Today, Friday, October 26, join the birthday festivities, including surprise "loot bags" and a birthday cake made for the occasion by the master pastry chefs at Dufflet Pastries (who have been looking after diner's desserts since they opened.) From now until then the Queen Mother Café is running a contest with four chances to win a dinner for two with a bottle of house wine. Enter by sharing a memory or photo on social media and tagging @queenmothercafe; or participate by dropping a ballot at the restaurant.
In 1978, "the pill" was 18 years old; flared leg jeans were the fashion du jour; Marijuana cigarettes were handy in an ornate box on the coffee table and friends would light up and pass it around. The Vietnam War had been over for three years, but there was still fallout. In Yorkville, The Riverboat (where Joanie Mitchell and others got their start) closed; the Four Seasons Hotel opened and King of Kensington was the hottest show on TV.
The coolest restaurant on Toronto's coolest street, was the Queen Mother on Queen St. West. I had my first vegetarian Cosmic Burger and my first Pad Thai at the Queen Mother. Cool.
Under the benevolent gaze of Charles Pachter's now famous artwork, Queen on a Moose, and the aging photo of the Royals of the 40s, this 60 seat café, with a funky, tufted, leather banquette and cozy window nooks facing the street, plays host to girls in purple shoes and matching hair, fresh faces in black clothes, stressed-out students, and middle-aged middle-class. Mostly they come for the stir-fry's that are combinations of shrimp, chicken and veggies. Laotian style is a mix of greens, herbs, boiled eggs, veggies and ground peanuts. Shrimp Curry sauce with steamed rice is a playground of flavors: coriander, pepper, basil, lime leaves, hot chilies and coconut milk. Fantasy foods at very respectable prices. Long live our noble Queen."
Queen Mother Café, 208 Queen St. West, at McCaul