Kensington Market and Chinatown in Toronto

Weekends spent wandering the ethnic markets of Toronto are fun and gastronomically satisfying. After squiring me to a night at the Opera on saturday night to see Marriage of Figaro at the lovely old Elgin Theatre  (sets designed by our friend Gerard Gauci), Pip's desire for Yum Char (Dim Sum) had to be appeased ,so we headed out on Sunday morning with our neighbours Happy and Susie.

Mexican specialty stores in Kensington Market

Fresh veg and herb stalls

A walk round Kensington Market under a drizzly sky, to shop for Mexican specialty items like smoked dried poblano and chipotle peppers took us past fish marts selling salt cod, fruit and veg stalls and hippy style boutiques selling vintage clothing.

Butcher offering tripe, tongue, feet and tails front and centre!

We stopped for a great coffee then headed for Chinatown just a block away. Opting this time not to eat at Rol San where you order from a menu, we chose to take the girls to Sky Dragon where the carts are wheeled around. Best plate of the day was the blanched Pea Shoots with a chili soy dipping sauce.

Dim Sum with friends

Char Siu bbq stores and Asian specialty stores abound in Chinatown.

Later we browsed Spadina above Dundas checking out the Char Siu shops, crazy dessert and pastry shops picking up a slice of green tea cake for pud.

Crazy palette of colors in Dessert shop.

After a spot of Wi Golf at Happy and Susies apartment, a lovely bottle of bordeaux, we shared Julie and Julia's Poulet Roti a la Normande served with noodles and peas and a Chilean sav blanc. I cooked and took the dish across the hallway to their dining table!. Susie dished up Rhubarb and Strawberry pie with stewed fresh berries and cream for pud. Delish!

Julie does Julia's Poulet Normande