Play Time

With work still at 80% due to tight finances, I usually spend my furloughed Fridays walking around outside especially on a sunny (if cold) day like today. There were a good number of pedestrians joining me on the sidewalk in Little Portugal along Dundas St. W.

After I rounded the corner at Lansdowne and headed East along College St., I passed by a smattering of businesses, nestled amid mostly residential (and run-down) homes without much curb appeal. Whether it was a local store or a slightly more gentrified business, these have always been touch-and-go except for the laundromat. Defloured, a gluten-free bakery that hung in there for about 5 years, has given way to Tapioca Local Kitchen.

If this seemed like an odd name, it was due to their specialty: Brazilian tapioca crepes. I wasn't in the mood for crepes but they also had a number of other baked goods including tamales and empanadas. I settled on a veggie and cheese empanada for $5.25 and found a low ledge outside of St. Helens Elementary to taste-test. Meanwhile, score of kids played inside the school grounds during their afternoon recess.

It turned out to be tasty snack. The crust was closer to a Jamaican patty with its buttery and crumbly texture than the typical chewy empanada. The inside was a nice mix of quinoa, cheese, and assorted veggie chunks. Overall, I was impressed with its quality and will return to try that crepe. The owner, like those of Defloured, also made his name at various farmer's market. Given that this neighbourhood was still predominantly Portuguese, he should advertise more clearly the Brazilian/South American roots of his food. Otherwise, he won't get local buy-in. This is not a destination neighbourhood with many outside visitors.