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C'est What Festival of Local Wineries

I just got the following note about 's TONIGHT - Wed June 25th.    

WineI know that has a reputation for craft beer but our love of all things local extends to wine as well.

On Wednesday June 25 from 5 to 10 p.m. we will be featuring a fine selection of almost forty different vintages for you to sample. Representatives from Calamus, Dan Aykroyd, EastDell, Harbour Estates, Henry Of Pelham, Hillebrand, Reif, Silver Peak Wine Cellars, and Vineland. will be on hand to help you increase your VQA IQ.

Admission is free, samples are $1.50 each or eight for $10 (all taxes inc.)

Cheers, George

67 Front St. E. (at Church)
Toronto, ON

It's short notice, but if their recent Porters & Stouts Tasting was any example, this should be a excellent opportunity to sample a range of wines and learn a little at the same time.

Toronto Taste

You'll just have to come to and find out.

Join Toronto’s most inventive and altruistic as they create some of the most memorable dishes you’ll ever have the privilege of tasting at 's

 

Maple drizzled Ontario pulled pork with gooseberry and red onion relish in yorkshire puddingChef's are giving their passion and skill (and donating all their ingredients) so you can enjoy gourmet fare and equally impressive libations – all to support – Sunday, June 8th, 2008.

Here are some .

Tickets are $225 and even with the tax receipt for $125 this is not a CheapEat, however it's a great event for an even greater cause.

For tickets and more information Click Here

or help out by:

[For disclosure purposes: I am on the Steering Committee for . ]

A Taste For Life - April 16

A Taste For Life

On April 16th select Toronto restaurants are participating in by donating a portion of the cost of meals sold to a not-for-profit agency that provides 75% of the supportive housing to people living with HIV/AIDS in Toronto.

With 6 CheapEats Toronto restaurants participating, you can get a great meal without breaking the bank and still support these great organisations. But why not splurge a little, it's for a good cause.

     416-469-5183 - 307 Danforth Avenue
(check their profile on page 131 of )

     416-463-3086 - 143 Danforth Avenue
(pg 32 of )

Clafouti Patisserie     416-603-1935 - 915 Queen Street West
(pg 54 of )

Ginger 3?Ginger     416-413-1053 - 546 Church Street
(pg 74 of )

     416-532-2570
1554 Queen Street West
(pg 103 of )

416-598-4719
208 Queen Street West
(pg 121 of )

Reservations are strongly recommended!!

Check out the other participating restaurants below:

Continue reading "A Taste For Life - April 16" »

This Food That Wine Book Launch

It seems we've been talking about wine a lot lately on the CETOblog.com. I'm doing it again, sort of...

CheapEats Ottawa celeb , of FoodTV's & , just announced the launch of her first book - written with her FoodTV co-host Angie MacRae.This Food That Wine

I'm a big fan of Stacey's personally and professionally, and I'm eager to get my hands on a copy of her book. 

Stacey told me recently that "Angie and I will be holding 2 book signings & tastings to officially "launch" our book - one in Toronto, one in Ottawa"

The Toronto launch is on Wednesday at the Summerhill LCBO.  If you are interested in attending, here are the details:

TORONTO: Summerhill LCBO
Date: Wednesday, Dec. 5th
Times: 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Location: Summerhill LCBO - 10 Scrivener Square (Yonge St., south of Summerhill Ave.)
Details: come for a nibble and a sip, and get some holiday shopping done at the same time.  Books will be for sale onsite and we'll be featuring recipes from the book paired up with eco- friendly wines from

This Food That Wine is available now and you can order your copies online

International Chef's Day BBQ - Oct 20, 2007

On Saturday, chefs from all across Toronto will be in from 11am-3pm as part of the Escoffier Society of Toronto's  BBQ celebrating International Chefs Day.

Come and taste specialty dishes ($1-$3) with all the proceeds going to help deliver fresh food to those in need in Toronto.

