Mexican Food - Gringas, Ginger Ale, Deep-Fried Chips, Dips & Sauce

Mexican food was on the menu at King’s Taco restaurant. The mixture of ethnic restaurants in the area of Saint Clair and Dufferin St. was surrounded on all sides with a diverse collection of Old-World mom and pops bistros, with authentic eateries and traditional ones mixed together. This set the backdrop for one Mexican eatery found along the street front at 1216 St. Clair Avenue, Toronto, ON. Inside, the dining area was well lit and unpretentious. The servers were attentive and spoke as if family, while the diner conversations of other relaxing customers filled the air. The atmosphere was happy. It was shortly after that when menus were brought to the table. I chose one order of the renowned Gringas and a can of Ginger Ale to drink, of which the total came to $19.65. The recipe for this Spanish plate was quesadilla taco, layered with thick mozzarella cheese and marinated shredded-pork, grilled on both sides in the same way as quesadillas are done. Having finished ordering, a complimentary appetizer was soon brought forward. The platter consisted of one small basket of freshly deep-fried Totopos Chips, three Sauces (Chipotle, Avocado, Red Peppers; all three were spicy), plus two saucers of Lime Wedges and Onions with Parsley mixed together. Eating this full bodied meal was a pleasant surprise; it not only lived up to the appetizing appearance it had, but it surpassed my expectations. The meal was robust and flavourful. As I ate, a little boy walked from the back room with an employee, toy in his hand, then went back to his normal playing somewhere out of sight. The arrival of this 4 year old explained why the meal here was so good: King’s Taco cooks for family and friends. Finally, I arrived here as a result of the recommendation of friends. But, I will return to this establishment because it lived up to that reputation.

Caribbean Food - Ox Tail Beef Cutlets, Red Kidney Beans & Kola Champagne Island Soda Soft Drink

Caribbean food was simmering away at the tropically inspired eatery at 1911 Finch Avenue West, Unit 31D, North York. The Living Well restaurant was tucked away at one side of a larger mall. But, the store itself was small. When I walked into the little shop, the atmosphere was festive. I was subtly greeted by music swaying in the background. On the other side of the counter, the view inside the store allowed me to see both the attendants as well as the cooking area and chefs in the back. Above the staff, a large menu board represented many different meals considered as staples in the West Indian diet, including fish, dumpling, ackee, rice, etc. Having decided on what to eat, the cashier extended his arm for a “daps” (or a first bump; as I’ve eaten here before) then took my order. I had one small Ox Tail (meat) with Rice and Peas, with a Kola Champagne to drink. The total came to $10.90. This was higher than other items on the menu, such as chicken, if only due to the facts that it was cooked by a longer process and of a better quality meat. Minutes later, the call number on the receipt was announced and I was presented with the hot dinner. All meals were packaged in take-away containers. The seating area was compact, but there were vacancies. So, I sat in one of the few seats within the store – a stool looking outside. The hearty smell of the food, its appearance and taste were combined in each bite. Although the wind chill on the other side of the window made the temperature to feel like -20° Celsius, I was kept warm by my taste buds and a satisfied appetite. Finally, at Living Well, good food was served well!

Vietnamese Food - Pho, Rare Beef & Rice Noodle, Onions with Soup Broth & Bean Spout

I arrived after 9 p.m. at Pho Com Vietnam. The friendly server met me as I walked inside the restaurant. With a warm smile, I was asked to choose a seat. I sat away from the kitchen, closest to the front door. The menu was eventually brought to the table along with a pen and note pad. (How it works is you must write your own order from the menu onto the note pad. It’s not usual in most places, but at this Vietnamese establishment that’s the way it's done. It makes it both unique and peculiar.) I ordered a medium P2 – Pho Rice Noodle Soup with Medium Rare Beef. It was reasonably priced at $6.50, totalling $7.35 with taxes. While I waited only minutes for the order, I was given Green Tea and a complimentary side of Bean Sprouts and a wedge of Lime to open the appetite. When the meal arrived, the steam carried the fused flavours of beef and noodles on the air. The first bite was the best and the large portion of soup was hot and consistent. The atmosphere from the outside had a traditional Asian appearance; the name was lit in white neon letters, with open windows. It was located in the centre of an outdoor plaza. Its address was 1991 Finch Avenue West, NorthYork, Ontario. Next to this, the inside of the restaurant was nicely designed. From the yellow walls with strips of brown lattice, to the sunken ceiling and bright fishes in an aquarium, this place told a story: ‘Asian food is served here, yet we are also Canadian’. The Wednesday Hockey Night' game played on the muted flat-screen TV above the fish. Finally, the little Buddha at the cashier’s counter beamed a golden smile because the food served at Pho Com Vietnam was both delicious and affordable!