Hip To Be Square?

I went to the nearby mall on Wednesday to look for some household items. It turns out Home Depot doesn't carry camping-adjacent equipment like coolers and inflatable mattresses or sleeping bags. Gerrard Square is like a sibling of Dufferin Mall. Both have Walmart, Winners, a large dollar store (Absolute Dollar vs Dollarama), and a grocery chain (Food Basics vs NoFrills). But whereas Gerrard has accepted dowdiness (the low-traffic stores) for extra financial security (Home Depot, Staples), Dufferin risk-taking over the years has resulted in a successful and bright future. No, I am not projecting.

After my shopping, I headed over to The Real Jerk for a veggie roti. Its parking lot was full for lunch with numerous cars pulling in for a pick-up. I had high hopes because my dinner there was quite good. Sadly, my roti was a bust. The dhal puri shell was excellent and would make a great wrap for the meat choices. But the veggie stuffing was poor: unsalted potatoes, raw cabbage, and a smattering of peas and green beans. It didn't compare with Vena's Roti hefty mix of potatoes, sweet yams, spinach, and chickpeas nor Caribbean Queen's anything goes approach that usually has okra, plantains, and a smorgasbord of veggies. Unfortunately, Mr. Siddiqi has passed away and the queen had recently switched to a heavy dough. Maybe there will be better luck with Veggie D'Light or One Love.