Crazie HomiesPrior to my friends moving to Notting Hill I would always pass Crazie Homies and think it was a durty Mexican hole in the wall restaurant. I then heard rave reviews and found out it was another one of Tom Conran's restaurants. After 7 years of thinking it was a chavvy restaurant (it is opposite a large council estate) I finally managed to eat there (after 2 attempts, as there was a long queue each time). I am not one to wait when it comes to my stomach; those who know me know that I can get a bit irrational and turn into a Gremlin when I am hungry.

Verdict: the food was fantastic, the margeritas were super strong (was that 2 shots of tequila?), the service was great and the company was even better. After a long day at work, the margerita went straight to my head and the crazy decor and flashing lights everywhere were wonderful! My chicken burrito was stuffed with chicken and the salsa and hot sauce were divine. I wasn't that hungry but stuffed so much Mexican down my gob, it was great.

I recommend going and am going to try and go there more often as I can roll home from there!

Happy Diwali Or as my nephew says, Happy Dee-wally!
Deepika's Diwali party extravaganza was filled with fun, laughter, fireworks and Bollywood dancing in her living room.

Now it wasn't fireworks like her brother in law did last year in India, those are illegal in the UK and probably only used at Olympic ceremonies (they were enormous! And we set them off on a rooftop terrace with no bucket of water or anything to protect us if any of them went awry! He also thought as I was a guest, that I should be the one to light them with a teeny match - as you can imagine I gave him a big thanks but NO thanks) it was fireworks from the surrounding neighbors in St. Johns Wood. Perhaps Paul McCartney was having a little Diwali party in his garden...

The Indian food was also slightly unlike her mother's feast in Delhi... Mexican fajitas were served, she is into the Mexican fajita thing lately! She served Indian street mix (Bombay mix) in newspaper - as it is served in India, made the chick pea dish in the pic which she described as, 'chick peas with Indian stuff' and some Indian potato balls (not sure what they were called).

The cookies on the top of the tiered tray (see pic) are Indian sweets (but she didn't make those) she did bake the chocolate ones on the second tier which aren't Indian :)

It was a great Diwali celebration and I teased her all night about how great her mother's food was last year compared to her hybrid-Mexican-British-Indian one this year. But that's what friends are for right?

The wine was flowing, the Bollywood music going, Nab was putting beautiful bindi designs on our foreheads and there was a great mix of people so it didn't really matter in the end...
Happy Diwali and Happy New Year

;)

Dos Amigos
If you use Bathurst St as a main road to get downtown you probably pass this place and never really notice it. It is across from the Bathurst & Dupont TTC yard.

Meeting up with old CF'ers we went to Dos Amigos as per the recommendation of our social convener Ashlynn. She comes almost once a week with her hubby so it must be good. And it was.

Fresh, authentic Mexican cuisine served by lovely Mexican ladies and great Spanish music playing on the patio where we sipped our pineapple and lime margaritas.

The pic above was taken in Mexico as once again the camera was at home...(hw) I had the enchilada which is corn tortillas stuffed with chicken, covered in a tomato sauce with cheese and sour cream. The rice it was served with was delicious and there was a little side salad.

The restaurant is owned by two friends (dos amigos) and their site says, 'approx 70% of Torontonians have been to Mexico,' and they say they want to bring a little piece of authentic Mexico home to these people. I think they do a good job at it. The patio is sure to be a hit from now on with the temperatures rising! Minus our tipping mishap it was a great night catching up with old friends.

Energy Drink

Today I feel like an energy drink, I remember my friend Ben telling me there is one called Cocaine but it is not on the shelves anymore.

Apparently guarana juice is a good natural energy juice to drink. Tribes in Brazil believed guarana to be magical; a cure for bowel complaints and a way to regain strength.

The can in the pic is the one that they serve at Guanabara(fun fun place to go) and other Brazilian establishemnts in London town not sure if it is sold in TO?

Am going to a mexican restaurant tonight, will check out their native drinks too, perhaps margaritas - ole!