October 20th, 2007,
11am-3pm

Admission is free and open to the public.

A little quote from the press release we received:

"This event will not only offer up samples from the Escoffier Society of Toronto's talented chefs but also help at the same time" says Toronto Mayor David Miller. "We have some of the finest restaurants and chefs in the world and I'm pleased that they are lending their talents to this cause."

East End Eats Out - Oct 12-28, 2007

Remember last year's ?  Well this year it has grown and become .  From October 12th to October 28th, 2007 select restaurants in Leslieville, the Beach, the Danforth, Cabbagetown and the Distillery present specially created prix fixe menus, wine pairings and taster plates.

Although nothing but the "taster plates" at and SOMA really fall into the CheapEats price range, it still may be worth the splurge since many of the prix fixe are more adventurous than those we've been seeing lately at & .  Besides, some of the prix fixe even include wine - like Ci Vediamo's which has their menus designed "for Red Wine Lovers" and "for White Wine Lovers" also available at $20 without the wine. 

Continue reading "East End Eats Out - Oct 12-28, 2007" »

Food Building Favourites

It's okay, you can admit it.  We all have our favourites. Those treats we crave all year and can only get at the CNE.  The media use them to remind us of the tastes and smells of the EX (the good ones anyway), and most of us leave with our bellies full and talking about how much bigger, better or cheaper they were before.  But we all know we'll be craving them again soon and spend another year fantasizing about our favourite treats.

Tiny Tom's Donuts are one of my "must have" treats. I watch them roll off the conveyor belt, get scooped up and shaken in cinnamon sugar, and my mouth waters as they are handed to me, still warm, in their brown paper bag... oh baby!

This year the folks at the CNE sent me a full list of the Food Building vendors.  So for those of you who haven't made it out to the Ex yet, here is the full list (plan accordingly)

MEALS & SNACKS

99c¢ Spaghetti
Ali's West Indian Roti Shop (CETO pg. 96)
American Original Seafood
Angel Garden Chinese
Anouosh Mr. Shawarma
Bourban Street Grill
Café' India Grill & Wrap
California Burgers
Campfire Grill
Charlie's Farms Shish Kebob House
Chicago Fries, Steak & Salad
Coaches Corner (Perogies)
Curly Q Fries & Finger Foods

Vovici Online Survey Software

Continue reading "Food Building Favourites" »

The Ex - Five After Five

Woo Hoo - the CNE has just announced they are offering their  again this year!

That means tomorrow, Wednesday, or Thursday after 5pm (and Aug 28, 29, 30) you can get into the Ex for just $5.  (Regular adult admission is $14)

A great deal if you just want to enjoy the midway lights, hit the food building and wander around people watching.

MonadeFor a little bit of CNE food trivia, did you know that each year more than:

  • 18,000 glasses of lemonade are consumedTiny Tom's
  • 50 tonnes of butter are used for butter sculptures
  • 20,000 lbs of are devoured (the ones in the photo are so... are another 20,000 of those eaten too?)

For more info: www.TheEx.com  or check out the When the food was "really" cheap! discussion on the CNE Facebook group - Action at The EX!

Masala! Mehndi! Masti! 2007 Festival Food Vendors

I always like to plan ahead, so I emailed the of this weekend's  at the CNE asking about what will be served at the festival.  They always have great food and it looks like this year will be no different!Samosa at Masala! Mehndi! Masti!

Here is what they sent back: 

No South Asian event is complete without a full range of mouth watering eats. An exciting fusion of food vendors representing cuisines from different parts of South Asia can be enjoyed at Masala! Mehndi! Masti! 2007.

Masala DosaTry our famous Indian street,  outdoor and beach foods such as, bhel puri, pani puri, chat from Bombay beaches,  pav bhaji from New Delhi, patra, dhokra, kachori from Gujarat and of course our mouth watering Indian samosas, pakoda and kebabs.

