Digression Loops - A&A Bake Doubles and Roti
Digression Loops attempt to antidote loop fatigue. On those slow, mild days where the breeze has your back and you’ve got some extra miles to burn, this is the alternative to laps around the park. The only governing rule is each run has to reveal something spectacular about the city—usually food; probably carbs.
This Trinidadian spot on Fulton nabbed a James Beard America’s Classics award and offers great mid or post-run snacking.
The Digression:
GAP down Flatbush > Ocean
Left onto Parkside
Left onto New York
Left onto Fulton
Best Part: Running up New York Ave is a treat. The incline beginning at Lefferts is subtle but slows you down enough to appreciate sunset views to your left.
Trickiest Part: Crossing Atlantic is always a trip.
If you’re feeling restless waiting at the intersection, the LIRR entrance does NOT connect to the other side of the street. Laps of the staircase, though, is an acceptable digression.
Distance: ~4-4.5 miles
The Food:
Eater has you covered in lauding A&A’s food-scene cred. For the runners, grab a couple of the doubles ($2 now, but still a steal). They’re hand-held, a bit messy, but generally unfussy.
“Dense but manageable” curried chickpeas wrapped in flatbread are the main components of the A&A doubles.
Order them spicy and eat one out on the street while it’s still warm. If you’re jogging back, it has a sits-in-your-stomach score of “dense, but manageable.” The hand-held quality makes them easy to run back with, although the paper bag you get may start showing grease stains as the doubles jostle around within it.
Eat the second the moment the structural integrity of the bag becomes compromised, or if you happen to forget how great the first one was.
The Return:
For getting back to GAP, use Atlantic. Fulton gets congested. The A/C’s nearby at Nostrand.
Main Cut: Atlantic > Flatbush > GAP: ~2.5 miles
Shortcut: Atlantic > Vanderbilt > GAP: ~1.75 miles
The ReST:
Total distance: ~6-7 miles
Tag a picture of your best A&A moment with #digressionloops. We may feature it in our next digression.
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Words/pictures by John Vaghi (he/him)