Toronto's Rotis Are As Spicy As They Are Delicious - Dining on a Dime

This week on Dining on a Dime, host Lucas Peterson cuts into a few of the massive rotis available at Toronto’s Gandhi’s Indian Cuisine. A hybrid of the cuisines of Indian subcontinent and West Indies, the fresh roti breads are stuffed with meat and vegetable fillings in varying degrees of spice. Watch the video above to learn more.
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[@halleborland]

Hahaha this is my best friend and I. We are NOT foodies, I think she just said that because she was very nervous to do this (she's shy) but everyone go try Gandhi!!! Best decision of your life I promise.

[@eater]

Thanks again for being on camera!

[@jacklaslo982]

West Indian =/= India

[@sreykmao69]

Really? Man you need to get out more. There are all types of ethnicity in the Caribbean beside Afro-Black. Geesh, sounds more like Cali than India?

[@UncommonSituations]

Halle Borland "all we do is cook and bake together"

[@halleborland]

pretty much why i said were not foodies!

[@Thepeople134]

Lucas is so down to earth and knowledgeable.

[@spp2000]

unlike Nick..lol

[@ItsSomeDeadGuy]

Nick is knowledgeable but snooty.

[@sarahkieny2083]

Lucas deliberating what to eat at the counter is me every time. Gotta make sure you place the best order possible. The pressure is on. Also, this series has me mentally planning my next trip. High chances it will be to one of your Dining on a Dime locales.

[@eater]

That's great! We're shooting 2 more cities before the year is over, stay tuned!

[@videos-mn2ul]

i get notified by a new Dining On A Dime video, I hit like. The feeling of being swaddled by Lucas' warmth and congeniality, that and the genuine appreciation of food makes me comfortable and happy.

[@lucaskwanpeterson2010]

Thanks :)

[@TheJohanBjorkman]

Lucas is the perfect host for this show!

[@lucaskwanpeterson2010]

thanks for tuning in Johan!

[@elaineesmalla4785]

Lucas Peterson

[@dchang8619]

Lucas, I love that you're doing so many Toronto spots. The food culture here is really overlooked on a global scale. We may not have any Michelin star spots that tend to get the bulk of the world's attention, but the variety, authenticity and depth of flavours you can find in the city are among the best in the world, and I'm so happy to see that you are featuring the city in several of your latest videos. I've watched all your dining on a dime videos, and will continue to do so. Keep up the great work!

[@lucaskwanpeterson2010]

great food in Toronto!

[@tdoterrly]

Lucas needs to explore Scarborough more... Torontos best ethnic cheap spots are out in the east end

[@ricosolomon]

I reside in Mississauga and I concur. Scarborough is a hot bed of authentic ethnic food. Mississauga is a fast growing 2nd place.

[@TheVanDamminator]

I love how it seemed like you had to downplay how hot it was just so you could finish your thoughts at the end. As soon as the camera stops rolling you're like, "Holy bejeezus I need some water."

[@eater]

No lie, when they said "spicy", they meant it.

[@JessBess]

is that lassi you're drinking?

[@eater]

Yes it was!

[@amankhisti1]

Hey Lucas! great video! I am from India and everything looked delicious, btw you are right about the rotis you got there, we have similar butter chicken and korma recipes here in India, but the rotis we eat are not what you got at Gandhi's; we eat smaller versions of these at home, and are made with ground wheat (atta) and not with all purpose flour; but ya when we eat out, we get tandoori rotis made out of a more refined all purpose flour,, all in all...great video! thanks for covering Indian Food!

[@eater]

That all sounds amazingly delicious!

[@pratishbhatnagar1175]

By seeing this ecstatic video nd also being an Indian I feel very proud to see Indians growing there seedlings in Canada .....love you Indians.....I think Canadians are enjoying Indian cuisines

[@SidTrip]

5:08 My head tells me it's 'Channa Roti' but my heart wants to believe it's 'Rihanna Roti'.

[@jamesren4665]

Man, Toronto, you seem like a cool city!

[@f2knight]

i live in toronto and its boring af

[@farihahoque5179]

@@f2knight sorry that you found it boring. You can always leave and go to Montreal or even nyc? Make sure the door doesn’t hit you on the way out :)

[@farihahoque5179]

We have many food places and are a melting pot for diversity.

