Caribbean Curry House: Where Good Roti Meets Good People

CARIBBEAN CURRY HOUSE:

WHERE GOOD ROTI MEETS GOOD PEOPLE

By Deisha Paliwal

The day that Ian Parris arrived in Montreal from Saint Kitts in the late 70s, he ordered a chicken roti from Caribbean Curry House. Forty-some years later, Parris would come to take over that same restaurant.

Located in the Côte-Des-Neiges neighbourhood, Caribbean Curry House is one of Montreal's oldest Caribbean restaurants. The Ledger sat down with Ian Parris, the owner of the restaurant that promises to bring you an authentic Caribbean experience without a passport.

On top of owning the restaurant, Parris is a practicing osteopath in LaSalle. The founders and previous owners of Caribbean Curry House were his patients, which is how he came to meet them. He also operates 2bFit, a health centre with a holistic outlook that also delivers a Caribbean flair to its clients. He comes from a tight-knit family of eight brothers and one sister who were all born and raised in the Caribbean.

"From time to time, my brothers come by the restaurant to lend me a hand," Parris said.

Forty years have changed a lot, from kitchen renovations to the art that adorns the walls. Since adopting ownership, Parris has opened up the front, giving customers a behind-the-scenes look into what happens in the kitchen. He has also infused the restaurant with Caribbean colours and artwork. One thing, however, stands unchanged: Parris first dish remains his favourite. Either plated with rice and salad or stuffed with potatoes, the roti comes with a main: options cascade from goat to chickpea. The dish is also the most popular dish among customers.

Parris does what not most business owners do: he gets behind the register as much as he can.

Above: The staff at the Montreal General Hospital (thoracic and cardiac care unit (@caribbeancurryhousemtl / instagram)

"I have all the cashiers, don't get me wrong. But being up at the front is where I love to be. " "It looked like people were taking money from their piggy banks. The register wasn't showing any 50s or 20s; it was all 10s or 5s," Parris said.

Although the restaurant was struggling with sales itself, after a conversation with his mother, Parris focused his efforts outward instead.

His close interactions with the Côte-des-Neiges community were how he knew that something was wrong. A few weeks into April, after the lockdown had taken hold, Parris noticed a difference in his customers.

"I went to my mom, and she said, Son, let me tell you: there is a big difference between those who do

not have money and those who do not have money to put food on their plates. You have money to put food on your plate. Others do not. That s when I decided I needed to do something," Parris said.

That was the start of the lunchbox initiative. Parris began to contact his suppliers to see if they could contribute food, from chicken to bags of potatoes. Throughout April and May, Caribbean Curry House distributed 450 lunchboxes to members of the Côte-des-Neiges community. Every Tuesday and Thursday, with the help of volunteers, the restaurant distributed lunches of rice, peas, and either a meat or vegetarian main.

Above: Ian Parris behind the register (@caribbeancurryhousemtl / instagram)

These are the people who show up at my door every day. I know them by name, and I know their faces," Parris said. "They support me, so I wanted to support them, in whatever way I could.”

The initiative did not end there. Recognizing that the 2020 holiday season was difficult for many, the restaurant distributed lunchboxes on Christmas day. Community engagement is at the heart of the restaurant. Its previous owners had a history of community involvement, and Parris has undoubtedly carried on their torch. Caribbean Curry

Above: The famous roti being made (@caribbeancurryhousemtl / instagram)

House' s efforts are a testament to a practice that is simple, yet hard to come by: they take care of their neighbours.

For now, the restaurant is open for both takeout and delivery through UberEats and SkipTheDishes. Also, be sure to check out their Instagram: @caribbeancurryhousemtl. ♦

Above: Smiling behind masks(@caribbeancurryhousemtl / instagram)