Potluck

Anyone who thinks that big city existence is angst-filled, anomie-inducing and dreary has never lived in a neighbourhood like ours. We live in a very friendly street with great neighbours. Yesterday was the big annual street sale. Tony and Lyne organized it all -- asked the neighbours to participate, placed the ads, made the signage, did the run to Goodwill for the leftover wares at the end of the day. Six households participated and by my rough estimation, I think the collective total of money earned is just under $300, not exactly a lucrative way to spend a beautiful Saturday morning, but it was certainly a fun social way to be out and about, clear some debris from our homes and pawn it off on others. The fun part was checking each other's tables. Last year, I believe I earned a total of $10, only because Jon purchased some shelving from Tony!

The big challenge for me every year is to find something to sell to Scott's kids. Just as Scott and Sue are clearing their stuff, their girls peruse the other tables and take home more stuff. Last year, I sold their daughter an African walking stick for 50 cents. This year, I sold a Nova Scotia pewter chime for 25 cents.

From potlatch to potluck. At the end of the day, the neighbours decided to get together at Noel and Imogen's for a barbecue and a potluck. The potluck spread was wonderful: meatball appetisers, couscous, pasta salad, caesar salad, bean salad, fruit salad, and BYOM (bring your own meat for the barbecue). Some brought shish-kebabs, some steaks, and some hamburgers. We sat outside on the deck and had drinks and exchanged stories about the day's best sale and reminisced about the day's little triumphs. The golf bag Tony bought from Scott a few years ago? Tony sold it for a profit this year. The dessert bowls Sue was using for ice cream at the potluck? It was purchased from Imogen last year. My old computer backpack? Sold to Frances this year! The potluck was a great way to cap the day. I have a feeling this might get added to our street's traditions. This, in addition to the annual Christmas party.

See, living in Toronto is not so bad.

Kensington Market

Ever notice how everyone seems to be in a good mood when it's sunny outside? It's a georgeous sunny day with just a hint of a breeze. Add the fact that it's Friday and just before a long weekend and the result is a festive and busy downtown -- street hawkers in front of tables of silver jewellery and sunglasses, a guy doing chalk paintings on the sidewalk, oh-so-hip Queen West types darting in and out of oh-so-trendy shops, and lots of everyday folks like me just wandering around enjoying the sunshine.

I ended up in Chinatown in search of lunch. I steeled myself against the food aromas -- bbq duck, soup, fried noodles -- and kept going to Kensington Market. It's changed a bit since I was last there but now is not the time to reflect on that. Lunch was first on the agenda! Here's what I had:

• pupusa with chicharon, beans and vegetables (Latin American cornmeal snack, starch portion is patted into a palm-sized disk stuffed with said items) and served with a coleslaw. I also got a vegetable and meat empanada and the whole deal cost $2.50
  
• chicharon (it's basically deep-fried salted pork chunks with rind) $2.00
  
• apple butter cake from the Caribbean store $1.30
  
• organic ginger ice cream $2.50
  

The pupusa was procured from a shop on Augusta, north of Kensington St. Like most of the places at Kensington Market, I don't really know the shops by name. The market is best experienced through a random and leisurely walk, occasionally poking into nooks and crannies and stumbling into shops.

Anyway, back to my lunch...The closest description I can give to help others find the pupusas is to walk into one of the larger Latin markets on the east side of Augusta. You will go past the table full of tacos and avocados, up a couple of steps into the main part of the store, past the nth number of types of polenta and masa harinas, past the rows of canned goods and spices, and at the back, you will be rewarded with the sight of two women patting pupusas into disks - switching the ball of cornmeal mixture back and forth between two palms (the way you would if you were handling a hot potato) - smearing the filling on top then topping with another disk before slapping it on the grill.

The chicharon is available from the guy at the till at the same store. There's a big tupperware full of these things at the front as soon as you enter. Ask for a bag and help yourself to some. You pay by weight. Mind you, Thursday does not seem to be the best day for chicharon. The stock was almost depleted. I imagine the weekend is probably better if you want fresh stock. Warning: this is not for the faint of heart! I know deep fried pork rind sounds disgustingly health-hostile, however, if you grew up with the stuff like I did, you will be able to look past the greasy stain on the brown bag with the chicharon and your greasy fingers to enjoy the stuff. I get cravings for it every once in a while -- I have my fill, then stay away from the stuff for another year.

The apple cake was okay, but it definitely needed enhancing. The ginger ice cream gave it a much needed flavour zing. The flavours worked together, however if serving to guests, the pairing would need a dash of colour -- the beige-toned ice cream on top of butter-coloured cake was a little bland. I can imagine strawberries on the side and a drizzle of chocolate for better presentation.

It's been a while since I've been to Kensington Market. A few changes. I think there's more vintage clothing shops than I remember. The organic ice cream place is new. It's just south of Global cheese. I didn't have much time so I didn't poke inside too many shops. I didn't even go to Tom's! Definitely changed, though. The vibe feels a little different. There's now a whole line of shops (mostly gifts and fashion) under the new condo building (across from the parking lot) that I did not bother exploring. These shops seem a little strange -- too mainstream, too sterile and manufactured, too anachronistic for the vibrant marketplace.

