Oshawa Tourism puts the spotlight on Black-owned restaurants
Published February 6, 2023 at 2:50 pm
This Black History Month, it is increasingly important to support local Black-owned businesses and luckily, despite some economic challenges brought on by the pandemic, there are still some delicious and authentic tastes in Oshawa.
So says food writer Ashley Marshall, who broke down some must-visit black-owned restaurants in the city in a blog for Oshawa Tourism.
Some restaurants Marshall recommends?
Champs Caribbean Restaurant, located at 1288 Ritson Road North, where “it’s never just rice and peas” and where the chefs strike the perfect balance of Caribbean flare for this winter weather. Marshall also sings the praises of Mama D’s, a restaurant that offers big portions at affordable prices. The blog also praises catering company Elyon African Kitchen.
The blog also recommends snack joints, including City Patties and Caribbean Flavah.
Why is supporting Black-owned businesses so important? As Marshall noted, it is “well-documented” that food is a major mainstay in many Black cultures and that it was Black chefs who influenced other cuisines, such as Korean fried chicken, the introduction of American eaters to European-style macaroni and cheese and creme brûlée.
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“What is ‘comfort food’ to some is ‘soul food’ to others, and that delicious difference adds to the diversity of Oshawa’s palate,” she writes.
Photo: Ryan’s Roti and Jerk
In the blog, Marshall says a food crawl of all of Oshawa’s Black-owned food businesses can begin at Neale’s Sweet N’ Nice Ice Cream or Ryan’s Roti and Jerk. Diners can try an ice cream float made with Durham-region beer. If you’re looking for roti, doubles, and the curries of Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, and Guyana, Marshall recommends JD Best Afro-Carib Market.
Photo: Mama D’s Jamaican cuisine
With files by Ashley Marshall
To read the original blog, visit Black food history in Oshawa.
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