What Up Ji at Udupi from http://platoputas.wordpress.com/

Stepping out of a streetcar at Gerrard and Coxwell makes you feel like you’ve been transported to the colourful streets of Mumbai, minus having to dodge stray cows, walls of people and the blistering heat. Little India in Toronto is a special place. Shop for 24-karat gold, haggle for silks and saris or just dive into the vast assortment of cuisines. One of my favourite places to visit is Udupi Palace (1460 Gerrard St. East) known for its authentic South Indian food. The restaurant may look like a basement banquet hall complete with fluorescent lighting and stackable chairs, but no one goes for the ambiance. The staff is extremely friendly and the vibe exudes casual eating at its finest and most importantly, cheapest.

Udapi offers 15 varieties of dosas, ranging from $5 to $10. What’s a dosa you ask? Well, it’s a crepe made from either fermented rice or lentil paste. Attention gluten sufferers—this place is calling your name. The batter is ladled onto a greased pan and once cooked, is stuffed with vegetables or meat and rolled up into an impressively large crispy cylindrical or cone shape. Dosas are served with numerous side dishes including sambhar (peppery lentil stew), chunteys (mostly coconut) and Indian pickles to name a few.



While at Udupi, be sure to save room and order the Chana Batura. The spicy chickpeas have a masala kick and the deep fried rotis, also known as pooris, are guaranteed to be fresh and fluffy. It’s like eating a cloud for the price of pennies. Heavenly!

"24 Hours Toronto" News

Food & Drink Discover the food in your neighbourhood

For Trina Hendry, the best way to get to know a neighbourhood is to eat your way through it.

DELICIOUS DISHES: Udupi Palace restaurant manager Hubert D’Mello and Trina Hendry of ChowBella Culinary Experiences show off one of the dishes available during a culinary tour.

Hendry founded ChowBella Culinary Experiences & Concierge which aims to expose people to Toronto’s culinary offerings. Throughout the summer, the company is holding culinary tours in three Toronto neighbourhoods; Little India, Kensington Market and West Queen West.

“I think food brings people together, and in a city where we have access to every culture in the world— to open that up to people and let them explore is amazing,” Hendry said.

The two-hour tours will take a group of about 12 people to various restaurants, supermarkets, coffee shops and other local stores to sample food, drinks, ingredients and learn more about he history and make-up of the neighbourhood.

The tour of Little India will be led by local chef Joshna Maharaj and will begin at Udupi Palace on Gerrard St. E. with a cooking demonstration.

“People love to see something made in front of them,” said Hubert D’Mello, manager of the restaurant which specializes in South and North Indian vegetarian cuisine.

“We are well-known for Dosas (similar to a crepe made of rice and lentils, filled with vegetables) and nowadays everybody is health conscious, so if people see the kitchen is clean and the food is totally vegetarian automatically the interest develops.”

Hendry drew from her previous work for hotel chains in the city where she was responsible for organizing behind-the-scenes culinary experiences for out-oftowners, and was inspired to start something based on “culinary tourism” for tourists and locals alike.

“There’s this local movement, local food, supporting your local businesses and I think this is the opportunity to do this,” she said.

In these economic times, Hendry says she hopes Torontonians will become tourists in their own city and discover places they may not have known before.

“It’s all about the local movement and you get to sample food all along the way. It’s not a bad way to spend two hours.”

Visit the tour’s website at chowbellaconcierge.com for more information.

Great Meal Deals

Global News featured us as one of the restaurants with great meals for less than $20 today in Toronto. Its real nice especially when eating out has become a complete no no during this recession period.
We are glad to be able to bring this magnificient cuisine to Torontonians.
Authenticity has always been the key of this business no matter what.We will strive to bring this cuisine for many years to come at a low budget so as to all walks of life could enjoy this.
Cut and paste to see this clip
http://www.globaltv.com/globaltv/ontario/video/index.html

36 hours in Toronto

Yes ................thats the new posting on NY Times where udupipalace was one of the stops, nice place for snacks
A clip from the Times

5) O CALCUTTA

This is a city of minority neighborhoods, from the souvlaki joints in Greektown to the rainbow-hued windows of Gay Village. There are even two Chinatowns. But for color and spice, hop a taxi to Little India. The hilltop district spans just six blocks along Gerrard Street East, but it’s jammed with more than a hundred stores and restaurants. Sparkly silks are piled high at Chandan Fashion (No. 1439; 416-462-0277; www.chandanfashion.ca). Dubai Jewellers (No. 1407; 416-465-1200) has a dazzling assortment of Indian-designed gold pieces. And for a midday snack, Udupi Palace (No. 1460; 416-405-8189; www.udupipalace.ca) is a bright restaurant that makes delicious dosas, chaats and other South Indian treats."
Visit this link to read more
http://travel.nytimes.com/2009/05/17/travel/17hours.html