After an exceptionally rocky second year with the city’s A La Cart program, Bridgette Pinder wasn’t sure if she was up for a third.
But fan’s of her Caribfusion roti stand will be happy to know she’s back in business on the southeast corner of King and Bay weekdays from 11 am to 3 pm, rain or shine. Where else are you going to find gently jerked boneless chicken breasts in a whole wheat pita dressed with ripe mango salad and both spicy barbecue and island-style hot sauce for five bucks, tax-inclusive? It’s easily the tastiest meal deal in the core.
“I try to keep everything very reasonable,” says the enterprising Pinder. “These are hard times, after all.”
The self-described “one-man band” has added pumpkin and shrimp roti ($7) to her daily lineup as well as jerk chicken legs ($5 with salad) and Friday rice ‘n’ pea specials with curried goat or oxtail ($7). And don’t forget her grilled pineapple ($2).
“Everyone comments on it,” laughs Pinder. “But nobody orders it. I wish they would.”
Although her cart is located on one of the more famous intersections in the country, she’s still not getting the foot traffic her food deserves. Seems the suits don’t like to leave their climatized subterranean PATH system, even in summer.
“It’s been great exposure but it’s not the ideal location,” Pinder reflects. “Everybody’s back in their offices by two o’clock. If I was at Nathan Phillip’s Square, I’d make a killing. Or Dundas Square, the University of Toronto or anywhere close to Harbourfront . And Saturdays are dead, supposedly the busiest day of the week for vendors.”
She’s also had problems with the pricy cart the City made her buy.
“It’s not a mobile cart, it’s not. It’s not designed to be dragged around on a trailer for long distances yet we’re not allowed to leave them on site. I had to chop the top off mine. I put up an umbrella now.”
Pinder was also forced to close for two weeks during the G20 nonsense last June. Has she received any financial remuneration from the Harper gang?
“You need a lawyer to fill out the application and I couldn’t afford it, so no,” sighs Pinder. “I call it a loss. Just another day, you know? If they had let me stay open, I would have done great business.”
