Where to DINE Now: Miss Likklemore’s

On a Sunday, if you’re hungry for good food and good vibes, come on over for Brunch and join the party. This outpost of Caribbean sun, fun and food began as a pop-up and exploded into a full restaurant. Here’s the reason. Partners Lonie Murdock and Darren Hinds were raised with a passion for good food and sharing, and were motivated by customer enthusiasm to open a permanent space.

Pause at the entrance to admire the portraits of Edna, Lonie’s grandmother. You’ll see her Jerk Chicken on the menu. Do your taste buds a favour and order it. This is part of the charm and popularity of Miss Likklemore’s. The kitchen is authentic and true to its roots. The owners/chefs, themselves, grew up eating these dishes, hanging around the kitchen, appreciating the mouth-watering aromas, watching as each ingredient is added to the pot. They know that food is love. On the menu is (Darren Hinds’ mother’s) Miss Paula’s Carrot Cake, as well as a kitchen staple, his sister-in-law’s pepper sauce. Careful here, the key word is pepper. Nothing is lost in translation.

Seated in a prime spot, a round leather booth in the corner, we have a good view of the kitchen, which adds to our enjoyment since we can see the parade of delectables heading to other tables. This may be the only menu hereabouts that lists 100 types of Rum from the Caribbean and elsewhere. I take the opportunity to find an obscure rum that is a memorable remnant of a great vacation from bygone days. And, the mood is made right with the sound track of music with a Caribbean beat that we danced to.

We’ll begin to peruse the menu, but first, coffee and a luscious Morning Bun, “baked with love” as they state. Clearly this kitchen knows its customers. Baked eggs, for example, with the bright flavours of Guyanese curry, peppers, cherry tomatoes and a generous tasting of Goat Gouda brings a smile to the face–no matter where you’ve spent your childhood. It’s like a vibrant Caribbean shakshuka.

We’re not in a hurry on a Sunday afternoon, and we’re torn between the intricacies of Oxtail Hash– an authentic dish of shredded oxtail, potatoes, oxtail gravy with a poached egg and toast or, The Full Caribbean which has two poached eggs at its core, and a full complement of accessories: Scotch Bonnet and cheddar sausage, jerk bacon, chana and Johnny Cakes.

In the end, like most people in this dilemma, we just say, “oh, let’s have both.” Decisions. Decisions. Jerk Chicken and Waffles is a treat, with a generous pour of rum maple syrup and jalapeno honey butter, and as if that’s not enough to get your engine going, they offer a selection of house made hot sauce. Still, we would feel incomplete without a serving of Miss Paula’s renowned Carrot Cake.

Stepping out to the streets of Toronto is a coming-down-to-earth feeling, after a relaxing few hours of vacation time with sunny Caribbean cuisine, rum and music.

Miss Likklemore’s, 478 King St W, 647-484-8789