hibiscus is the daily lunch feature which changes on a daily basis.

I started off my Caribbean meal with Doubles. A classic dish of two soft fritters enveloping a chickpea mixture. A tamarind sauce is drizzled on the doubles to hold everything together. I thoroughly enjoyed this dish. The soft fritter, the smooth chickpeas and sweet & tangy sauce made for a fabulous start to my meal.

One of their specialties is their Roti. Although sharing a name with their Indian counterparts, Caribbean roti is thinner, softer and meant to be filled. A choice of meat (Chicken here) along with potatoes and chickpeas in a curry sauce get stuffed within. This dish was marvelous. The subtle curry flavour help enhance but not overpower the meat and potatoes. Served with a side salad, this alone would be enough to fill most people.

But alas, I felt the need to explore more of this fine restaurant. Their special for lunch today was a Chicken Pelau, a traditional Trinadian one pot dish often cooked on weekends for get-togethers. Purple Hibiscus' version features rice, chicken, beans and fruits and served with four (!) side dishes: Marinated Cucumbers, Fried Plantains, Fresh Avocado, and Grilled Bread with butter. Beautifully presented, the pelau itself was well done: tender chicken, fluffy rice and an excellent aroma. I yearned for more of the cucumber side dish as it was a nice bright contrast against the starch. The avocado and plantains were thoughtful additions but overall added more fattiness and richness to an already rich dish.

The owners were nice enough to supply diners with a slice of homemade Rum Fruit Cake. A background of fruit cake infused with a strong rum flavour, this was just the exclamation point to end an excellent meal.

Overall, Purple Hibiscus is a gem for St. Boniface and Winnipeg. Featuring a exciting menu of staple dishes and new features, it ranks highly on my list of unique and recommendable restaurants in Winnipeg.