REVIEW: Trinidad and Tobago Tasting Booth Serves Tasteless Pholourie and Uninspired Pineapple Skewers for Mardi Gras 2021 International Flavors of Carnaval at Universal Studios Florida

Alicia

Trinidad Mardi Gras 2021 Universal Studios Florida

REVIEW: Trinidad and Tobago Tasting Booth Serves Tasteless Pholourie and Uninspired Pineapple Skewers for Mardi Gras 2021 International Flavors of Carnaval at Universal Studios Florida

Alicia

Trinidad Mardi Gras 2021 Universal Studios Florida

REVIEW: Trinidad and Tobago Tasting Booth Serves Tasteless Pholourie and Uninspired Pineapple Skewers for Mardi Gras 2021 International Flavors of Carnaval at Universal Studios Florida

Mardi Gras is underway at Universal Studios Florida and special for the event, Universal has added several tasting booths around the park celebrating flavors from around the world. So, let’s head over to the Trinidad and Tobago Tasting Booth and check out this South American inspired cuisine.

Don’t forget to check out our reviews of the France, Belgium, New Orleans and Canada tasting booths at the festival as well.

trinidadandtobagomardigras_universalstudios_2021_1
trinidadandtobagomardigras_universalstudios_2021_2

Menu for Trinidad and Tobago Tasting Booth at the Mardi Gras 2021: International Flavors of Carnaval

trinidadandtobagomardigras_universalstudios_2021_3

Food:

  • 🆕 Pholourie: Deep fried spicy split pea dough with turmeric, curry powder and a side of tamarind chutney or powdered sugar – $5.99
  • 🆕 Pineapple Trini Chow: Grilled pineapple skewers, spices, micro cilantro – $4.29

Beverages:

  • 🆕 Queen’s Park Swizzle: 9oz National cocktail of Trinidad and Tobago; minted dark rum grog with a light float of Angostura bitters – $7.00
  • 🆕 Carib Lager: 9oz International pilsner – $5.00

Photos of Menu Items for Trinidad and Tobago Tasting Booth at the Mardi Gras 2021: International Flavors of Carnaval

image-from-ios-4188545

*NEW* Pholourie: Deep fried spicy split pea dough with turmeric, curry powder and a side of tamarind chutney or powdered sugar – $5.99

image-from-ios-5-7368280
image-from-ios-6-9578133

The Pholourie has a spicy icon next to it on the menu but it is the the most bland things we’ve had at the festival by far. The tamarind chutney it is served with is very spicy, but the pholourie themselves are not.

image-from-ios-7-6819799
image-from-ios-8-3179446
image-from-ios-12-5932390

Even with tamarind and curry listed in the ingredients, it tastes like a very thick hush puppy. It’s split pea, but tastes like corn meal. The sauce is delicious and we wish we could just take the sauce home and find something better to eat it with. The sauce is the only thing that can mask the blandness of the dough balls. Hard pass on these.

*NEW* Pineapple Trini Chow: Grilled pineapple skewers, spices, micro cilantro – $4.29

image-from-ios-3-6314169
image-from-ios-1-1615289
image-from-ios-2-3002044
image-from-ios-4-4405090

The grilled pineapple skewers are delicious, but they are really just as advertised: a skewer of pineapple. You can see the spice/seasoning on it but can’t taste it at all. It’s just pretty basic. It’s juicy and tastes good, but is too simple to warrant the price tag.

*NEW* Queen’s Park Swizzle: 9oz National cocktail of Trinidad and Tobago; minted dark rum grog with a light float of Angostura bitters – $7.00

image-from-ios-10-9694897
image-from-ios-11-5393481

We’re undecided on the Queen’s Park Swizzle. The drink reminds us of drinks from Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto, probably because of the bitters added to the top. The tropical flavor hides the taste of the dark rum. We can’t quite determine what it’s made up of just by taste, but the team member at the booth said it had lime, agave and mint added. We would consider ordering it again.

*NEW* Carib Lager: 9oz International pilsner – $5.00

Location of Trinidad and Tobago Tasting Booth at the Mardi Gras 2021: International Flavors of Carnaval

Trinidad and Tobago Tasting Booth is located near Race Through New York Starring Jimmy Fallon and the Universal Studios Tribute Store. There was nothing that impressed us at this booth, and we don’t think it warrants a stop.

The Mardi Gras event is running at Universal Studios Florida from February 6th to March 28th, so make sure to head out to the park soon if you want to check out this booth for yourself!