There are lots of good options for cheap food in Kensington market, but before you settle for a grilled cheese sandwich or a big burrito, head down to Baldwin Street and pop into Patty King. These aren’t your defrosted corner-store beef patties — they’re real Caribbean treats and the numerous options will blow you away. There are lots of fresh breads and cakes that you won’t find at the grocery store, and just like with most Island cuisine, the prices are economical to say the least. The true magic, however, lies in the shop’s namesake, their delicious patties. My personal favourite is the goat patty, a meat that used to make me wince until I put my squeamishness aside and actually tried it. Running you about $1.50, this patty is the ultimate in flavour; the goat combined with the warm flaky pastry has a smoky taste that you won’t soon forget. Doubles are another delicacy: two fried cornmeal pastries with curried chickpeas and potatoes inside, almost like a sandwich — a couple of these will still keep you under our spending limit. I won’t say that patties and doubles necessarily constitute a full meal (unless you get several, which I highly recommend), but if you’re eating on the go or want a big snack, then patties and doubles will stay warm while you run for the streetcar, bike to campus, or wander the market’s eclectic streets.
