The name came to me one quiet evening.
Chef and founder, Toronto Canteen.
My husband and I were out for dinner, and I said it out loud. Toronto Canteen. It felt right. It stayed. The next day, we built a website and started an Instagram page. From that moment, everything changed.
I still remember that day so vividly; packing my very first order, hands trembling, my stomach in knots. I slipped in a handwritten note, full of heart, hoping it would carry a piece of me along with the food. That first order came from someone whom I did not know at all, but is a close friend today. There is something about food; it has this quiet, powerful way of bringing people closer, of creating moments that feel most divine. And that is exactly why I do what I do.
Since then, I have cooked for hearts and homes. I have served beautiful people, cooked for forty guests at once, catered corporate gatherings, and been part of celebrations that meant more than I will ever fully understand. I have traveled with my Toronto Canteen bag wherever life has taken me. My husband is always by my side, making everything possible.
What makes it all mean something is that every single thing comes from scratch. I roast my own spices. I grind every masala by hand. I marinate every dish myself and cook each order with intention. Most Indian food in Toronto starts with a pre-mixed spice blend from a commercial bag. Mine never has. You taste the difference, even if you cannot name exactly what it is. That is not a detail I am willing to let go of.
"Every review means the world to me. Every message after an order reaches somewhere I cannot fully put into words."
Every review means the world to me. Every message after an order reaches somewhere I cannot fully put into words. I live this, breathe this, fall asleep thinking about it, and wake up ready to do it again. Some days I grow, and some days I stumble, but I trust the process completely. It all feels divinely guided.
Cooking is my greatest love. The source of my peace and my purpose. I am Tanvi, and this is Toronto Canteen. Based at King and Spadina in downtown Toronto.
Come find me in the kitchen, at a Supper Club dinner, or at your next event.