[@katyaallnutt693]

I had Indian food, with a huge group of people, when I was in Toronto, and it was amazing. Next time I go back there I should check this place out.

[@siyingtan9325]

Singapore has a spiced meat Roti Prata aka Mutarbak and its kinda the same thing except this Roti in the vid is COLOSSAL! It's nice to see the "spin offs" and you lighting up like a xmas tree hah! thanks again for a great episode!

[@SSSandhu13]

That girl is tripping, Butter Chicken is quintessential Punjabi North Indian food

[@lilpinche918]

She said it was from India.

[@jarabotelho5275]

Lucas is the best, he's so funny but informative!

[@coughforme21]

Good video, Lucas. Amazing that something so simple and so good are not widely available everywhere. Roti in Thailand sure are different and, quantiy-wise, it would take about 5 of them to equal one of the ones you ate.

[@CallMeNOn]

Jut finished watching all of the episodes so far😭😭😭 need more Lucas! ❤️

[@SidMewara]

I assume this has been pointed out, but I will try to explain. While the Roti and Curry originate from India, they have been adapted and modified in the Indies. This place seems to be selling a hybrid of the roti curry from the West Indies. The girls in the video were talking about a WI curries while what Lucas ate was Indian curries in WI style. All a bit confusing so no fault of Lucas. Another point on the Roti this place seems to be using is not quite the WI roti which is closer to a Roti Canai or Murtabak. Anyhow, always a pleasure to watch these videos.

[@davidtroya-alvarez7461]

Ahhh I'm gonna go try this place with my girlfriend. Thanks for the recommendation! I hope you're enjoying Toronto. We have many amazing food places here. Cheers!

[@vinsonli9548]

I've walked by that place so many times. Might have to try it now.

[@johneli495]

kormas are mild and have a delicate flavor so getting it spicy I think would mask the true flavor of the korma

[@Ife360TVOnline]

You said roti and not "roadie"😂😂😭 excellent!

[@DheerajJagadev]

Roti literally translates to bread in multiple languages. It may have taken of a particular connotation in the Caribbean but many times as many people worldwide use the word to simply mean bread. Also, the Indians who moved from the subcontinent to the Caribbean weren't technically slaves. They were indentured servants meaning they had more legal standing and weren't property like slaves.

[@olivercarpenter7563]

"well we are foodies to start off with" End Interview

[@trinicassanova]

I swear if and when you come Trinidad you would love it here

[@jamesrearden1979]

Lol, my dad was a trained Indian cuisine chef…that description of the “Korma sauce” could not have been more wrong….

[@unfairtrout]

this guy is the best contributor on this channel

[@Spainkiller]

Yeah, in The Netherlands 'roti' is known as a Surinam dish containing protein, potatoes and kouseband (a Surinam vegetable that resembles green beans) which is then eaten by grabbing it with the flatbread (almost like with Ethiopian food). These Indian dishes are a nice take on that dish.

[@nelumbonucifera7537]

Yeah 'roti' is literally just the word for bread in Hindi. Even western breads (eg. sandwich bread) are called 'roti' in South Asia.

[@John77Doe]

Spainkiller Where is Surinam. I am drawing a blank. South America? West Indies? East Indies?

[@TheZenphobic]

Suriname is in South America, formerly called Dutch Guiana. It's beside Guyana.

[@roleanamarsidin8543]

suriname is in south america

[@onestarworld7271]

Another must try restaurant. Queen Street West has the best restaurants and diverse from all cultures around the world.

[@lordwymanmanderly2563]

I miss home...

[@sbalchan]

Trinidad has THE BEST ROTI!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@thejompi]

and doubles, and shark and bake, and pepper sauces.

[@VSM101]

Stephanie Balchan being a Trinidadian honestly its not South indian food destroys all other Indian food.

[@navisingh5298]

Got north India first and try roti there. Lol

[@purplesquare-1triangle966]

thejompi Trinidad Suriname Guyana unite

[@MrTonytocs]

navi singh India roti isnt better

[@veryfunnyvonny]

Waiting for a week for a 6-mins video of Lucas. Not fair! :'(((( Great episode as always from the best host!

[@SG-pc4sv]

This guy has a very likable personality. He's purfect for this job lol

[@007Decky]

I am not sure if I have fallen in love with the food or with Lucas but either way, I am in heaven!