Saturday morning routine

Saturdays are great. It's one of the rare days when Jon has been known to get up before moi. (Of course, these days, Jon's been waking earlier because Fergus favours him for the little love bite treatment the cat affectionately gives to rouse us from sleep.)

Last Saturday, Jon tumbled out of bed, and after ensuring that both cats have been fed, he went to pick up some croissants from Zane's, a croissanterie/boulangerie on Queen Street. He also made a pot of coffee for us.

Sometimes we take our coffees and croissants and the Saturday paper and sit outside on the deck, weather depending of course. But wherever we decide to sit, there is nothing better than savouring a nice cup of milky coffee (the way I take mine) and nibbling a buttery croissant, an apricot danish or pain de chocolat. It's a very civilized way to start the day!

Halo-halo

Let me tell you about halo-halo. It's a Filipino dessert and/or snack with all sorts of yummy sweet stuff at the bottom layer, topped with shaved or crushed ice, doused with milk, then topped with a dollop of ice cream. It's a perfect refreshing and filling snack. The bottom layer of sweet stuff varies but here are some possible ingredients: any type of sweet bean, jackfruit, tapioca balls, gelatin squares, sweet palm nuts (kaong), slivers of young coconut, ube (purple yam), pinipig (flattened rice crispies), leche flan (custard), etc. The name halo-halo means well-mixed. I'm not sure if it refers to the variety of stuff you put in it, or the fact that you have to mix the ice in with the sweet bottom stuff so that you get a little of everything with each mouthful. You eat this dessert/snack with a spoon.

For some reason, the Filipino restaurants and shops only sell this during the summer even though Jon and I keep telling them that we can eat it all year. I had my first halo-halo of the season last Wednesday, a huge helping of stuff in a little take-away bowl so I can eat it during my class. I can't wait to get my next one. Next Wednesday!

Cinnamon

We picked up another cat from the airport on Sunday. Welcome to Cinnamon, a two year old white and grey striped tabby male. Unlike Fergus, Cinny is tailed. Very interesting, that tail. I find it quite expressive.

Cinny had a rough flight to Toronto. Either the sedative did not kick in quickly enough or it wore out too soon. In any case, by the time we picked him up, his crate was a mess. Lots of evidence of attempted escape including blood on the inside (poor Cinny lost some claws trying). He must have been terrified because he sure tried his best to get out. Mercifully, the sedative did work so he must have given up before he did anymore damage to himself. The vet said that he does not think that cats can declaw themselves, so most likely, he managed to just rip it. Ouch.

We built Cinnamon a little nest in my office: a box under the desk with a pillow. We also draped a sheet over the desk to give the boy some privacy. He is not making any noises nor is he trying to get out. I know his world suddenly changed so we are giving him lots of time to adjust. He has his food and drink and a litter box in the room and we check in on him. He's not moving much but he is eating and drinking. By day, he is under the desk. At night, he moves to the clothes hamper by the window sill. He responds to pets, but sudden movements still cause him to hiss. Poor boy. I hope he feels comfortable and safe enough with us soon.

Fergus, despite his repeated attempts to talk to Cinnamon from the other side of the door, has not been successful in eliciting a response. I think both know that there is another cat in the house, but they are not allowed to meet yet. We'll do this very slowly so that we don't have any issues. We'll let Cinny get comfortable and grow some claws back first. In the meantime, Fergus is busy rubbing his scent glands all over the house.

"Cafe su dah, sil vous plait"

I was greeted warmly with "Just sit down anywhere" by the gracious host as he walked by balancing a few bowls of dishes he was delivering to a table of 11. Other than this huge party, I was the only other one there at 2 pm. I took a seat facing south for better vantage point of the street scene (I didn't realize the streetcar ran that often on a Sunday). The bud vase filled with two stalks of fresh orchids on the table was an elegant touch, as well as the vase of orange tulips at the window .

Hanoi 3 Seasons is a gem of a place. I haven't enjoyed a meal like that in a while, and I certainly did not expect it in Chinatown (or Little Saigon as the street seems to be morphing into).

I was completely charmed by the place. Nice, clean, intimate space with green tea-coloured walls and tastefully framed prints. Wonderful unpretentious casual service. How casual? Well, let's put it this way, when the waiter took my order, he sat down on the chair opposite me, leaned into me to help me navigate through the two-page menu.

"This one," I said, "is it a cold noodle dish?" Apparently not. It was a pho, but Hai (don't know how to spellit but I think that's his name) was quick to point me to the right item. "You want this one," he said pointing to the bun with the seafood and vegetable topping.

