Ann's Blog
Toronto, Ontario:
March 1, 2010
A Caribbean food fix in the North
I’m in Canada again for two weeks, to do more promotion for The Spice Necklace. Among other things, I’ll be at The Cookbook Store in Toronto, signing books and offering samples from its recipes. Also, foodnetwork.ca wants to do a video of me making Trini mango chow for its website. Both events offer the perfect excuse for a trip to Nicey’s.
Nicey’s (http://www.niceysfoodmart.com/) is a West Indian supermarket with five locations in the Greater Toronto Area. The Scarborough store is closest for me and, happily, it’s also the largest. Its slogan is “bringing the taste of the Caribbean right to your table.” And it delivers – it feels, smells, and tastes just like a grocery in the islands. Buckets brim with salt beef and salt pork. Smoked herring is on the shelf and fresh goat meat is at the butcher counter. Two types of fresh callaloo – Jamaican and Trinidadian – in the produce section, plus seasoning peppers, Scotch bonnets and, if I’m lucky, real chadon bene for my chow. I can get fresh coconut water, tamarind chutney, and Steve’s preferred brand of Trinidadian pepper peanuts. Somehow, shopping here makes me feel warmer, even in early March.
For a look at what I concocted with part of my Nicey’s haul, watch this foodnetworkcanada video on YouTube.
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