Last Saturday and Sunday, Queens Park in Toronto played host to the President’s Choice 1000 Tastes of Toronto, part of the Luminato Festival.
According to the website, “Toronto is justly renowned for the cultural diversity of its cuisine” and 1000 Tastes would offer “a unique opportunity to sample some of the very best gourmet delicacies prepared by the city’s finest chefs.” Entrance was free and each item/ plate was priced at $5. Not a cheap sampling event but, it turns out, a cheap meal since all of the servings were extremely generous. I was fortunate enough to meet up with a bunch of my foodie friends to peruse the selections and share the humungous-sized samples – on my own, I would have had room for one single tasting. Note to the organisers – next year, why not consider having $3 tickets for real tasting-sized portions?
I mean, really – that’s a tasting plate??
In any case it was a bounty of deliciousness and we had to scope out the entire row of vendors to figure out a) what we wanted to eat and b) how many tickets we needed. We each bought four but could all have probably done with three. I ended up buying some of this awesome shortbread from The Sweet Escape for the admin staff at my school who are still working, even though classes are done.
The Sweet Escape
55 Mill Street #102
Toronto, Ontario
(416) 214-2253
My first bite of the day had to come from The Local Kitchen, a place I know and love already:
This was delicious though I ate most of the filling, leaving most of the (fabulous but oh so big) bun. It could also have done with a little more of those pickled onions.
The Local Kitchen and Wine Bar
1710 Queen Street West
Toronto, ON
(416) 534-6700
Next up, a few of us shared this combo plate:
This was really tasty but OMG – a meal!! Also that hot sauce – beware! It was deadly. The flier these guys were handing out promised food like this for very reasonable prices and if I lived in the neighbourhood (it’s on the other side of the city), I would probably be a frequent diner there.
New Bilan Restaurant
83 Dundas Street East
Toronto, Ontario M5A 1Z4
(416) 943-0330
This steak and cheese on flatbread from Toritos Tapas Bar was sampled by a large number of people in our group, such was the portion size.
This was absolutely melt-in-your-mouth succulent.
Also on offer from Torito’s, a vegetarian plate that I didn’t try but that looked wonderful:
Toritos Tapas Bar
276 Augusta Avenue
Toronto, ON M5T 2L9
(647) 436-5874
Of course some of us couldn’t go past this stand without ordering something:
Again, the plate was a full meal and a few people helped out with that.
Their whole-roasted pig attracted a lot of attention!
(416) 364 1332
(416) 232 2426
We couldn’t go past Chippy’s for some fish and chips:
This was really good – even though it was a hot day. The chips were crispy and fluffy inside and the fish was pretty tender. Not bad for being cooked in a tiny little booth!
As soon as I saw the sign for Susur’s Cheeseburger Spring Roll, I knew I had to try that:
This was just ok. I am glad I tried it but it was basically just ground beef and cheese in a spring roll wrapper with the ubiquitous spicy mayo. Glad I tried it though. Now I can say I have!
To end the eating part of the event, I couldn’t go past a tiramisu from La Bruschetta:
I really liked this – sweet and creamy and not too heavy. Too large for a “sample” size though.
1317 Saint Clair Avenue West
Toronto, ON M6E 1C2
(416) 656-8622
Of course there was so much that we didn’t try as well – here is a sample of those:
Paella from On the Move Catering
5200 Dixie Road
Mississauga, ON L4W 1E4
(905) 615-9957
Clam and mussel stew from Cava
1560 Yonge Street
Toronto, ON
(416) 979-9918
Pulled pork sandwich from Santaguida Fine Foods.
Bathurst Street
Toronto, ON M5R 3G5
(416) 535-1393
Bird’s Nest by Vegetarian Haven
17 Baldwin Street
Toronto, ON M5T1L1
(416) 544-9800
Champignones con Quest Fresco y Tortillas by Sabrosito
Carlos Fuenmayor
carlos@sabrosito.ca
416 624 9157
Ingredients for Susur’s Singapore Coleslaw.
Poutine from Poutini’s House of Poutine.
1112 Queen Street West
Toronto, ON M6J 1H9
(647) 342-3732
Amazing arancini from Trattoria Nervosa.
75 Yorkville Avenue
Toronto, Ontario M5R 2C8
(416) 961-4642
Burgers from Amuse Bouche.
Caprese salad kebabs from Hot House.
35 Church Street
Toronto, ON M5E 1T3
(416) 366-7800
Tajine from The Sultan’s Tent
49 Front Street East
Toronto, ON M5E 1B3
(416) 961-0601
Italian BBQ dry ribs from Via Allegro.
1750 The Queesway West
Toronto, ON M9C 5H5
(416) 622-6677
One of the longest lines (it was a hot day) was for the new President’s Choice line of “Ice Cream Shop Flavours” ice creams. They were the event’s main sponsor and the samples were free!
Spring rolls from Young Thailand.
(various locations)
Chicken with preserved lemons and olives and vegetable and fruit tajine from 93 Harbord.
93 Harbord Street
Toronto, ON M5S1G4
(416) 922-5914
The crew from Crêpe Delicious.
This was a very fun event and I am glad I have now finally made it to one. I really liked the leafy green location of Queen’s Park because it made it very family-friendly and a great place to meet up with the large group of friends you are going to need to get through all the samples!
Next year, I will be back. With a big group of friends and a plan of action. And an empty stomach!
(people’s favourite Toronto food memories, a contest sponsored by President’s Choice. I hope I win!)