[@lucaskwanpeterson2010]

thanks for watching :)

[@tdotmiss]

This place is the best! Woot to Toronto being on dining on a dime

[@DucatiKozak]

I think it's dining on a dime is because Lucas is using his might mighty US dollar. Gandhi's awesome butter chicken has gone from $7 to $12 in about 6 years - but yah, worth every penny!

[@AdventuristoSupremo]

There are way better rotis and way better butter chicken in the GTA

[@DucatiKozak]

AdventuristoSupremo I thought I'd been to them all. Please enlighten.

[@H0LLYW00]

Yeah please enlighten

[@selinab.robinson165]

Crazy how I see these places all the time and never walk in. I'll def check this one out now.

[@BenedictHarris]

Just to the west is a place called New York Subs & Burritos, which is just as legendary as Gandhi. The 'california roll' is perfect.

[@Trazynn]

Carribean roti uses chickpea flour for the wrap.

[@bao2722]

Another great video as always, more videos with Lucas please.

[@Rishi-zs4yp]

visit my country Trinidad and Tobago birth place of west indian roti and doubles

[@shallower6544]

I love doubles... Even small stores in Pondycherri(India) sell them...

[@PlatePrintsOnTable]

Me indian self watching them making roti: "WHY YOU USING ROLLER MACHINE? GET ON WITH THE ROLLING PIN AUNTY!!! HAIYYAAA tch tch"

[@stevewilson5402]

I only had the pleasure of eating this place once before it permanently closed. But Roti is roti and there are lots in this city.

[@eusoff3]

Huh thats interesting because Roti is bread in malay. We malaysians also have roti canai which is indian flatbread. Cool

[@victorha9923]

I definitely get Malaysian several times a year here in Brooklyn. "Roti" in these restaurants is usually a piece of roti with a chicken/potato curry dip as accompaniment. Malaysian food no doubt has strong influences from India, in addition to the more obvious Chinese influence.

[@superiorgundam]

It probably carried over from the Indian influence.

[@cryonicbonkers7880]

Syed Eusoff the Malaysian GP is this weekend

[@eusoff3]

i think its because we have a long history with indian cuture

[@supernova50]

Syed Eusoff the word roti was implemented into the Malay language . much like cawan which is Japanese

[@theyruinedyoutubeagain]

I say a big 'yes' to more humour on Eater. Love the videos and the team!

[@joruckus]

Lucas!!! Your show needs more time. These episodes are way too short! Keep it up bro!

[@johnlee5868]

Lucas, you should have then travelled down Queen Street a bit further to experience Bacchus Roti to contrast a more typical Caribbean Roti - however Bacchus kicks it up a notch with things like Squash, Spinach, and Cheese - not typical of your standard Roti place. Good episode!

[@ScorpiowWYATT]

if you want West Indian Roti there's a place in Scarborough, Drupaties near Scarborough Town centre...!!

[@user-up4vd5ov8x]

My grandmother makes the best roti and curry chicken. She brings spices from Grenada

[@tazmc4465]

You should've tried Eastern Twist in Toronto. Its amazing

[@BenedictHarris]

This place is legendary.

[@LifeUnfiltered-Raw]

Have had many food in my travels. But nothing compares to Trinidadian food.

[@juniormmmm]

Can't wait to try this when I head to Queen West! Head further west and there are some Nepali cuisine choices. How many more episodes do you have in Toronto? Looking forward to the next episode!

[@stephensharma4994]

dude , that style of wrapping roti originated i Trinidad

[@stefanjordan4770]

my guyanese family is laughing at the inaccuracy. Smh. try some of the carribean offerings.

[@joepennant]

Growing up in Jamaica and the West Indies, especially with a Indian heritage, Roti was comfort food. Unfortunately, outside of New York and South Florida, it is difficult to find.

[@georgeryerson5788]

i live two minutes away and I can vouche for the heat lol awesome

[@VivBeyer1111]

I like Lucas and I like Nick.....let´s give a Yay for diversity !!

[@MrBrianSchumacher]

Went there yesterday and had the butter chicken roti. Pretty good.

[@K1ddkanuck]

Haha! This is place is my favorite roti spot! So good to see it on youtube!

[@bodybalancer]

Saw him in the thumbnail looking red faced and teary eyed....so it must be spicy!!