There will be variety of South Indian food such as idli, vadas and variety of dosas including spring, masala or sada dosas with accompanying chutneys and sambar.

For the veggie lovers, come out and try our vegan food from Gujarat, North and South India. And we cannot forget non-vegetarian food from Hyderabad and North India.

Chicken TikkaTo quench your thirst, taste Indian national drinks such as, Mango Lassi and Masala Chai.

For sweet lovers we will have kulfi, jalebi, gulam jamun and ladoo.

These are just a sneak peek of some of dishes at M!M!M! 2007 festival, but be assured there will be numerous others to surprise you.

The food vendors on site are: Butter Chicken en masse!Udipi (CETO 148), Komala's, Chandni Chowk (who made those excellent chili pakora last year), Makkah, White Gold Sweets, (CETO pg. 44), Ontario Corn roasters, and many more! Chandai Chowk Tandori Team

Masala! Mehndi! Masti!The Explosive South Asian Festival celebrates its 7th year!
Friday July 27 through Sunday July 29, 2007
Free admission events for all ages!
210 Princes’ Boulevard, Exhibition Place, Toronto, ON 

For a full listing of events at Masala! Mehndi! Masti! visit www.masalamehndimasti.com.

 

Note: all photos are from Masala! Mehndi! Masta! 2005.  If you take photos this year, please share them on the

King Street Crawl - July 26th

Tomorrow night, you can start practicing up for next month's  at the .  Brewers are offering complimentary summer beer-sampling at select restaurants and bars along King Street from Bathurst to Spadina.middle_Jul24_2007

Continue reading "King Street Crawl - July 26th" »

Street Meat or Street Treats?

Masala DosaWith the recent announcement of changes to Ontario's street food vendor regulations we may be seeing some great new options added to menus at hot dog carts and fry trucks around the city as of August 1st.

I'm headed down to today's Street Treats event in Nathan Philips Square from 12-2pm to check out what some of the restaurateurs are thinking street vendors might consider offering up.

It'll be interesting to see what changes this will make to what is actually available and whether street vendors will embrace this as much as the media, restaurateurs and honestly I want them too.

If they do, what would you like to see show up on their chalkboard menus?

Dosa on Bay Street? Empanada from a street vendor in Leslieville? Bangkok Street Noodles in Chinatown?

What are your favourite street meats and street treats?

Toronto Street Treats

torontostreateats2

On Friday July 13 from noon until 2pm, head on down to Nathan Philips Square to sample of what could be available on street vendor carts across Ontario once the new changes to   hit the street on August 1st.

Hosted by Councillor John Filion, come taste the offerings ($1-$6) of Pat Riley (), Didier Leroy (), Claudio Aprile (), Guy Rubino (), Chris McDonald (), Irene Morales (Jumbo Empanada - CETO pg. 86), Amanda Bent () and Carole Ferrari ().

Note: both Jumbo Empanada and Kali's Crepes are long-time favourites. Kali's summer-only Baldwin Street crepe shop closed up and is now part of Viva Tastings Foodie Destination.  

Here are some of the Street Treats you can try out on Friday:

Continue reading "Toronto Street Treats" »

July Food Festivals

Fetes et festival

Just as cottage season kicks in to full force, the city starts filling up with weekend food festivals.  Oh what a choice, do we sit on a dock sipping ice cold beers or wander the street... sipping ice cold beers and sampling the flavours of the world.  Phht... the dock can wait 'til August, I'm going to hit the streets! 

June 29-July 2 -

Woo Hoo - Ribfest! Beer tents, ribs, yum yum yum.  (Note: while it's called "Toronto Ribfest" it's actually in Etobicoke's Centennial Park, near Rathburn & the 427)

July 6-8 -
10 years and still going strong, the Corso Italia Toronto Fiesta is a wonderful opportunity for the whole family to experience the food and culture of Toronto's own Corso Italia. Bands will perform on street corners, patios and balconies playing everything from Classical to Salsa. Food and beverage retailers will offer a mouth-watering selection of tastes and flavours, with promotions and samples of their cuisine.