Some of these plates look enormous for a tasting size! I’ve got my eye on the steak and cheese on flatbread, and the poor piggy…
Enormous indeed. A shame in a way if you were there with only a couple people – couldn’t taste much at all!
Everything looks so delicious! I so wanted to go but was working both days. Next year, hopefully.
We should have a gigantic group of people next year to able to try more dishes!
Oh my gosh – you did it UP! Those cheeseburger spring rolls sure looked good – too bad they didn’t taste as good as they looked. I would have LOVED to gone with you!
Oh you should organise a Zomppa meetup here one time!
What a wonderful day of feasting on great food! We have a place in San Francisco called Roli Roti that makes a divine porchetta sandwich. Great post!
I have had those porchetta sandwiches from Rolli Roti when I was there last year for the Foodbuzz Festival – YUMMO!
Great post and pictures! Although I wasn’t there, I agree that they should have smaller sample plates…those portions look crazy huge! I’m sad that I missed out =( Need to check it out next year for sure.
You totally need to come with us next year – the more (stomachs) the merrier!
what a wide variety of food. i didn’t know Indian food is so popular there.
The food that is available in Toronto is very ethnically diverse – we’re lucky!
OMG what a feast for the eyes. You must have been rolling FULL out of there. Love those types of events.
Actually, not full – wishing I had room for a little more though!
Mmmm…those salad kebabs look lovely. Everything looks good!
Yes isn’t that a great way to serve caprese?
how fun is that! i’ll be trying to recreate some of those short bread cookies in the very near future!! everything looks amazing.
Yes the shortbreads were most delicious!
Wow I wish I was there with you! Sounds like lots of fun and good eats 😉
Oh you would have loved it!
So little time so much good food! What a great event!
Hi Mardi – now that’s a fun place to be with a camera! I was disappointed to hear about the so-so cheeseburger spring rolls. That sounded so good! I think I want to try a fresh version of that, with rice paper, not fried…
Glad you had a good time! YAY for summer!
LL
Yes, I wondered if it might be nicer as a fresh roll too. No matter – I am glad I tried it out!
Those look delicious – the steak and cheese – yumm! And the tortillas. I’m suddenly quite hungry for dinner.
Always makes me wonder whether I should have opened my own restaurant…
Too bad I did not make it to come and taste this year, but business is business. I’ll have to put the next year’s event into my calendar, if they repeat it!
Bon appetit!
– Lorne
It’s on every year!
Wow, that is comprehensive coverage of that event! I wonder what you thought of the ice cream flavours? Oh I love and miss Young Thailand! Those tickets are a great deal. The Seafood Fest here you paid $2 for a tiny scallop!
Yes the value for money was good but I would have actually preferred to taste even more bites!!
Looks great! Now I can’t wait to show off the Taste of Melbourne 🙂
Oooh – can’t wait to read that!
It’s these amazing foodie fairs that I miss most about Toronto. Thanks for the write-up and all the food looks amazingly delicious.
Funny – it’s only since I have been blogging that I have found myself so much more aware of what’s going on around town…
Wow! What great looking food. My mouth was watering just looking at you photos. I must say,you were right about the size of the SAMPLE SIZE serves.
Yes well you know what it’s like here!!!
What an amazing sampling! Huge portions for a tasting, I totally don’t blame you for not eating the whole bun from your porchetta sandwich… there would have no more room left for the rest of the goodies.
Have to save room to fit in as many goodies as possible!
WOW, what a spread! Makes me want to move to Toronto…
Right, from California, you would move to Toronto…. Uh huh!
Wish I had known about this! I would have loved this for sure! 🙂 Next year I will definitely try to come 🙂
It’s on during Luminato every year – you should definitely try to get there next time!
wow, you’re right, those are enormous “tasting” sized portions! you live in the perfect city for a foodie – such great events and restaurants!
Which is why you are coming to visit, right?
YUMMO…….from start to finish!!
Each amazing blog post extends my next visit by an hour………Mardi and Mr Neil, reckon I’m stopping for at least a month time, forget Ikea and Canadian Tyre, it’s going to be food a go-go (and maybe a wee Corona visit)!! Cleo Cat will be ecstatic.
So… when ARE you heading up this way?
Amazing, amazing! One need to starve himself before coming to the show.!!
My, oh, my, that looks like a LOT of fun. (That’s exactly like the food fest I was going to take you to in NY, if the date had been right). And next time, if you get Phin and myself for company, you’d never have to complain about the portions being too big. And funny, I don’t think that’s a complaint I’ve ever made. Yum.
Yes I think we need to invite you guys (and MOOCH!) up for the event next year 🙂
Wow! That’s such a great variety of food. Now I want to take a tasting trip to Toronto!!
Ah you never know what might show up at your house next week!
What a fabulous event for a foodie. I wouldn’t know where to start.
It was quite overwhelming, yes!
Wow, great selection of restauranteurs and venues this year. I wasn’t too impressed with last year’s round-up. A little sorry that I missed it this year!
As always Mardi, great photos!
Thanks – we will have to make plans to go together next year!
Great post, looks like fun… And so much food:)
That food is amazing! I can’t believe it’s all in one place. What a wonderful day! I’ve had this page open two days because I can’t stop scrolling through the scrumptious photos. Obviously I’m into self torture. 😉
Thanks so much – can you imagine how hard it was to be there and have to choose!!
My tummy would have come in handy, booo I missed this. I wonder if anyone just had multiple free ice creams for lunch.
Not sure but next year I will camp out by the truck to see who’s coming back for multiple serves!