It’s been interesting. We have had a ton of newcomers arriving in Canada lately, and the economical restaurant landscape is reflecting the taste of the current population.
Our population, which traditionally was around the same as California’s, hit 40 million people last July , and I think we already have hit 41 million people this year.
Many of the newcomers are coming from South Asia, the Middle East and Africa.
I happen to live near one of the 2 Ethiopia towns in Toronto. There are Ethiopian sports bars, restaurants, grocery stores and coffee shops, and places selling Ethiopian coffee pots, coffee cups and griddles.
I took these photos on Sunday on Bloor St near Christie Pits in Toronto.
The Ethiopian and Eritrean communities are quite well established in Toronto, Hamilton, London, and Windsor.
Most other East African restaurants are run by people who are Ismaili Muslim and South Asian, who lived in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania for several generations before moving to Canada. The food cooked by Ismailis is called Khoja.
don’t know of any Kenyan, Ugandan or Tanzanian restaurants focused on the foods that are not Khoja cuisine.
There are a few Somalian places, which I haven’t had a chance to try yet.
In terms of West African food in Toronto, Nigerian restaurants seem to be having a moment.
I keep finding new dishes to try!
And I have been finding new vegetable seeds to plant!
A Khoja Omelette (Ismaili cuisine from East Africa)
