Being the ninth most populous municipality in Canada is not a particularly impressive title if you measure things by megalomaniacal standards of some of the more nervous, less comfortable countries. But for Brampton, things seem to be going quite nicely with its population of 656,480 as of the 2021 Census. Named after the town of Brampton in Cumberland, England, the Canadian Brampton has originally been home to indigenous peoples prior to colonization. This isn't to say that the city has nothing to offer today as it is an important hub of advanced manufacturing, retail administration, logistics, information, and communication technologies. Food also plays a large part in the life of the city. Therefore, some good food can be found in local restaurants.
Onion strings are a crispy and delicious addition mainly to burgers and sandwiches, but they can also be served as an irresistible side dish or appetizer.
Food like onion strings has traditionally been associated with less-than-classy establishments and blue-collar consumers. Even if the old stereotype was true, it would still be ridiculous. Of course, onion strings are not panna cotta, but they deliver what they should - an interesting taste, an original shape, and an entertaining meal if you order them. Be it in a burger or a sandwich or served on its own, onion strings are the perfect crispy start for our list.
Sonny's Drive In is the perfect place to try them.
Naan is a very popular Indian oven-baked flatbread with a chewy texture. It's traditionally served hot and it goes with butter or ghee. This type of bread is widespread in Asian countries.
If you wish to combine smaller beverages and create a combined meal that would be to your liking, there is always bread as the basis. In Brampton, a leavened, oven-baked or fried flatbread is particularly popular. It is called naan, and different variations of sandwiches, burgers, and other dishes can be made with it. Or naan can be served as a starter, an appetizer, and even as a dessert. The fact that it is much more tasty and interesting than simple bread really helps.
Caravan Kabob House is a place where they know a thing or two about using flatbreads.
Spring rolls are a delicious Asian appetizer, usually filled with a variety of finely chopped vegetables or sometimes meat, all wrapped in a thin, crisp pastry. Originating from China, they are traditionally eaten during the Spring Festival, hence the name. Spring rolls are typically deep-fried until golden brown and served with dipping sauces.
With smaller offerings out of the way, it would be a wise course of action to select the proper appetizer before choosing the more hefty dishes. In Brampton, spring rolls are in high demand as just that. Different variations of spring rolls exist, and several traditional and modern recipes for preparing the wrappings and fillings can be found in local restaurants. Both vegetarians and less picky eaters can enjoy spring rolls.
Pho Peter Restaurant is said to have particularly good veggie spring rolls.
The next offering on our list is finally getting into the meat of the issue. Chicken meat, to be precise. Biryani is a mixed rice dish originating among the royal khansamah of the durbar of Old Delhi. A classic recipe like that can never escape modernization, and modern biryani is very popular as an urban dish. Chicken, being the most popular kind of meat there is, is often used as the second main component of biryani other than rice.
Baigs Grill provides excellent biryani.
Mashed potatoes is a simple dish made of boiled potatoes with the addition of milk, butter, salt and pepper. It can be served alongside a broad array of meat and fish dishes.
If unusual foods are not to your liking, and something simpler would be more appealing, there is always the safest possible option - potatoes. Mashed potatoes, to be exact. The classic recipe is in the name, mashed potatoes are made by mashing boiled potatoes, usually with added milk, butter, salt and pepper. Modern variations may replace or avoid certain components, which changes the taste significantly. There are some restaurants that use mashed potatoes on their own or as part of dumplings and gnocchi.
Mandarin Restaurant has some of the most inventive use of mashed potatoes.
This traditional Indian dish is a sweet or savoury crispy appetizer made from chicken, garlic and bell peppers. This mixture is marinated in chilli and soya sauce. It's so tender and delicious.
If plain or mild food is too boring, there are always spicier options. Chicken is a universal component of all kinds of dishes, and chilli chicken is the dish that both Asian and European traditions of cooking back up. Chilli chicken comes in several variations with differences in spices and seasoning, as well as its "sauce" and "dry" variants with differences in their quantity of sauce or gravy. There are recipes from India, China, Bengal, etc.
Guddu's Chilli Chicken has the right name and the right food for this option.
Chicken curry is a flavorful and aromatic dish made with tender chicken pieces cooked in a rich, spicy gravy. It is often prepared with a blend of exotic spices, onions, tomatoes, and various herbs.
If chilli chicken doesn't look tasty enough, there is always the classic Indian chicken curry. This dish consists of chicken stewed in an onion and tomato-based sauce, flavoured with ginger, garlic, tomato puree, chilli peppers, and a variety of spices. Modern recipes often make use of the South Asian invention - a premade spice mixture known as curry powder. However, regional variations from across the globe are available in all their diversity.
Thai Pepper has some of the more interesting chicken curry options.
Since we mentioned South Asia when talking about chicken curry, it is interesting to check out a staple of South Asian cuisine that has become very popular in Brampton - goat curry. This is a curry dish prepared with goat meat. Goat curry actually originated in India but spread throughout the world, including the Caribbeans. The dish is mostly served on special occasions, and few visitors know that such a gem is available in local restaurants.
Incredible India has the traditional Indian approach to goat curry.
It's a thinly sliced beef or pork sausage topped with paprika or other chili pepper. It's an American alternative to Italian salami. The name literally means 'bell paper' in Italian, however, it was introduced in America in the 1900s. Nowadays, it's one of the most famous pizza toppings worldwide.
With all the talk about curry and meat, it is important to not forget about sausage. For example, the people of Brampton like pepperoni, a spicy salami made from cured pork and beef seasoned with paprika or other chilli pepper. Pepperoni is actually an Italian-American creation that found its way to the tables of eaters from all around the world as an ingredient of pizza or a component of several complex dishes. Turkey meat is also commonly used as a substitute for non-classic recipes.
Mackay Pizza has great pepperoni pizza, for example.
Suppli are Italian deep fried croquettes made of rice and stuffed with mozzarella cheese and tomato sauce. The snacks are also called "supplì al telefono" due to their resemblance to an old-fashioned telephone: when suppli are broken in two parts, the melted mozzarella is drawn out in a string that connects one piece with another.
To finish the list, smaller snacks would be appropriate. For example, there is suppli - Italian snacks consisting of a ball of rice with tomato sauce, typical of Roman cuisine. Risotto is the most popular choice for rice filling. Suppli is actually commonly served in most pizzerias all around Italy as an antipasto, and in Canada, they can be found as both appetizers and desserts. A soft drink is recommended with them.
iSpoonful is a great modern place to get some suppli.
Brampton is a bright, pretty, and very Canadian city. Enjoying it is easy, especially when trying local food of all kinds. Make sure to pick your favourite dish!
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