July 6-22 -
Now in it's 5th year, Summerlicious is still going strong. Prix fixe menus offered for lunch at either $15 or $20, and dinner at either $25 or $35 depending on the restaurant.  Restaurants start taking reservations on June 21st.

This year the Toronto City site provides ,  and a "" (which is really more a set of rules than anything.) Hey, do you have Summerlicious survival tips?  Perhaps we'll pull together our own survival guide.

July 6-8 -
Lawrence Avenue East will showcase the unique flavours found throughout the neighbourhood, enjoy show-stopping performers, participate in hands-on kids activities, ride the midway into the night, see amazing street performers and much more to be experienced. (yes, this is a canned profile. If you've been to this event, tell us more about it! Especially the food)

July 7-8 -
See and hear traditional and contemporary styles of music by dozens of different African performing groups along with top international touring acts.  The festival has grown every year, and in 2007 there will be 3 different stage areas. Come to Queen's Park and discover Africa in the heart of Toronto! (I missed this one last year, and didn't hear the end of it.  Yet, I'm still using a canned profile. If you've been to this event, tell us more about it! Especially the food)

July 8 -
This is the FIRST EVER Pedestrian Sundays in Mirvish Village!  No details on themes yet, but more as it comes.   will be on July 8, August 12 & September 9th.

July 8- Aug 9 - Caribana
Caribana is back for its 40th year celebrating the music, cuisine and arts of the Caribbean region watch for concerts, events, Caribana specials and deals all over the city. The Parade is on August 4.

July 11- Aug 22 -
Live music and a farmers' market fill up Nathan Phillip's Square every Wednesday. Yum yum.

July 12- Aug 23 -
Toronto restaurants will be featuring select menu items for five dollars or less. In addition to the delicious international cuisine, which includes pad thai, empanada, jerk chicken and jumbo shrimp, each week there will be a free noon hour concert. What a treat! Who's serving what.

July 13  -
From noon until 2pm, Nathan Philips Square becomes a sampling-ground of what could be the next great Toronto street foods (once the new changes to  Ontario's street food vendor regulations hit the street on August 1st.) Restaurants from around the city are offering tasty street food treats for $1-$6.

July 13-14 -
Showcasing of the very best of Latin life: pulsating music and passionate dancing, skilled craftsmen and fine artisans, fiery foods and world class wines. Take dancing lessons. Brave the jalapeno sauces. Settle in to the cigar lounge. Sing along with the strolling singers. Dress up for the TLN cameras.  (Mondo-man, help me out here... I know you go!)

July 14-15 - [Nathan Philip's Square]
Celebrate the King's 80th birthday and experience traditional Songkran festival at the Tastes of Thailand.  Food from 10 "Thai-selected" restaurants, cooking demonstrations, Thai fruits, dances, fashion show and kick-boxing demos.  Should be fascinating and tasty.

July 14-15 -
A unique and colourful event you don't want to miss. Free vegetarian feast, exhibits, dances, dramas (of the theatrical kind I'm hoping), yoga and meditation. Even a parade along Yonge and Bloor and travelling over to Centre Island.

July 15 -
Pedestrian Sundays are expanding to Baldwin Village and Mirvish Village!   will be on July 15, August 19 & September 16th.

July 20-22 -
As a part of a string of jazz festivals in and around Toronto, the annual Parti Gras grooves into the Historic Distillery District for three days.

July 20-22 -
Dim Sum Festival!  Colour me there!  Lots of wide yummy Chinese cuisine and music, art and more all wrapped up together in a celebration and showcase of Chinese culture. 

July 26 6pm-10pm -  
The King St. Crawl is a "summer beer-sampling event" (aka Pub Crawl) and is a satellite event to the Toronto Festival of Beer. You need a passport, which you can generally pick up down in the King St. West District. Get your passport to summer! (And BEER!) Oh... and they offer food too.

