Are you a foodie? Do you love to tantalize your palate with some of the most piquant tastes known to humankind? Your search is over! Nanalyn Jerk, in the heart of Downsview, might just be your answer. Nestled in a small strip mall just north of Sheppard Avenue West, on Wilson Heights, it is one of the newest and most welcomed restaurants to the neighbourhood.I have patronized the restaurant more than 30 times since its inception into the neighbourhood. I once spoke with a pregnant Asian woman who purchased the same take-out dinner as I did -she was salivating that finally we had an authentic Caribbean restaurant in the neighbourhood.If you’ve been on the foodie scene, or are an avid restaurant-goer in the city, you are probably know that The Real Jerk is one of the best in the city. Albert’s, on St. Clair Ave. West also has its adherents.Whenever you enter the restaurant – which is also a sit-down establishment for those wishing to dine in – your ears will be greeted by some reggae. It adds a nice touch when you’re ordering your entrees, whether from the menu, or from the counter.Some of the dine-in options offered include jerk/ BBQ/fried/ curried/ and stewed chicken -all mouth-wateringly delicious. If you’re more of the adventurous type there is jerk pork, oxtail, curried goat, and escovitch fish (one I will have to put on my hit list as that has escaped my order preference). For a more traditional choice they serve, callaloo and saltfish. Ackee, curried chicken, curried goat roti are great tasting as well. If you’ve never tried a roti in all your life you are missing something that is manna from heaven.Before Nanalyn Jerk entered the Downsview scene three other restaurants occupied its current location. One was a falafel house, the second was an Italian resto, followed by a diner. All did not fair well. It appears Nanalyn is a winner since it has been around for almost two years now.It is LCBO licensed and lunch seems to be their busiest -when the 9 to 5-ers and students from William Lyon Mackenzie queue up to place their orders.I would recommend the fried plantains. You may also wish to indulge in their steamed snapper fish and cow foot. I usually purchase their curried or stew chicken with rice and peas augmented with cole slaw. It is always served with a smile.Nanalyn Jerk caters for events, as well, should you be so inclined. This restaurant is an oasis in Downsview. If you’re driving, there is parking out front.It’s about time Downsview got a taste of Jamaica!

What is a Repair Cafe? A Repair Cafe is an event where people with experience in repairing things, or ‘fixers’, help people repair their broken items, for free. They gain this experience either as a hobby or from their work (e.g. as a bike mechanic).Repair Cafe fixers work on anything that needs repairs, such as books whose bindings have fallen apart, socks with holes, non-working toasters, laptops that won’t start, cracked vases, and other formerly working items.Started in Amsterdam in 2009, the Repair Cafe movement quickly spread all over the Netherlands and to more than 20 countries. The Repair Cafe Toronto was founded by a small group of volunteer fixers and have helped thousands of people with their broken items. Their goal is not to fix things for people but to teach them how to fix things for themselves.In our existing culture, we are encouraged to throw away our broken things, even things which require only minor repairs. In fact, many things are designed to break down easily and are even designed to be difficult for regular people to repair. Apple, for example, has designed their brand of popular phones such that they can only be opened with specially made tools which no one who isn’t an Apple technician would have. Many people with a damaged Apple phone are often told that the repairs would cost almost as much as a new phone so why don’t they just get a newer model? Or perhaps a $10 skirt from H&M develops a small hole – easily repaired by someone with the knowledge and tools, but since it’s so cheap anyway the owner decides to throw it away and just buy a new one.Corporations have encouraged the growth of this throwaway culture because it leads to greater profits for them. Many people have either forgotten that they can repair things themselves or they have forgotten how. Many older people still have the knowledge to fix things, knowledge that younger generations have lost. The Repair Cafe movement is trying to change that. Fixers take peoples’ broken items and try to fix them. However, the point is not just to fix things for people but to teach them how to fix it themselves. Fixers will take people through the repairs that they are doing so that the owners can learn how to do it. Not every item can be fixed but many can still be diverted from the landfill.The Repair Cafe Toronto is in a different neighbourhood each month; on June 18th, it will be at the Driftwood Community Centre (4401 Jane St) from 12 to 4 pm. People are encouraged to come early as it can become busy. There will be free, donated refreshments available so attendees can wait, chat with their neighbours and fixers, and find out how fun it is to repair things.