What to know
- Olivia Chow sampled five popular Tamil dishes and a mocktail at Toronto City Hall with local creator @acouplebitess, highlighting the city’s diverse food scene.
- Standout bites included mutton rolls, seeni sambal buns, and mutton kothu — with Chow praising the spice, flavour, and cultural significance of each dish.
- She wrapped with a refreshing nelli-based drink and a sweet mothagam dessert, calling the experience both delicious and a celebration of community.
Earlier this week, Mayor Olivia Chow tasted iconic Tamil dishes with a Toronto creator at City Hall.
On Instagram, the creator @acouplebitess joined Chow to sample five different Tamil signature dishes and a drink.
When they sat down in front of the dishes, the mayor jokingly referred to herself as, “A very hungry Mayor Olivia Chow.”
Here were her reactions:
Mutton Rolls
The first item on the menu was mutton rolls, a deep-fried snack with spicy minced mutton and potatoes.
The specific rolls they tried came from Heroes Catering, and Chow found them “perfect.”
Seeni Sambal Bun
Next was a Seeni Sambal Bun from New Spiceland, described by the creator as a bun filled with caramelized onions, a food Chow expressed she loves. The mayor said she enjoyed the “kick” the dish had.
Fish Bun
Afterward, they tried a fish bun from Nantha Caters, filled with flaky fish and potatoes. Chow appeared to enjoy this dish as well.
Nelli Crush
After trying several dishes, Chow sampled Nelli Crush from Lingan Cream House, a mocktail made from gooseberry (nelli) and known for its citrusy taste. Chow described it as “very refreshing, especially after a little bit of spicy things.”
Mutton Kothu
Then, the mayor tried Mutton Kothu from Martin Bakery, a spicy stir-fry dish that combines mutton with flaky flatbread (parotta/roti), eggs, vegetables and spices. “This meal represents coming together because you bring so many things, you put in like, there’s eggs in here, onions,” Chow reacted.
Mothagam
The last dish was Mothagam from Lingan Cream House, a dessert stuffed with sweet daal and jaggery. When tasting it, Chow exclaimed, “Oh, wow!”
