Elisa McFarlane of Humble Beginnings sees no contradiction in a menu dedicated to international cuisines with a special focus on locally sourced food. For Elisa, the international is local.
"Over 160 different cultures are represented in the city of Toronto," she notes. "When I see similar menus at restaurants all over town, I have to ask myself: why are we selling the same dishes over and over again? At Humble Beginnings we try to bring interesting things in, or add our interpretation of other cultures to our menu."
For Elisa and her son Darcy, the chef and manager at Humble Beginnings, a menu laden with multicultural options is a reflection of the diversity of Toronto. It also makes for much more interesting dining. The menu changes seasonally, inspired by Darcy's relentless curiosity about traditional foods from across the globe.
Influenced by his travels, chef Darcy's menu samples an ever-changing smattering of international favourites. The Nicaraguan beef brisket wrap is comprised of smoked brisket smothered in pico de gallo and chimichurri sauce. The "Naw’lins" shrimp po-boy sandwich, filled with marinated black tiger shrimp and a homemade creole remoulade, is given a Torontonian twist by its presentation on a Portuguese bun. Humble Beginnings keeps the health-minded and vegetarians among their clientele happy with Darcy's own delicious sweet potato chickpea quinoa burger.
