Marigny foodhall St. Roch Market has added not one, but two new Caribbean-influenced vendors to their roster, Hype Eatz and Tropical Cabana.
New Orleans-native and Delgado graduate Brandon Robinson has launched Hype Eatz, a new stand at St. Roch. As evidenced by their singular tacos, the menu blends the flavors of Southern American and Islander cuisines; honey fried chicken and baked macaroni and cheese wrapped inside sweet potato tortillas and drizzled with a whiskey honey glaze or redfish with jerk sauce, lemon, cilantro, picked red onions, and red cabbage served with plantains. But I am most interested in trying the “doubles” – a Trinidadian street food made with chick peas and curry paste wrapped in fried dough. @HypeEatz
Dubbed a “Latin Caribbean grub hut,” Tropical Cabana (the second newcomer to the Roch this month) is owned and operated by local industry veteran and Puerto Rican-native Jose Laboy. Styled after Spanish Caribbean sandwich shops called “Cuchifritos” or “Sanguicheria,” Tropical Cabana’s menu features cubano, jibarito and empanada — but I can’t stop thinking about the ropa vieja po-boy and the “canoas” — whole fried sweet plantains stuffed with ground beef and topped with mozzarella. @tropicalcabananola
