Cheap Eats Toronto restaurant guide blog

Conference Food - The Ultimate CheapEat (sometimes)

I just spent 2 days at the CMA’s Digital Marketing Conference where they told me all the things I’m need to be doing better here and attempted to convince me that a $20K budget was “almost nothing”. But the really interesting thing was the food.

You know how good food gets you talking about other times you’ve had good food, and bad food, well, it gets you complaining. Last year’s DMC food was so good that it started a conversation around the need for a conference food-review blog. This year’s food got us complaining.

While I was delighted with the fruit trays and the coffee was dark, hot and strong, I could have done without another round of tarts and cookies during the afternoon break. Especially if it were swapped for enough sandwiches at lunch that there was something on the tray when I got there other than the bottom of a pumpernickel roll with a wilted piece of lettuce underneath it.

Given the location of the venue, we didn’t even have the option of sneaking out for a snack.

Since the organizing team was on top of every other issue that arose Day 1, the enthusiasm around the lunch boxes on Day 2 was palpable. It harkened back to last year when lunches were boxed, and you could tell people thought “hey they listened to us!” Sadly, that enthusiasm fizzled when I opened my box to find an apple, a cookie and what amounted to a vending machine roast beef sandwich on Wonderbread.

I don’t think I even took a photo. Imagine!

Lunch Money Day

Hi guys,

as you might know, I'm on Second Harvest's steering committee for Toronto Taste 2008. (more on that later)  

I just got a note from Second Harvest looking for volunteers for their upcoming Lunch Money Day, so I thought I'd take a moment and spread the word:

On Lunch Money Day, February 21, 2008,  Second Harvest asks Torontonians to brown-bag their lunch and donate the cost of a bought lunch to Second Harvest. Every $5 provides 10 healthy and nutritious meals to people in need, including children, men and women in different programs across the GTA, including at women's and homeless shelters, school meal programs, food banks and more.

Just a little sip

For those of you who thought you saw something but can't find it now, don't worry. We haven't been hacked. But you might as well pour yourself a nice glass of wine and relax, because you'll have to wait until next week to find out what we're up to. 

Giller Prize Founder Needs Our Short List

Jack Rabinovitch's remarks championing CanLit at the 2006 Giller Prize ceremony left me a little shocked.  In a show of support for CanLit and all the finalists, Mr.Rabinovitch, the Giller Prize Founder, said (and I paraphrase here...)

"... for the price of dinner for two in this town, you can buy all the books on the Giller Prize short list.  So eat at home and read the books!"

Jack, while your heart is in the right place, your stomach isn't.  You're obviously eating in the wrong spots.  So we're forwarding you a copy of CheapEats Toronto.  That way, you can have your dinner and CanLit too.

We congratulate the Giller Prize Nominees and suggest everyone hit their nearest indie book store and pick up the full list, which comes in at $106.75 (before taxes), so you'll definitely need CheapEats ($11.95).

Who's Going To Word On The Street

I've just been invited to join in The Word On The Street's Blogging Toronto discussion panel being moderated by Matt Blankett of Spacing Magazine.  The panel is being held at 12:30 in the Wordshop Marquee stage.  Don't know where that is? Me either, but it looks like it's in the North East quadrant of Queen's Park.

Eat Like a Pirate

Avast, me maties! Today be September 19th -  International Talk Like A Pirate Day.

I have been rackin' me brain t' come up with where t' drink me grog and fill me belly t'day without spendin' all me dubloons.

No barnical soup and salt pork today, here be my ideas on where t' Eat Like A Pirate:

   
• Yung Sing (pg. 154) and Akram's (pg.31) on Baldwin - so cheap tis like yer robbin' them! But you can leave yer cutlass at home.
   
• Fish Store & Sandwich (pg.68), British Style Fish & Chips (pg.45) or McNie's Fish & Chips (pg.99) - tis not chum, tis much much better.
   
• Athens Bakery (pg.36), Banh Mi Che Cali (pg.38) or Jumbo Empanada (pg.86)- great hook-food for when yer up t' crow's nest.
   
• Caribbean Dutchpot (pg. 51) or Albert's Real Jamacian (pg.31) - for a taste o' t' islands.

Jim Munroe, cheapeats & The Gladstone Hotel...

re: Books, Zines & Publishing - not Food.

On October 30th, Jim Munroe of No Media Kings has invited cheapeats to join him at Canzine which is taking over the Gladstone Hotel at 1214 Queen St. W. 

Jim is hosting room 214 to celebrate No Media Kings' 5th anniversary, and has invited cheapeats to join in on his casual DIY Books Meetup from 1:30pm-2:15pm, and his more formal Panel & Think Tank Discussion: Indie Book Distro from 4:30pm-5:15pm.

Jim will be launching his DVDzine Novel Amusements #5: The Games and Shames Issue with microscreenings at 2:15pm, 3:15pm, and 6:15pm.  Note: the 3:15 showing includes White Pumpkin by Sandy Plotnikoff  (hey, that's JP's bro.)

Jim is also hosting a panel entitled Are You TOO DIY? and the more casual Digital Video & Games Meetup and Indie Touring Meetup.   For more information and a detailed schedule of Jim's room 214 events check out No Media Kings - Aw, Get A Room!  For more info on  Canzine just click that.

It should be an interesting, fun and thought provoking day.  So, come on over on Sunday and check into room 214 at the Gladstone Hotel with us.

Jim is hosting room 214 to celebrate No Media Kings' 5th anniversary, and has invited cheapeats to join in on his casual DIY Books Meetup from 1:30pm-2:15pm, and his more formal Panel & Think Tank Discussion: Indie Book Distro from 4:30pm-5:15pm.

Jim will be launching his DVDzine Novel Amusements #5: The Games and Shames Issue with microscreenings at 2:15pm, 3:15pm, and 6:15pm.  Note: the 3:15 showing includes White Pumpkin by Sandy Plotnikoff  (hey, that's JP's bro.)

Jim is also hosting a panel entitled Are You TOO DIY? and the more casual Digital Video & Games Meetup and Indie Touring Meetup.   For more information and a detailed schedule of Jim's room 214 events check out No Media Kings - Aw, Get A Room!  For more info on  Canzine just click that.

It should be an interesting, fun and thought provoking day.  So, come on over on Sunday and check into room 214 at the Gladstone Hotel with us.

Do-you-know-who-I-am? Moment #2

There I was sitting on a patio, sipping my coffee and working away, when I had another "do you know who I am?" moment.

The first was a couple of months ago and involved a waitress seating me at the worst table in an empty restaurant, throwing a menu on the table and rushing away to stand at the bar and fiddle with her hair . I don't know how long it would have taken her to actually return since I only waited 15 minutes. Then I got up and left.

Moment #2 was a TMI moment in reverse.

Extreme Heat Alert - Toronto Public Health

I found these two Red Cross Volunteers in Allen Gardens handing out bottled water to anyone who needed it.  They were making sure that everyone in the park had water with them to stay hydrated and warning about the extreme heat alert today.  I didn't catch their names, but I did say "thank you."

So in case you hadn't heard Toronto Public Health has issued an Extreme Heat Alert for today Monday July 11th, 2005 and there is some expectation that it will last for the entire week.

Here is what the Red Cross recommends for Prevention of heat related illnesses:

• Avoid being outdoors in the hottest part of the day.
• Slow down activities that make you hot.  Work and exercise in brief periods.
• Take frequent breaks.
• Dress in light, loose clothing.  Wear a hat.
• Drink plenty of cool fluids, but avoid caffeine and alcohol.