Caribbean Goat, Michael's West Indian, Ukrainian Cookery & more -- The Top 5 Food Posts of 2015!

A few days ago we posted the Top Ten Blog Posts of 2015 on The Left Chapter. As any regular reader of this blog knows, The Left Chapter also has many food posts. This year, as with the political posts, many of them were also contributed by several different lefty foodies!



There have been posts about Beef Shank Potato Carrot Dutch Oven Casserole, Southern Style Chicken Wings Stove-top Deep Fried, Maria's Pork Schnitzel with Oma Philomena's Potato Salad, Zucchini Fundido, Spinach, Mushroom and Walnut Pie, Pesto pepper steak with sour cream & pickled peperoncini, Fiery Caribbean style peel-and-eat shrimp, and even, yes, a Sardine Sandwich with Sauteed Spinach, Garlic & Jalapeno!

I want to thank everyone who contributed recipes to the blog and to our readership for such a great launch and I look forward to what 2016 brings.

Here, without further ado, are the top five food posts for 2015:

1) Caribbean Style Goat with Potatoes in a Dutch Oven

2) Michael's West Indian Flavor: Perfect Oxtail in New Toronto

3) Ukrainian Cookery Recipes w. Borscht, Vareniki, Cabbage Rolls & more -- Vintage Cookbook

(This post actually led to the #9 post of the year Ukrainian "Scalloped Beef" Revisited)

4) Sauteed Seasoned Chicken Breasts in a Garlic Mushroom Sauce

5) BBQ Grilled Yellow Hot Peppers with Prosciutto & Cream Cheese

Thanks again for a great first year. See you in 2016.

Do you have a left point-of-view or opinion, a recipe or a story you want to share?

Send them to The Left Chapter via theleftchapter@outlook.com!

Michael's West Indian Flavor: Perfect Oxtail in New Toronto

In true take-out counter spot style, Michael's West Indian Flavor is simplicity itself. A small spot, it has the food counter, a small counter you can stand at if you want to eat inside, and a very small menu of three regular dishes that is expanded with other options depending on the day.

But this basic simplicity belies the tremendous complexity of flavour of their dishes, all of which are some of the best West Indian food I have had in Toronto (and I have had a lot of it!). 

Jamaican style Oxtail, Curried Goat or Stewed Chicken with rice or rice and peas are always on the chalkboard menu, while Jerk Chicken and Spicy Fried Chicken are regularly available as well.

Michael's incredible oxtail

Everything is perfectly done, and I have tried the lot multiple times. The goat, chicken and oxtail are always done bone-in, with a different saucing for each, and are dreamily moist and fall-off-the bone cooked. I have spent years trying to duplicate the oxtail gravy at Michael's. It is simply fantastic. If you are lucky you will get a piece of seeded Scotch Bonnet hot pepper "skin" in your dish

All dishes can be had with an optional creamy slaw. They are also all available small, medium or large (and the large is really large) and range from $5-$12. They all come with rice or rice and peas as well. 


If it is a nice day you can take your food and enjoy it at one of the neigbourhood's many parks. Colonel Sam Smith Park, one of Toronto's waterfront gems, is a short walk to the west. Michael's is also on the 501 Queen streetcar line. They are located at 3067 Lake Shore Blvd. W., which is about 4 blocks west of Islington Ave.

See also: Swatow Restaurant -- Shrimp Dumpling Noodle Soup & more in the heart of Toronto

See also: Going for Toronto's best chicken wings with Irish Socialist leader Joe Higgins