When the food came, the aroma was absolutely tantalizing. I sat there and fanned the smell to my nose some more before I can bring myself to dig in. The first bite was exquisite. In addition to tumeric/curry and a hint of cilantro, it had dill(!) -- one of the culinary influences of the French, I was told. The vermicelli was tossed in a curry and dill sauce and topped with crunchy fresh vegetables, mostly thin slices of celery and chopped baby bok choy, and shrimps, fake crab (can't really expect the real thing for $6.50, can we?), and three mussels in the half shell. The contrast in texture was also notable: cool vermicelli at the bottom of the bowl topped with a steaming, fresh-from-the-pan mixture of vegetables and seafood. Visually, it was also a treat. Picture this: bottom layer of white noodles heaped in a mound with the top stained yellow from the curry sauce, then a few dots of red shrimps, green vegetables and herbs, and blue-black mussel shell. On the side, was a small bowl of nuoc mam, an orange-coloured fish sauce I drizzled over my meal.

I also ordered my first iced coffee of the season. The first sip of the strong sweet coffee hit me with a jolt. I decided to let it sit there until after my meal. By then the ice had melted and the coffee, mellowed.

While I was eating, Hai and I chatted -- about food, about life as an immigrant, the joys/perils of the restaurant business. It was all very comfortable and familiar, as if I was sitting in his kitchen. He carried on with his work as we chatted -- wiping tables, straightening chairs. It was a wonderful, restful meal. I can't wait to go back -- with a group of friends next time so they too can see how wonderful this place is.

J Town

Went on a field trip with Catherine today. It was a fantastically bright and warm day, so we drove up the DVP with the sunroof wide open. It felt great to have my hair tousled by the wind and to feel sunshine! Finally, after that extended winter.

Catherine wanted to make some Japanese stuff, so I had to show her J Town shopping centre. It seemed like a long way to go for Japanese provisions, but once we got there, we made the trip worthwhile. On Catherine's list: bonito flakes, nori, soba noodles, sesame seeds, kewpie mayonnaise, rice, soya sauce, rice wine, and today's big find: Pocky for men. It said so in bold letters at the front of the packaging and we had to buy some. (Jon said that it was great -- dark chocolate and none of that girly strawberry stuff. )

My shopping list was a little shorter. Just needed some of the rice mixes and prepared curries. It is my little indulgence. Funny, whereas I scoff at the prepared stuff I see at Loblaws, for some reason, I am perversely drawn to attractively packaged Japanese prepared foods -- msg, sodium and all. I guess it's because it's a little exotic and I love the simplicity of it all. Just measure up some rice, empty the stuff in the freezer pack, steam rice for 20 minutes and voila! The rice is transformed into a full meal dish with seasonings, mushrooms and other prepared vegetables. As much as I love food, I get my lazy days when I feel like having something a little different without too much effort in the preparation. That's when these little packages come in handy.

While at J Town, we decided to have lunch at Toro. Catherine had a california roll and two shrimp tempura pieces. I went for the mixed sushi and grabbed a salmon rice roll. The packaging for the rice roll was quite ingenious. You had to rip up the middle plastic layer to expose the nori, which made it easier to wrap the nori around the rice. Quite excellent. All this with green tea for about $8 per person. Tempted as I was by the tempura, I had to give it a pass -- even those luscious-looking panko-covered fried oysters. Also had to pass on the unagi on rice and the tuna with curry.

We didn't buy any fish or seafood today. Mind you the squid looked mighty tempting, as well as the blackcod (meant to be cooked in broth I think).

We did not buy dessert in J Town. Went to Tropical Treats instead. More about ice cream another day.

Kashmiri tea

Today's little treat came in the form of a rose coloured warm beverage in a styrofoam cup. I know this does not make it sound appetizing, but consider this: When that cup of steaming hot tea is sweetened with milk, steeped in exotic spices and topped with finely chopped pistachio nut, the result is divine. This is a beverage worth savouring and it was perfect for me while walking around browsing the shops. I first discovered this tea when I moved to the east side of Toronto and was walking around in Little India (Gerrard Street between Greenwood and Coxwell). If you are ever in that neck of the woods, just pop into any paan (little edible green stuff -- don't really know what this is about, but will find out more) and chaat (an aromatic and filling street treat of rice crispies topped with onions and garbanzos, tossed in tamarind sauce, hot sauce, and sprinkled with cilantro) store and order some tea and this is what you get.

Plantains

Today's food adventure involves oxtail stew and plantains. I grabbed an early lunch today and bought some takeaway from Ritz (caribbean food) in Roy's Square in the Yonge/Bloor area. I was in the neighbourhood for a meeting and instead of heading home immediately after, I decided to walk the old haunt (I used to work at Church and Charles back in the old Trader.com days).

Ritz did not open until 11 am so I stopped by the old Felix and Norton cookie place for some ebony and ivory cookies (buy six and there's no GST, said the lady behind the counter, which of course meant I had to purchase more than I wanted).

I've been having this craving for plantains lately. Fried plantains, sliced thinly, cooked until golden brown and until the edges are caramelized. Yummm. It's comfort food for me. Reminds me of my youth. I must buy some this weekend and cook some up for a snack.

Then there's the oxtail stew on rice and beans. Ever since Roxanne introduced me to this dish, I get frequent cravings for it. The rice today was a little on the starchy side --- could have been cooked a little longer I think, but the stew was awesome. Hearty, rich stew with lots of thyme sprigs for flavouring. Perfect for an overcast, rainy day like today.