Relaxed spice

Caribbean flavours and a home cooked feel are comforting and spot on at Ma’s Place in NDG

by JOANNA FOX

It’s always great to see that places where you had a meal 10 years ago are still kicking around, still doing it right and looking exactly the same.

There’s something about little Caribbean dives that really transcends time. Why would you ever want to get rid of those island scenes painted in ocean and jungle hues adorning the walls?

And don’t even think about taking down that picture of Bob Marley. Ever.

Ma’s Place has been around for about 15 years and has become a little ray of sunshine for good Caribbean eats along Sherbrooke in NDG.

Run by a very relaxed bunch of young guys, everything just seems to slow down to a soothing tropical pace as soon as you walk in the door.

The place itself is tiny, with about eight tables, and although you can have your meal inside, it’s also nice to take your food to go (they also deliver within the area).

When my friends and I made the trek on a sunny Friday afternoon, we were excited to get our spice-on.

Ma’s Place boasts home cooking that appeals to all the senses, and apparently Ma’s recipes go back over 45 years.

All the meals are reasonably priced, offered in small, medium and large portions, and come with your choice of rice and peas or plain rice with salad.

We opted for the small curried beef ($8.75), the large jerk chicken ($12.75), the medium fried chicken ($10.25) and two rotis, the goat ($7) and the vegetable ($5.50).

Contrary to what I would have expected with this selection, the curried beef came out on top. Despite its not altogether appealing greenish-grey colour and the fact that it looked like it was dry, the meat was moist and tender and the curry paste had an amazing layering of spices that was nicely soaked up by the generous serving of soft, mushy rice and peas. This is definitely a dish I would have again.

The jerk chicken and the fried chicken were pretty neck and neck. I do have a penchant for heat so I would say the jerk won, but that’s because there’s something so irresistible about jerk chicken for me—it’s crispy, spicy, moist and so addictive, it really is one of my favourite comfort foods.

Blackened with a crispy skin and just enough spice to get you sweating a little bit, Ma’s Place did not disappoint. The meat literally slid off the bones, was nice and lean and really made my day.

The fried chicken was equally good, crunchy, not too greasy, and the perfect option if spice isn’t your thing.

Now I know that goat isn’t everyone’s best friend, but when it’s stewed or braised, it can be delicious. This roti was the real deal, bones and all, with lots of soft, meaty chunks of goat mixed in with potatoes in a light curry sauce.

The roti bread they used had us slightly divided. I liked the fact that it had a thin oily feel to it, whereas one of my friends found it to be a bit too heavy and filling.

The real letdown of our Ma’s meal, though, was the vegetable roti. Bland, boring and filled with a mixture of what appeared to be a stock standard mix of frozen peas, carrots and corn, (with the addition of potatoes) it brought me back to the days of cafeteria food and summer camp.

Sorry guys, I’m not a huge fan of vegetarians, but this just isn’t fair, even for them.

All in all, Ma’s place has great things going for them: a friendly bunch of guys running the place, hearty portions and food that is consistently good.

I’ve never actually seen Ma the handful of times I’ve popped in, and who knows if she even exists, but I don’t really care either way, I’ll still go back.