Exploring Toronto's Little India

Posted by Mary Luz Mejia Aug 5, 2008

I’ve always longed to visit India - that land where the intoxicating aroma of roasting spices magically transforms into some sumptuous dish with layers of flavours and lingering complexity that make food enthusiasts like me swoon. And yes, I’ve heard all about the perils of eating there- the visiting cricket teams that get “Delhi Belly” and the like. But sheer bravado aside (I did after all survive a particularly nasty bout with a “rod like parasite” that I picked up in Colombia), it’s the lush landscapes and glorious regional dishes that call to me ever so invitingly.

As if to whet my already healthy appetite, I was invited by the formidable duo of Preena and her mother Arvinda Chauhan for a walking tour of Toronto’s Little India. I figure this is the next best thing to catching a flight, so on a rainy summer Sunday, our group meets at the incomparable Udupi Palace on Gerrard Street East for what I can sense will be a fascinating glimpse into this community’s hub. Udupi Palace is, according to Preena, “just like the restaurants in southern India. It’s as if I was there,” which suits me fine as we’re here and I’m looking to get as close to there as I can. We ate, walked, tasted, talked and enjoyed a wonderful afternoon full of entertaining and enlightening company. I even got to try my hand at making a paper dosa (an Indian crepe )- and a fair job I did too given I’m not as deft as Udupi Palace’s practiced chefs!

Join me this week for a run down of our walking tour and some of the day's flavourful highlights. It’s ALMOST as good as going to India and just as delicious - of that I can assure you!