An East End Foodie Field Trip

When I was growing up in Calgary, going out for “ethnic” meant going out for Italian (pronounced eye-tal’-yun). Hey, what can I say? It was Alberta. It was the 70s. I did not discover different flavours until waaay after I moved away from home, went away to university and traveled a bit. Suddenly I realized Chinese food is not all about beef and broccoli and sweet and sour chicken balls; that Italian food does not necessarily mean spaghetti; that there’s a difference between Indian and Japanese curries; and that there’s rice beyond Uncle Ben’s.

The more I traveled and got exposed to different cuisines, the more I realized how little I knew. By the time I finished university, I was hooked. I was a total foodie.

Nearly ten years ago, I ended up in Toronto. Much to the dismay of my western friends and relatives, I have turned out to be quite the Toronto cheerleader. And why not? Toronto’s rich multicultural fabric allows me to indulge my new found passion for food.

Since today is Canada Day, I want to celebrate the day by eating my way through the many cultures that make my adopted city great. Near my home, here are some of my favourite Italian, Chinese, Vietnamese and Indian haunts.

The Italian side of Danforth

I will start with a latte from Sebs Capuccino (1928 Danforth Avenue), an Italian coffee shop near Woodbine.

Also on the Danforth, I might grab a quick Italian treat like the rice balls from North Pole Bakery (1190 Danforth Avenue). OMG, those things are awesome – meat sauce inside a risotto rice ball for a concoction the size of an orange, hence its Italian name: arancini. The veal sandwiches here are great, too, but given a choice, I’d order the rice balls for lunch. I mean, assuming they still have some by the time I get there (they usually sell out before noon).

Then I will make my way to Donlands just south of O’Connor and stop by the Ritz Diner (310 Donlands Avenue) for a Filipino breakfast. For under five dollars, I have a choice of garlic fried rice served with beef, sausage or fish and some greenery. Of course, if feeling less adventurous, I can always order the Eggs Benny with homemade hollandaise. The Ritz looks like a total greasy spoon, and certainly, it once was but since Rico, the chef/owner, has taken over, he has been providing healthier, “ungreasiest greasy food” as one Toronto Star reviewer noted.

East Chinatown

Moving on to Chinatown in the Gerrard/Broadview area to partake in some of my favourite snacks. Here are some of them in no particular order:

Rosie’s (324 Broadview Avenue) for the Bánh mì or Vietnamese sandwiches. For $2.50 I can enjoy a crusty French roll filled with assorted cold cuts, julienned carrots and radishes, drizzled with nuoc mam, and garnished with a cilantro sprig. I also stock up on the steamed pork buns with egg. These little babies freeze very well and it makes for a great quick snack. If I did not get a latte at Sebs, I may also order a quick cup of Vietnamese coffee to fortify me for the rest of the trek.

Hanoi 3 Seasons (588 Gerrard Street) serves a mean Bún, a vermicelli dish. I love the Cha Ca La Vong, their signature dish – fish fillets served on vermicelli noodles with heaps of shredded lettuce, carrots, and the aromatic combination of basil, mint and cilantro.

Another must-visit place is Mimi’s (688 Gerrard Street). When with friends, I like to order the do-it-yourself-platter – that’s rice paper roll-ups surrounded by all manner of accoutrements for wicked spring rolls. This platter comes with the shrimp wrapped on a sugar cane, which I adore.

For a basic steaming bowl of phở, my old standby is Phở 88 (610 Gerrard Street East). I usually end up here instead of Xe Lua (625 Gerrard Street East) , another favourite, only because the former is on the sunny side of the street. Location is so important in the restaurant business, no?

Little India

Continuing east on Gerrard, past Greenwood, I will end up in Little India. For warmer weather, my beverage of choice is a cold, refreshing mango lassi. The takeout counter at Lahore Tikka House (1365 Gerrard Street) is a source of this yoghourt drink, but it is also a fixture in nearly all the shops here.

For the "fry an egg on the hood of your car" weather like we’ve been having lately, a kulfi is a must. This creamy Indian ice cream comes in a variety of flavours so check the ice boxes in the shops for their selection. My favourite is pistachio. Incidentally, a great source of kulfi is Tropical Treets (130 Bermondsey Road North). I usually grab a pint or two for quick and easy desserts for home.

Down by the Boardwalk

I will probably end up on the boardwalk before the day is over. If I do not get provisions during my travels, I could stop at Meat on the Beach (1860 Queen Street East) for picnic fixings. In addition to being an excellent butcher shop, a variety of salads, olives and finger foods can be procured here. But do save the bread and dessert purchase for either Zane’s or Kaffeehause Konditor, both only steps away.

That would just about finish my day and this is just a small sampling of the rich diversity in our city. I didn’t even talk about the Ethiopian/Eritrean shops, Greektown favourites, or any of the Middle Eastern shops and restaurants I normally visit. Try having a foodie day like this anywhere else in Canada! Happy Canada Day.