As one of the fastest growing cities in the country, Mississauga has quickly become a haven for its range of culture and cuisine. Like Toronto, Mississauga has become a place of neighbourhoods, with pockets of demographics scattered throughout the city. Take one turn and you’ll quickly notice that storefront signages are in a different language, the patrons may be from a different part of the world.
As the city continues to grow and become home to newcomers, these pockets are becoming more obvious, more saturated with cultural and culinary places that are quickly becoming institutions. From the Syrian butcher shop in Clarkson village to the Hungarian deli in Applewood Heights, these spots that have become third spaces for people looking to pair nostalgia with something delicious.
I find this a fascinating time if you live in or near Mississauga, we’re being introduced to world cuisine at a very fast pace. It’s regional, deeply rooted in tradition, and is oftentimes (not always) presented in an unfiltered, unbridled fashion. If you’re a curious eater like me, this is your playground.
In partnership with Visit Mississauga, I want to explore the idea of neighbourhoods and the cultural fabric of key corners in this fast growing city. The premise is simple, what if we zoom into one street, one building, and highlight the various layers of culture within that complex.
In this first episode, we take a look at one of the most unassuming cultural hotspots in Mississauga, the Cawthra Holdings complex. Not a great name but trust me when I say that there’s a lot going on in this industrial two-building network. When you exit off the QEW and head north on Cawthra Road, you’ll easily miss it. There’s very little signage and 95% of the businesses (there are well over a dozen) are conveniently tucked to the middle and back of the buildings. VERY little signage.
I was first introduced to this complex when a longtime fan of my work told me to visit the Vietnamese restaurant located at the front. “It’s very good Vietnamese food and it just happens to be entirely vegan. There’s nothing else like it anywhere else” the email read. This was several years ago, and I’m confidently telling you that Da Bi Chay is one of the best Vietnamese restaurants in the GTA. It just so happens to be vegan, that’s not why you should visit. You should go and eat there because it’s genuinely very good. After the third or fourth visit for lunch, I noticed a sign for a nut roastery, with a small sign saying “at the back”. On the way to the small shop, I noticed a dozen other food businesses. Over the years I’ve been lucky enough to get to know these businesses; from the Polish deli to the Palestinian creamery to the Balkan bakery.
Here are the businesses featured in this episode:
Odra Deli & Wholesale Meat Ltd, 2395 Cawthra Rd, Mississauga
Located at the back of the industrial complex, Odra deli is the oldest food business here. For decades its become a must-stop for the Polish community and beyond. A completely unassuming entrance takes you into a food emporium known for its overwhelming selection of cured meats (everything is made in house). There’s a lot of care that goes into the products that are made here and you can tell by taste. There’s also an assortment of imported chocolates and Polish foodstuffs, like high fat butters that you can’t really find anywhere else. If you happen to visit on a Wednesday, ask for the cabbage rolls. They’re usually placed on the deli counter near the back.
Dubai Gift Shop, 2395 Cawthra Rd, Mississauga
http://dubaigiftshop.ca/
Dubai Gift shop is one of the newer businesses here. It’s frequented by party planners, restaurant owners that come in to shop for elaborate and ornate plateware, tea sets, hookah sets and accessories. Its quiet during the week, during the weekend its filled with people bargaining and shopping.
East Meats West Halal, 2399 Cawthra Rd #31, Mississauga
Classically trained French chef Ameen Carriere worked at a number of high profile restaurants in Toronto. When he found Islam, he noticed that there was a lack of halal-friendly shops specializing in smoked meat. So he sought out to create something unique using his culinary background. This isn’t a restaurant, takeout sandwiches are available as well as packaged smoked meats, sausages. There’s an assortment of protein, Ameen and his son Abdullah make everything in house. Ask for the smoked meat or Ruben sandwiches, I would suggest you skip the lettuce.
Dai Bi Chay, 2399 Cawthra Rd, Mississauga
http://www.daibichay.com/
As I said above, this is one of the best, most consistently good Vietnamese restaurants in the GTA. A family run operation that went through quite a bit of hardship during the pandemic. They pivoted to takeout with a buffet style counter featuring an array of Northern and Southern Vietnamese dishes. I’m happy to say that the restaurant has bounced back over the past few months, with a steady army of locals that regularly support this institution. The noodle soups (pho) are excellent here, with a tremendous amount of depth and flavouring in the broth. The best way to enjoy the menu is to order (or share) one of the noodle soup dishes and then fill the table with as many sides as you can.
Nablus Creamery, 2395 Cawthra Rd unit 9, Mississauga
https://nabluscreamery.ca/
This is a very unique creamery in the city where you will find Anand and Fida, a couple from Palestine, making traditional dairy products like nabulsi cheese and ghee. While ghee is pretty easy to find in the GTA, I find the quality here far superior to any store bought product. Also, how often can you say that there’s a local ghee producer, making something high quality in very small batches. At the front of the shop is an ice cream counter, featuring an assortment of ice creams made with mastic resin to give it a starchy and super aromatic quality.
Roasted Nut Factory: SNMB, 2399 Cawthra Rd, Mississauga
https://roastednutfactory.ca/
At the very back of the plaza is a cubicle sized shop. It has been here for years and you’ll find some of the best roasted nuts in this place. It’s a family owned operation where there are dozens of types of nuts; from Iranian pistachios to Lebanese cashews, all roasted in house in large wheel drums fired over open flames. If you stop by, dont just stick to one nut, get an assorted box.
I hope you enjoyed this video, there’s more to come. The goal is to expand this series, as we take a look at important landmarks in all corners of Mississauga.
A very big thank you to Visit Mississauga for giving us autonomy and allowing us to produce a series that we are proud of.
Next Time You’re here was filmed by the brilliant Curry Leamen