Wrappers
San Antonio's best new restaurant unwraps plans for spicy new Pearl concept
Jerk Shack, one of San Antonio's most lauded restaurants (and winner of CultureMap Tastemaker Award for Best New Restaurant 2019) is bringing something a little different to the Alamo City. On Monday, March 9, owners of Jerk Shack announced they are opening a new eatery in Pearl's Bottling Department food hall later this year.
Mi Roti plans to dish out West Indies- and Caribbean-inspired cuisine, adding some welcome spice to the San Antonio food scene. The restaurant's name, as a release explains, "refers to both the flat bread itself as well as the popular street food item, in which the roti is folded around a savory filling in the form of a wrap."
In keeping with the Bottling Department's casual vibe, Mi Roti will offer a build-your-own menu using roti as the base. Diners can then choose a choice of a protein, rice, and an array of toppings.
Options will rotate, but among the proteins available will be curry goat, grilled lamb, tikka masala, butter chicken, sweet potato and chickpea curry, curry shrimp, stewed lentils with potatoes, and, of course, jerk chicken. After selecting a protein, it's time for toppings, which range from vegetables like shredded cabbage, kale, and spinach to jalapeños, chutneys, and a variety of hot sauces.
The brainchild of chef/owner Nicola Blaque and chef Chef Lionel “Butch” Blache, Mi Roti was inspired by Blaque's native Jamaica, as well as time spent living in Hawaii. Blaque, who is also a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America in San Antonio, says it's more than just a creative endeavor, it's an opportunity to expand San Antonio's culinary prowess.
"I've travelled all around the world and always had an affinity for street food from not only my home country, Jamaica, but that of other Caribbean islands, like Trinidad,” said Blaque in a release. "The Pearl is a hub for international food option seekers and the Mi Roti menu reaches into remote corners of the world and gives you a taste of a world less travelled."
Mi Roti is scheduled to open in late March in the space formerly occupied by Maybelle's Donuts. Diners can expect to dish out (sorry) $10-$12 per roti, giving San Antonians the ideal opportunity to try the dish without spending a lot of dough.
"Trying something different can be scary," says Blaque, "but we're excited to inspire Pearl visitors to try roti."