[@pikachuthunderbolt3919]

Lol whats mix thing in it. Both korma and butter chicken is indian Roti is our staple and we make rolls of roti too. Yea wont make wrap like burritto though.😮

[@CarlinTran]

I need one of these in my mouth. I know what I'm getting for lunch today.

[@shadyzbabii420]

Rotis in Boston are AMAZING

[@shadyzbabii420]

*Caribbean/West Indian

[@paulinerodriguez8178]

I love how Lucas Peterson does his reviews. I wish he can do more! he knows what he's talking about. very educational.

[@annemarie6891]

Get your history right brah, Indians in the Caribbean were indentured servants, not slaves.

[@VSM101]

Daniel Francis it was fundamentally different they were undercontract and had a choice to come to the caribbean. At the end of it they got large allocations of Land really different to slavery.The only thing were the conditions were the same.

[@zacharypeavy7801]

Lmaooo

[@vishkiller23]

Yeah girl

[@akshayhazari6570]

Check your facts indentured labourers , was another term coined to still engage in slavery. It also meant people being pulled out and promised some money in the subcontinent to work on a nearby area , but then being loaded on ships to get them to Caribbean and no hope of return to their homeland, also the money promised being reduced to nothing. Where the contract signed was in English and the servant having no clue on what was written on it. Also no control over the employers meant they were free to do anything with these servants, white man came on horses and beat the hell out of helpless people, tied to the horse and dragged them for amusement or punishment at times. Indentured servitude was often brutal, with a high percentage of servants dying prior to the expiration of their indentures. Check Wikipedia on this. Which is technically same as Slavery with no control, and since it is not called slavery it is worse, as there is no worry of any wrong being committed.

[@asura2600]

@@akshayhazari6570 well said man.

[@originalmusic401]

keep it coming Lucas!!

[@shaha175]

The Indians that brought roti to the caribbean (West indies) weren't slaves but indentured laborers. Roti goes with almost anything

[@RockingKT]

Indentured labours were a way to get around the abolition of salvery. Many who took part did not realize that it would be a one way ticket.

[@KethTamilTubing]

Lol koolie maan

[@kayflip2233]

You know Lucas isn't from the 6 when his roti spot is an Indian roti spot and not Trini LMAO.

[@skyhighetrist]

tried this earlier. real tasty.

[@jeffward1106]

Lucas for Canadian Prime Minister 👍

[@lucaskwanpeterson2010]

lol I will leg wrestle JT for the title

[@Pieterseboy]

in south africa its called rotti, ru-tea and its rolled, not flapped around like that and eaten with the hands, you get the originals which all came from the india but not carribean and new age rotti's with chips, cape town style etc

[@Char12403]

Very different than the roti I get elsewhere in Canada. Here its a very thin, yellow roti

[@superiorgundam]

Are you talking about dhalpuri from Trini/Guyanese places? At this Gandhi place it looks like they're making the roti in the style(s) of how it's done in India.

[@Char12403]

Yeah that looks a lot more like it

[@CookingwithJulia]

These rotis look so good!! 😍

[@Kuchenrolle]

"Well, we're foodies - to start off with". Ugh. And that was just the first sentence.

[@trini-indiankitchen1540]

Dammnnnnnn I think we should try this whole video again lol. First of all, We were taken to Trinidad as Indentured Labourers not slaves lol Secondly, the only thing Caribbean about any of this video is the girl who mentioned that she's West Indian And as a Greater Toronto Area resident myself, there are at least 20 good, authentic roti shops from Trinidad or Guyana that you could've gotten a roti and curry wrap from. If you wanted Indian food, just go to any Indian restaurant (Little India in Downtown Toronto is a good choice) and ordered Rumali Roti (the variety of roti they served at this place) and your curry dish. I realize that dhalpuri or paratha and our typical West Indian curry also originated in India (The rotis from north-east India like Awadh and Bhojpur and curries mostly from the south like Madras) but butter chicken, korma etc is Mughal, North Indian food. So there's a difference there. Not saying this video should be taken down or that it sucks or anything, I actually liked the video for the parts I wasn't violently cringing at but at least maybe make some corrections in the description for people who don't know the difference between our food and Indian food so that they don't get mislead or confused. 🙂

[@Bushman1083]

so true created in India but perfected in Trinidad and Tobago.

[@TheZach941129]

I remember ordering extra hot here and spent the rest of the day in agony and later shat out a lump of fire.

