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Hey! This is new!
This label was affixed to our take out from Kom Jug tonight. In both English and Chinese it warns people to reheat properly and keep this food hot or cold while transporting.
The label is endorsed by both the Toronto Public Health and the Ontario Chinese Restaurant & Food Services Association.
I wonder if this will be showing up on take out 
more often now.
Wondering what was inside?
You know the ones. You see them in movies all the time. It's late at night, the deadline is fast approaching but the problem is still not solved. Someone has run down and picked up Chinese food. People are pacing back and forth, chopsticks in one hand, box in the other, slurping noodles and solving the problems of the world. I want to do that!
So I've been on a quest. I've been looking for a place that serves take-out in these boxes for years. Every new city I go to I see if I can find a place that uses them for take out or delivery. I scoured the phone book in New York City calling every likely place... no boxes. I've checked Chinatowns all across Canada & the US. Even in Europe. I have never found a place that served food in these boxes.
I had decided they were simply the stuff of legend. Props used in movies but not in real life. Catering cliches.
That is until Sunday when I was cycling along Gerrard and saw a guy carrying one of these boxes with "Thai Express" clearly labeled on the side. I nearly ran into the side of a truck. I knew then and there, I'm getting me some Thai Express.
Tomorrow night, you can start practicing up for next month's Beer Festival at the King Street Crawl. Brewers are offering complimentary summer beer-sampling at select restaurants and bars along King Street from Bathurst to Spadina.
Yes it's true. Not only has Amato closed it's flagship location on Queen West, but The Friendly Thai is taking over. The Friendly Thai has already closed their Queen West location and are moving about a block further west. With a "Grand Buffet" no less.
Mangosteen is now in the original The Friendly Thai Queen West location. Has anyone checked Mangosteen out yet? What did you think?
p.s. yah, we know the Mangosteenonqueen.com link isn't working yet, but it might be up soon.
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 Ontario's street food vendor regulations hit the street on August 1st.
Hosted by Councillor John Filion, come taste the offerings ($1-$6) of Pat Riley (Perigee), Didier Leroy (Didier), Claudio Aprile (Colborne Lane), Guy Rubino (Rain), Chris McDonald (Cava), Irene Morales (Jumbo Empanada - CETO pg. 86), Amanda Bent (Kali’s Crepes) and Carole Ferrari (Local Cafe).
Note: both Jumbo Empanada and Kali's Crepes are long-time CheapEats 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:
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 - Toronto Ribfest
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 - Corso Italia Toronto Fiesta
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 - Summerlicious
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 restaurant listings, neighbourhood listings and a "survival guide" (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 - Taste of Lawrence
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 - Afrofest
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- 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 - Fresh Wednesdays
Live music and a farmers' market fill up Nathan Phillip's Square every Wednesday. Yum yum.
July 12- Aug 23 - Tasty Thursdays
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 - Toronto Street Treats
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 14-15 - Tastes of Thailand 2007 [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 - International Festival of India
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 - PS Baldwin
Pedestrian Sundays are expanding to Baldwin Village and Mirvish Village! PS Baldwin will be on July 15, August 19 & September 16th.
July 20-22 - PartiGras
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 Chinese Festival
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
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 - Masala! Mehndi! Masti!
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 food vendors 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 - PS Kensington
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 - Brazilfest
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!!
Then on Thursday April 26th you want to head on over to
Messini Authentic Gyros
445 Danforth, just W of Danforth
pg. 100 Cheap Eats Toronto
www.messini.ca
Messini is celebrating their 4th anniversary and new renovations by holding Gyros Mania from noon until 10pm on Thursday April 26th. Messini will be selling their Authentic Greek Gyros for for only $2. Yes, two dollars.
Cheapeater S describes Messini's Gyros as "fries inside a honking-huge gyros-stuffed pita", and she's not kidding.
With almost 600 Facebookers confirmed, and another 350 "maybe attending", you can be pretty sure there will be lineups all day.
Proceeds are being split between Covenant House, a non profit organization dedicated to helping Toronto's homeless youth currently "celebrating" it's own 25th anniversary, and the Hellenic Ball Hockey Team to help them attend the world championships in Germany this summer.
There will be entertainment held throughout the day including a live Greek band, belly dancers and a balloon pop raffle with hundreds of prizes and your chance to win $500.00.
Thanks for the tip to the Messini Authentic Gyros Facebook Group (yes, restaurant fan groups are starting up on facebook too)
Have a tip of something cool happening at one of your favourite Cheap Eats, let us know about it at recos [at] cheapeatstoronto [dot] com
It looks like the Sunset Grill is expanding with a new location on Yonge St. just south of Wellesley. I wonder how this will impact the region's long time breakfast favourite the Coach House.
Note: both the Coach House and the Sunset Grill are solid CheapEats (pg.54 and pg.138 respectively)
and CheapEats Ottawa on their virtual shelves! With their covers. Yay!
For those of you wondering about the cover design differences: it's because the CEOT (CheapEats Ottawa) depicted is the 2004/5 edition. CheapEats Ottawa 2007 (expected in bookstores spring 2007) will use the new Mondo Lulu cover design.
More Info:
That's equivalent to 200 CheapEats breakfasts, 100 CheapEats lunches, or 66 CheapEats Dinners with a bonus lunch.
Here's what they say about it on chapters.indigo.ca: "It's easy: when you're on a product page, simply look for the logo pictured here, then click on the link labeled 'Write a Review'. After you sign in on our Welcome page, you'll go straight to our Review Page, where you can rate the item and submit your review. It's that simple. See contest rules and regulations."
Hey, if you do decide to post a review of CheapEats on chapters.indigo.ca or anywhere else, feel free to post it or trackback here too. We'd love to know what you think!
Contest ends: June 30, 2006 11:59:59 p.m. (EST)
Tags: cheap eats toronto, cheap eats ottawa, indigo, chapters, contest, book review, review
Order your copy of cheapeats toronto 2006 $11.95 (about what you'll save on two meals out)
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