It’s funny how you remember certain things in your life and can’t remember others. For me, food memories always stand out and I can remember those moments so vividly and recall the aromas, tastes and that moment when I discovered a new cuisine or dish. As for Indian food, it all started on my walk to and from high school in the 80s. I wouldn’t actually try my first Indian dish until years later, but I clearly remember that journey to and from high school and taking the shortcut through an apartment complex referred to as our ‘Little India.’ I particularly remember the walks home and somehow my pace subconsciously slowed down dramatically to get every last ounce of that incredible aroma of Indian cooking, transporting me to a different continent I knew little of. Since my mom and dad weren’t fans of Indian food, it would be years later that I would try it for the first time. I don’t remember the name of the restaurant but I do remember the sign outside this tiny spot on the edge of Little India in downtown Toronto… a vertical sign on the outside that simply had ‘BBQ’ on it. However, I do remember the food! A friend of mine invited me to try this restaurant and since he had an Indian background he ordered the food. On that night I discovered pakoras, palak paneer, aloo gobi, tandoori chicken, and the magic known as naan. That meal forever changed my life. Discovering Indian cuisine forever changed my palette and my culinary journey through life. To this day, every once in awhile,I will drive to that complex, park on a side street and walk through to savour those exact same aromas I discovered years ago.
