Food and Culture in Kensington Market

Before we went to Kensington Market, we researched the history of the area. We learned that Kensington Market was originally a refugee community when people came from Eastern Europe in the early nineteen hundreds. People started to turn the bottoms of their houses into small grocery shops.

The next large diversification of the area came during and after the Second World War. Many people were immigrating from all over Europe and Kensington Market gave them a taste of home. Many of these immigrants were quite poor; therefore, the area was quite affordable. The area is still diverse; however, there are many discussions about the issue of gentrification and what it has done to the vibrant and unique fabric of the community.

When we arrived at Kensington Market, the atmosphere was amazing. There were live bands performing on the streets. People were dancing and singing along with the songs being performed. There was also music being played in most of the restaurants. Wherever you went you were listening to music. Also, if you look around Kensington Market, art is absolutely everywhere. The walls are painted with beautiful and colourful murals. Everything in the market is so colourful and alive, even the food.

For lunch, we ate at a small Mexican restaurant called El Trompo. El Trompo opened in 2003, with the hope of spreading traditional Mexican food all around Toronto. As soon as we walked in the door, their pride for Mexico was evident. It felt like we had wandered into a real Mexican cantina.  The tables were lined with colourful tablecloths, and flags were hanging from the ceiling. On the menu, there was an abundance of options, but mostly traditional Mexican dishes. Everyone ordered different varieties of tacos and quesadillas such as cheese, chicken, and beef. When our food came, the smell filled the room.

After lunch, we shopped in Kensington to gather our ingredients for the meal we would be cooking in class on Friday: tacos. We went to Sanagan's to pick up the ground beef, a local fruit market to pick up the vegetables, la Chicilla Taqueria to pick up the taco shells which we got for free from the friendly waiter, and salsa. Finally, we picked up an amazing 100 grams of sharp cheddar from Global Cheese. Before getting on the streetcar to return back to school we browsed a chocolate shop called CXBO chocolates where some students bought small artisanal truffles.

All in all, it was a great experience!