Papaya

This past weekend, the Engineer and I attended a wedding in Toronto: the Legal Chef married E., and it was truly a beautiful wedding. As an unexpected bonus, I even got my own garter back! The Legal Chef, who had been the best man for the Engineer and me, had caught it at our wedding and just never gave it back; it turns out E. wore it as her something borrowed and something blue for her wedding. This time, it was the Actor who caught it – I’ll lend it back to him someday if his future fiancée wants it, but in the meantime, I’m hanging on to it! (My grandmother made it for me, so it has sentimental value.)

I feel I must make a quick restaurant review, because the Engineer and I had a late lunch and, by chance, picked a restaurant that I absolutely loved. It’s called Papaya, on Yonge Street. I had the best mango salad of my life! Most restaurants, when they advertize mango, give you something that’s straight from the freezer (and very starchy), or underripe. But this, my friends, was a bowl full of pieces of perfectly fresh and ripe mango, mixed with a little bell pepper, red onion, mint leaves and lime and topped with roasted peanuts. It was absolutely delicious, and I would have it again for any meal or as a snack. Too bad I’m not within walking distance of that place! The Engineer had pineapple fried rice with shrimp and chicken that thoroughly satisfied him (he couldn’t believe he ate the whole thing). I also had dessert: coconut sticky rice with mango (mango overdose, I know, but it just looked so good!). It was a beautifully presented plate of black rice, with the promised coconut milk drizzled around it and pieces of mango. I really loved it, but the Engineer found the black rice too crunchy.

The menu is pretty big and varied, with mostly Thai dishes, but a few other Asian specialties sprinkled throughout; prices are very reasonable. If you’re ever in the area, don’t miss it! It’s on my list of places to visit again next time I’m in Toronto.