July 27-29 -
One of my favourite festivals of the summer Masala! Mehndi! Masti! is back at Exhibition Place... yes! Exhibition Place.  Did you miss that move last year? I did.  "Our feature mouth watering South Asian dishes from Mughlai chicken to South Indian dosas, Hakka Chinese noodles to West Indian doubles!"  Oh boy! That's the kind of detail I try and get for all these events!

July 29 -  

This month's Pedestrian Sunday theme in Kensington Market is Water! Streams of Consciousness. (Pedestrian Sundays are expanding to Mirvish Village and Baldwin Village in July)

July 29 -
Come enjoy the sights, sounds and tastes of Brazil at the fourth annual Brazilian Summer Festival this summer. A real Carnival in Toronto, with music, happiness and the unique touch of Brazilian friendship for all.
BrazilFest will feature the best of Brazil's music and dance, reflecting the best of Brazilian culture.  

We'd love to hear what you thought of these festivities, and please let us know if we missed anything in your neighbourhood or any of your favourites!!

 

Free Lunch - No Food Fight


-- Originally uploaded by sandyplot.

When we initially got the press release for Sunday's Free Lunch at Lucky Dragon, we were a little unsure of whether we should post about it.  As commented, it could have been a ploy to get people in for a giant food fight in the name of performance art, or flood an unsuspecting restaurant with hungry people expecting to be fed.  We checked it out and decided to let you decide for youself - lunch or art or both.

We're happy we did. It sounds like it was a  blast and people got feed.  I just got this update from the organiser's of Sunday's Free Lunch at Lucky Dragon - the conceptual comedy duo of Jon McCurley and Amy Lam also known as

It went really well! People were lining up at 1pm and all the food was eaten in 1/2 hour. Tons of dishes, arranged by colour and food group!

Free "No Can Pop" from Sandy Plotnikoff and Swintak and free (paper) laptops outside. Sandy has a few photos up now...  (on flickr)
We have a lot more too, but waiting for them. Will put them up later!

Thanks for writing about it.

Here's a cool little bit of coincidence, while we had no idea Sandy was involved in this when we posted the event, Sandy's brother Jeff is a regular contributor to (that's JP in your handy-dandy little guide.)

Sounds like it was crazy and fun. Did any of you drop by on Sunday?

Sunday's Free Lunch

posterI recently got this notification via email. 

FREE LUNCH
Everything on the menu
2pm Sunday June 10
Lucky Dragon Restaurant, 418 Spadina
ALL WELCOME

I've checked it out and it looks legit. In fact, it looks like it's partially sponsored by the .

Unfortunately I'm at a conference all day Sunday, so I'm going to miss it.  I hope someone will go and then leave me a note telling me how it went.


A bit more info on:
Lucky Dragon
418 Spadina Ave, S of College
pg. 96 in your handy-dandy , where JS says:

... The staff are friendly, service is quick, and the kitchen pumps out consistently great dishes. The eggplant in chile & garlic sauce with minced pork ($6.95) is outstanding, perfectly cooked wedges of eggplant in a spicy, nuanced sauce.  Shrimp with orange flavour ($9.95) is packed with seafood, snow peas and Chinese mushrooms in a thick, sweet sauce with heat. Spicy pork with garlic sauce ($7.95) will make your upper lip sweat, and your lower lip quiver with pleasure.

June Food Festivals

Fetes et festivalThe weather is heating up and so are the barbecues.  It's time to start planning out your summer weekends, and how better to do it than by checking out what food festivals are happening. 