[@jameschan3661]

Roti means bread in Indonesian and Malaysia

[@friendlyatheist387]

yeah true...India and Hindu culture had influence in that region at one time...that's how roti was introduced in Indonesia and Malaysia

[@Jofuish]

Please Fact Check, a Roti is a flatbread slightly thicker than a chapati yet thinner that the more doughy naan. The dish itself is therefore not a Roti but a Roti with the curry

[@JinJinnJinny]

In India yes, but like he said in this video, the roti he's talking about is the one from Trinidad/West Indies, which is a dish.

[@lucaskwanpeterson2010]

In some cultures, 'roti' has now come to mean the bread as well as the wrap itself. Thank you for watching!

[@zochbuppet448]

JinJinnJinny No we still call it separately. People who dont know better and are not Indo Caribbean and for whatever commercial / restaurant reasons will just call it roti

[@oletheasims-browne3295]

Jofu 21 ,I thought people called the flat bread that they us for a "Roti" Roti shin" am I right ???

[@mayena]

Alexandra Park, Downtown Toronto.

[@operamaven1662]

You might want to try Toronto's indigenous foods. What you have tried so far is food originating in other countries which you can get all over the World. Try the many nuances of poutine, beaver tails and anything from Kaplansky's deli ( or other Jewish delis) and/or food truck! I love all the ethnic origin food we have in Toronto but occasionally want a real Toronto treat! There is so much more than I have outlined but it's pretty good and Toronto food. I.e. During the pogroms in eastern Europe, Russian and Polish Jews came over in droves. Some went to NYC while others came to Montreal and Toronto. Smoked meat and brisket are world renowned and Montreal style bagels baked in wood ovens put all other bagels to shame. Just saying!

[@LisaQuan]

Always enjoy your reviews Lucas. Was it weird that I burst out laughing when you said you were starting to schvitz?

[@tazmc4465]

you should visit Eastern Twist which is bomb

[@justhan9630]

the description say roti bread funfact is, in indonesian language roti means bread, and a lot of people here descend from india

[@benis9965]

2:14 basically explaining what a home cook is...

[@sussudio1991]

Roti is also part of a Surinam dish!

[@calebroberts811]

Dude's got a Sewanee t-shirt. That's off the beaten path.

[@wellreadgal]

Lucas, I am so surprised to see your shirt! I am from Sewanee!

[@bijlmer21]

Lmao dat dance

[@अश्वत्थामा-न4त]

Did she just call my country 'East India' ? Gandhiji's soul is weeping right now

[@sandrasuteja840]

it's really fun seeing you taste food from many different countries ! next time, can you try indonesian food? :D

[@lucaskwanpeterson2010]

we're working on it!

[@JustinMohareb]

Well, now I'm hungry.

[@CA_2412]

so what are you? Chinese, Vietnamese, thai, philli?

[@THConnoisseur]

Why is it called dining on a dime?

[@eater]

Dining on a dime is a colloquialism for "eating for cheap"

[@mWAZLIB]

but this isnt cheap at all

[@THConnoisseur]

Thanks for the reply but i knew that, it just doesnt seem like the cost is even a factor

[@lucaskwanpeterson2010]

yes it is

[@bukhtyarzahid5329]

look up burgernator and try it. best burgers in toronto!

[@WanaBgamer]

I was waiting for you lucas

[@lucaskwanpeterson2010]

hello is it me you're looking for

[@victorha9923]

I didn't learn much from this episode that I didn't know already (a consequence of having been on this planet 3 decades+, I suppose), but I'm sure some people did. But Lucas is likeable as usual, and I got to stare at people walking a Toronto sidewalk in this early fall weather without having to travel for hours to get there... so I'm happy.

[@jackwongen6671]

FYI , wait till Winter hits. Then you wish you are in Florida or Cali. (American in Midwest). I bid you Peace.

[@victorha9923]

I happen to like the cold (as well as summer). Been ages since I visited Canada. Your comment gave me the idea that maybe winter would be a good time to go again. ;-)

[@MatrixDiscovery]

Dang that's a huge portion!

[@StarWarsNerdy02]

Lowkey felt offended when he called the indentured labourers that came from India to the West Indians “slaves” They weren’t slaves they got paid for their labour... there’s a big difference

[@daytonp]

Ghandi is the bomb. But I disagree with the girls comment that it's west Indian flavoured. It's very much an East Indian flavour.