I meet up with Derrick, a friend from England currently spending the holiday season with family in Toronto. We have shared many interesting meals together since we first met in London. Today is no exception. We check out the recently opened Room Service Restaurant serving classy Caribbean fusion cuisine. The ackee stuffed plantain is a beautiful introduction to the national fruit of Jamaica. Growing up in Jamaica meant that ackee has been in my vocabulary for decades. It is prepared with salt fish to create Jamaica’s national dish. However, as it is seldom prepared without the fish, I have never actually tasted ackee. More adventures for my tastebuds: the mouth tingling spicy jump up soup with sweet tangy morsels of plantain, spinners, and yams is a winner. By now, I barely have room for my main course: jerk and curry tofu combo with rice and beans. The pudding is still baking in the oven so I have to forego dessert until the next visit. And there will be a next visit, I am sure.
I stop by the burnt out shell of the heritage building that was the centre of yesterday’s 6 alarm fire. Sad. Did someone deliberately set fire to the building to avoid the hassles of preserving a heritage building? Cause of the fire is yet to be determined.
I walk by an old man huddled over a painting with brush in hand, sheltered by the alcoved storefront entrance. He is concentrating on the painting. I recognize the style. “Hi!”, I said. “Are you from the north?” George Yellowhead is from Thunder Bay. From his style, I assume he is Ojibway. He has been selling his paintings on the streets of Toronto for more than 2 decades. We chatted while I watch the eagle appear with a few careful strokes. George has been creating art since he was 8 years old. His aunt has kept some of his old pencil drawings because she is afraid he would undersell them. We chatted of the north: Thunder Bay, Atikokan, Armstrong. I walk away with his bear paw painting in hand, paint still slightly damp.
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