RESTAURANTS & BARS

compiled by Jennifer Yap & Sarah Hood

The minimum age to buy and consume alcohol in Ontario is 19. Liquor is sold exclusively by the Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO) at various locations. Liquor stores don't all share the same hours. They generally open on weekdays at 9.30 a.m. (10 a.m. on Saturday, 11 a.m. on Sunday) and may close as early as 6 p.m. or as late as 11 p.m. They carry liquor, wine, coolers, beer and bar mixes. To find the branch nearest to you, call 416-365-5900 anytime during Monday to Saturday, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.


To sample award-winning Ontario wines, stroll over to a branch of The Wine Rack, which only stocks Ontario wines. Store hours are generally from 9.30 a.m. to about 10 p.m., with shorter hours in effect on Sundays. For information, log onto www.winerack.com. Beer lovers will be ecstatic at the brew selection offered by the Beer Stores across the city, operating from Monday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and on Sundays from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Remember that Canadian beer packs a stronger punch than American - generally 5% alcohol by volume, or (in "fortified" beers) 6.5% or even more! ("Light" beers are available in all retail outlets and most bars, at 4 and 4.5%.)



It follows that one of the world's most diverse cities possesses a horde of equally diverse palates. There is a restaurant for any cuisine under the sun - all it takes is a little perseverance and curiosity. So if your belly is empty, it is time to get out your map and ask some penetrating questions of those around you.



Tucked away in the city's neighbourhoods are restaurants that serve up a whole spectrum of delights from the Caribbean, Africa and South America. Homesickness is banished by fiery Jamaican jerk chicken, flaky patties, curries nested in Caribbean style rotis or served atop a steaming bed of peas and rice, soothing callalloo, and ackee and salt fish. Munch on fried plantain, doubles, phoolorie, coconut drops, tamarind candies and roasted chickpeas. Or head to Little India at Coxwell and Gerrard where textiles shimmer in the sun, accompanied by the heady scent of cooking spices and toasting chapatis.



For the more adventurous, there's Cajun/Creole cooking featuring rich gumbos, coconut shrimp, flavourful jambalayas, and southern fried chicken. Meat lovers with healthy appetites will appreciate the west end's many Ethiopian restaurants serving thin sheets of spongy injera bread topped with iab, a cottage cheese and yogurt mix, and heaping mounds of steaming stew. This is served the traditional way in huge communal plates. The meal ends when the diners stop asking for bread. Alternatively, you can hunt for Moroccan kebabs, jollof rice, Kenyan pones and ugali.



For spicy food of a different sort, head towards Toronto's South American restaurants. Cuisine from Mexico, Brazil, Chile and Argentina are extremely well represented and it is easy to find shops along College Street near Ossington serving mouth-watering paella (South America's answer to risotto), feijouda, farofa, and the ubiquitous churrasco (irresistible roast meat). Also available are the familiar, but no less delicious, empañadas, corn pies, enchiladas, and burritos.



The home gourmand eager to try their hand at recreating these delights can gather the necessary ingredients from Caribbean shops in Kensington Market, or at most Loblaws grocery stores. Here is a list of some of the many local restaurants serving up hot and spicy food sure to tantalize the taste buds.