International Food Options Around Brantford
Time to spice up the new year.
Maichina Veri, January 04, 2022 // Brantford, Ontario
Stock Photo.
Brantford is lucky to be home to many diverse people and cultures. (We’re also lucky to have made it into the New Year, am I right?) Maybe this year you’ve made resolutions to cook more meals at home, support local businesses, give new things a try or spice up your life. If any of that rings true, we’ve got the perfect B-LIST for you! In this edition, we’re highlighting international markets in town that will kick start your pantry and expand your food horizons for 2022.
CARIBBEAN CHOICE FOOD MARKET
Caribbean Choice Food Market claims to be Brantford’s first full-service West Indian grocery store. Located at 667 Colborne St E., this market contains many kitchen staples as well as Jamaican produce. They offer a wide variety of meats too including, but not limited to, oxtail, goat, various cuts of pork from snout to tail and a wide range of fish.
BHATHAL GROCERY
Once at home in Eagle Place, this Indian and Pakistani grocery store has moved and expanded into units three and four at 206 King George Rd. This shop has a lot to offer and while browsing its shelves you will find they carry many Ayurvedic herbs and spices and traditional snacks and sweets. If you’re not sure how to blend your own seasoning quite yet, they sell seasoning packages along the left back wall.
NAMASTE GOODS & FOODS
This “home of Himalayan foods” is actually located in the plaza at 71 Charing Cross St. and they specialize in Nepali and Indian groceries. When you enter the aromatic store, the staff will provide kind and friendly service. They carry products by DrukCan – a socially aware Nepalese company – like pickled hog plums. On their shelves you will also find zeera (cumin) cookies that you can try with your tea or coffee.
JOZI INTERNATIONAL
A South African goods and crafts store, you can find JOZI International located at 750 Colborne St E. If you are looking for something specific, they will try to find it for you and bring it in store if they don’t already have it, and they will also make local deliveries of items as well. JOZI is well-known for their boerewors, which is South African sausage. Boerewors has a higher percentage of meat than North American sausage and is traditionally made with beef.
FLORCITA’S CLASSIC LATIN FOODS
If you get to the end of your week and don’t feel like cooking anymore, find Florcita’s at 79 Icomm Dr. – otherwise known as the Brantford Farmer’s Market. What started as a hobby has bloomed into a business and you can take this amazing Latin cuisine home with you to try every weekend. They also provide catering, frozen meals and delivery. From antojitos to empanadas to pupusas to tamales, this market stop has you covered.
Let us know your favs in the comments.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Maichina Veri is a writer based in Brantford, Ontario. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Creative Writing from Montreal’s Concordia University and has a background in Journalism – Print from Niagara College.