I don't often eat on the go, but I recently found myself at the corner of Bloor & Lansdowne with little time until my next meeting and a groaning belly. Something had to fill the gap. I popped into Caribbean Queen of Patties and found Georgina, the smiling patty queen herself, hard at work trying to catch up on beef patties. With no beef patties ready for my tasting, I asked for Georgina what my next best option was. "Veggi...chi...ken," she replied, clearly not certain which type she figured I might prefer. "I'll take one of each then, please," I replied.

After just one bite of my vegetable patty, I was instantly in love. Spinach, chick peas, green soy beans, corn, carrots, and peas. A flaky, dry-to-the-touch pastry shell. A hint of sweetness, with excellent spicing. The vegetable patty at Caribbean Queen of Patties is quite simply the best patty I've ever tasted. I mean it.

As I gobbled up my chicken patty (which was also fantastic), I took a glance around the small storefront. Hanging on the walls, between paintings of Bob Marley and other Caribbean art, were the accolades - various newspaper and magazine clippings touting Georgina as Toronto's queen of patties. And deservedly so. But don't take our word for it - go and pick up a few for yourself!

Roti, jerk, fish, oxtail, and other caribbean delights are on the menu as well.

Caribbean Queen of Patties

1279 Bloor St West (at Lansdowne)

416-538-1732