Monday, September 8, 2008

My Town Monday: Little India, Toronto

I've never met a curry or a lentil or a samosa I didn't like. Plus, I love to meander and window shop and people watch.

So, while in Toronto, I was thrilled to squeeze in an evening with the sisters, wandering around Little India. Little India is found along Gerrard Street East, where it stretches for about nine city blocks. Strolling along, it's hard to believe you're still in a big North American city. There's a variety of shops, mostly catering to Indian culture. For example, you can buy all sorts of Indian wares from pots and pans to incense to books to groceries to clothing to music to very fresh spices. And there's a plethora of Indian restaurants.

I'm sorry to report I didn't get any decent street shots (it was bucketing and dark), but here's a pic of a vendor selling various snacks for noshing as you walk, including roasted corn, a very popular item.


Here's a clothing store.


Hmmmm...maybe after the next book...??? (Kidding, dh!)


And this is where we ended up, my two sisters and I. We had a delicious and, as you can see, inexpensive Indian buffet. Actually, this is a pretty typical price. We were a little disappointed that goat meat wasn't available. Still, we had a delightful time, chatting and solving the world's problems and eating far far too much.

And a little extra trivia: Toronto is a Mohawk word meaning "meeting place." T.O. (for short) is home to more than 80 ethnic groups. That diversity is one of the things I miss about living down here in Southern California.

I also miss my ketchup potato chips. And I can't believe how very polite you've all been and not mentioned how I forgot to have Child #4 choose a winner for that particular contest. Oh, or maybe it's that nobody really wants ketchup potato chips! Seriously, you don't know what you're missing! At any rate, we'll take care of this oversight tomorrow.

I will be out of town for next week's My Town Monday's post. I think I'll do my post from that mystery location. You'll have to check back to find out where I am. Ooooooh.

(From: http://www.buffalonews.com/lifearts/travel/story/427461.html,http://www.toronto.com/guide/visitors/article/375233)

My Town Monday is hosted by Travis Erwin. Check out his very interesting post this week on Amarillo, TX and helium. Also, he'll have a list of the other participants.

27 comments:

  1. Oh I love Curry as well! Great post!
    Cheers!

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  2. Mmmmmm. Indian food. Mmmmm. Indian jewelry. Mmmmmm. Silk saris. Mmmmmmm. ;-)

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  3. sweet lord a curry fan! you my friend are awesome. Great post!

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  4. I love Little India and Little Italy and Little China - Man, I miss TO!!!!!

    Thanks for sharing!

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  5. Indian food has never quite caught on in Detroit. But it's a memorable cuisine.

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  6. I've lived in Toronto for almost 30 years and I've never been to Little India. I need to get out more.

    ...and I hate to keep commenting about those chips but I can't believe you don't want to keep them for yourself! I'm still trying to kick my addiction.

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  7. Hi Barrie,

    We have a large Indian population here in NYC. (We have populations from everywhere!) but your pictures make Toronto's Little India seem more romantic somehow.

    Terrie

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  8. Uh, Mac and Cheese: I didn't want to admit this on a public forum, but.... I BROUGHT DOWN AN ENTIRE BOX OF KETCHUP CHIPS. Okay, yes, there a couple of bags of all-dressed in there too. And some chocolate bars. BUT...my entire 2nd piece of luggage is a big box full of SNACKS!

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  9. Barrie--I must have missed the ketchup potato chips......
    I love your traveling posts! Can't wait to see where we'll be next week.

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  10. wow... how fun was that? I love curry too:)
    Teri

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  11. I've only eaten at two different Indian restruants. Loved one, hated one. But there is one not far from where we live now and I'm definitely going to try it.

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  12. Interesting post. Toronto is a fascinating city.

    Linda

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  13. I will have to hit little India next time I am in T.O. I have never been there.

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  14. Barrie, along with Debra, I missed the ketchup potato chips. Care to enlighten again?

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  15. I like Indian, too, and when I vacationed in Toronto, other than trying the poutine (which is sinful enough to earn my instant affection), we were advised to dine on the nearby Indian food. So we did. Yum!

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  16. Toronto's Little India looks like a great place to visit. My wife is a big fan of Indian food, but I had never really tried it until she took a North Indian cooking class... now I've become a fan by default.

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  17. Great post, love Indian food. Reminded me I haven't eaten at Sidhartha's for awhile, which is on Eglingon Avenue east of Yonge about half a block in on the north side. They have a great Saturday and Sunday brunch for slightly more money.

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  18. neat, there's a similar little india in vancouver....

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  19. Larramie, Debra: It was just a little leave-a-comment contest at the end of August. Here's the url:http://barriesummy.blogspot.com/2008/08/heading-home.html

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  20. Ketchup potato chips? You may have scarred me for life.

    I've only had Indian food once or twice, so I never know what to order.

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  21. Gosh those are LAY'S potato chips, the real deal...BUT what do they taste like?

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  22. What do ketchup chips taste like? Like a little bit of heaven in a chip bag!!!

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  23. I'm also very partial to broasted chicken chips and all seasoned chips.

    And I brought home these flavors of chips too: Buffalo Wings & Blue Cheese, Szechwan, and Pringles Jalapeno Ranch. YUMMY!

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  24. Love this tour!! Our best friends/neighbors moved to Toronto last year - we miss them and are longing to visit them. Your post made me want to even more!!

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Comments are always welcome!