During my exploration of ethnic food stores, I figured this small shop. Just right beside Paraiso Tropical South. I was planning to go there once my bf is in town. With his Dutch descendant background, it's always good to know other people who have similar cultural background. I always have a high curiosity to learn other cultures of people and was so excited with their meat products such as Biltong (similar to jerky), Chili Bites and Boerewors. Boerewors is a South African sausage with a name that is derived from the Afrikaans/Dutch words boer ("farmer") and wors ("sausage"). The lady there is very friendly! She offered us some samples of biltong and chili bites. The chili bites are quite tasty. She told us many stories about South African foods. I love her hospitality!
A community of foodies must curate, nurture, cultivate, and celebrate its ethnic culinary diversity or risk becoming a "food desert" with ingredients available only through big box chain stores and the Internet. Betsy's South African Deli is one of those outposts of culinary diversity that absolutely delights me, first for simply existing and having a wide variety of ingredients, packaged foods, and ready-to-eat items available, secondly for celebrating themselves with summertime braai (a South African take on what we call BBQ or grilling), and third, for being only a short walk from Whyte Ave (and also convenient to the ETS bus system). They even have the much beloved three-legged cast iron potjie, should you want to be making stew the correct South African campfire way! Oh, the memories this visit to Betsy's brought back of our time in SA. On hand are several varieties of borewors (sausages) ready for your grill and both biltong (think jerky) and droewors (dry sausages) for your hand. Join their Facebook group for notification of their events. Enjoy the braai!
Found this place a while back when various food items were suggested by my nephew's girlfriend who is originally from South Africa. Wonderful service and very friendly and helpful. I came in with friend and the owner helped us with everything we needed. Fell in love with the koeksisters because we love sweets and also something we can't get in Canada - Schweppes Dry Lemon soda - a nice semi-bitter lemon soda that will keep me coming back. Stores is small but packed with items that you will find interesting. The Boerewors comes in curry and peri-peri flavors. Enjoy the biltong!