The hidden gem at Nelson & Bellamy Rd: Flavor First

BY HRISHIKESH DAS GUPTA

An ideal food lover’s goal is to hunt the most innovative menus and present it to the audience who think they’ve tasted it all. Toronto, the city of diverse cultures is the source of hidden take-out restaurants. Those restaurants are either located in the alleyways or a corner of a convenience store. They sometimes look like a buried treasure and upon exploring we discover their authentic foods. Financially affected is the new norm for restaurants; but, the owners are working hard to deliver us delicious food with a smile to warm up our day.

If you are looking for the best hidden gems in Scarborough, drop by at Flavor First halal restaurant, 28 Nelson St, Toronto. This West Indian and Chinese take-out restaurant is hidden inside the M&S West Indian Supermarket. I learned about them from social media. The restaurant owners Sean and Ian opened the place to offer us the best authentic and fusion meals we ever had!

Sean Cheddie and Ian Eunick, owners of Flavor First, have known one another from childhood. Though they don’t have a blood connection, the besties represent the purest form of brotherhood. They have been cooking together for many years for their friends and families. Everyone encouraged them to open a restaurant. Sean and Ian observed most of the Chinese and Caribbean take-out places in Scarborough are sticking with the traditional menu. They decided to do something different than their competitors.

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Sean and Ian were influenced by their Guyanese and Jamaican authentic meals and blended the cultural foods to deliver one of the best curries in town. They have also learned Chinese Guyanese food from Chow, a Chinese Chef who lived in Ghana for many years. Though the location was tough to reach out to a larger audience, the customers of the grocery store tasted their menu and became their regular customers. Flavor First was the next big thing before COVID according to the neighborhood and Scarborough foodies. Due to the pandemic, the restaurant was shut down completely for several months. Sean mentioned currently the sales are slow during the second wave. They are trying to promote the take out culture so everyone can stay home safely and enjoy the food with their families. They introduced the everyday $5 rice and jerk chicken meal so families can enjoy an affordable meal.

Their most iconic dishes are the pepper shrimp, oxtail, jerk chow mein and jerk poutine. Everyday their BBQ and Jerk chicken dishes are sold before they make it to the food warmer. The rice and peas are prepared in the traditional way with basmati rice. The Oxtail menu is a fusion of Guyanese and Jamaican flavor. Team Flavor First mentioned that they enjoy what they do and they are planning to bring more innovative flavors for the GTA foodies soon.

The place is clean, meals are excellent and the service is fantastic. Ian, Sean and the entire team of Flavor First are thankful to their regular customers. They are cordially inviting new customers to taste their fusion flavors at Nelson & Bellamy Rd. Please check out their Instagram page (@flavorfirst) to learn more about their Go Fund Me campaign to support Front-line and Essential Services Workers.