May 31-June 10 -

Prix fixe ($20-$25) restaurant event at restaurants along St.Clair from Bathurst to Dufferin. (participating restaurants)

June 10 -

Over 50 of the top chefs in the city showcase their culinary creations in tandem with fantastic wine, beer and spirits all in support of Second Harvest. (Tickets $225 each or check out the )

June 10-

The first annual Strawberries and Asparagus Festival is a a "celebration of community, greenspace and the environment". There will be Music, Food, an GetSmart Fair, Solar Cook Off and Farmers Market.

June 12 -

The 12th annual celebration of Ontario's award-winning wines is held in the Distrillery District. It's not so cheap but $50 per ticket includes all wine tastings, appetizers and shuttle bus.

June 15-17 -

Closing off College Street between Bathurst & Shaw, Taste of Little Italy will be filled with music, buskers and restaurants offering tastings for $1-$5 until 2am on Friday & Saturday night and until 10pm Sunday.

June 24 -  

This month's Pedestrian Sunday theme in Kensington Market is Fire! Summer Solstice SUNday. (Pedestrian Sundays are expanding to Mirvish Village and Baldwin Village in July, more details to come)

June 29-July 2 -

Woo Hoo - Ribfest! Beer tents, ribs, yum yum yum.  (Note: it's actually in Etobicoke's Centennial Park, near Rathburn & the 427)

More details coming, but please let me know if we missed anything in your neighbourhood or any of your favourites!!

 

Other, not so food related events happening around town in June:

Continue reading "June Food Festivals" »

Spring Fever on St. Clair [May 31-June 10]

May 31-June 10 - Spring Fever on St.ClairThis the second year for Spring Fever on St. Clair, the week-long restaurant event offering Prix Fixe menus at restaurants across this vibrant but still mostly under-discovered neighbourhood along St. Clair from Bathurst to Dufferin.   

Prix Fixe menus include appetizer, entree and dessert and are priced at either $20 or $25.

Restaurants participating this year include:

Atlas One - 820 St Clair Ave W
Toronto, ON  M6C 1B6
416-656-4817

Café Neo - 782 St Clair Ave W
Toronto, ON  M6C 1B6
416-789-9022 

Da Gianni & Maria Trattoria - 794 St Clair Ave W
Toronto, ON  M6C 1B6
416-652-3982 

Dave's Gourmet Pizza  -730 St Clair Ave W
Toronto, ON  M6C 1B3
416-652-2020 

Dona Luz Pancho Villa - 807 St Clair Ave W
Toronto, ON  M6C 1B9
416-652-7430 

El Fogon - 543 St Clair Ave W
Toronto, ON  M6C 1A3
416-850-8041 

El Palenque Casa del Mariachi - 816 St Clair Ave W
Toronto, ON  M6C 1B6
416-653-5593 

Ferro Bar Cafe - 769 St Clair Ave W
Toronto, ON  M6C 1B4
416-654-9119

Filippo's - 744 St Clair Ave W
Toronto, ON  M6C 1B5
416-658-0568 

Mezzetta - 681 St Clair Ave W
Toronto, ON  M6C 1A7
416-658-5687 

Mi Tierra Restaurant - 828 St Clair Ave W
Toronto, ON  M6C 1C1
416-654-8886 

Nama Sushi - 750 St Clair Ave W
Toronto, ON  M6C 1B5
416-652-0711

Regal Heights Bistro - 1077 St Clair Ave W
Toronto, ON  M6E 1A6
416-651-2109

The Rushton  - 740 St Clair Ave W
Toronto, ON  M6C 1B3
416-658-7874 

Vanipha Lanna - 863 St Clair Ave W
Toronto, ON  M6C 1C4
416-654-8068 

Zemra Bar Lounge - 778 St Clair Ave W
Toronto, ON  M6C 1B6
416-651-3123

   

See also www.springfever.ca

May 27th - Free Burger Day

Okay, okay, it's not officially a CheapEat because it's a huge national chain, but you can't get cheaper than free.

At all participating in Ontario
FREE Original Hamburger
Sunday May 27, 2007
10am-3pm

More details

(Thanks for the heads up to .)

 

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