CityBites Toronto [eat drink repeat]

How did Toronto party this weekend? It’s written all over our sandwich boards. Happy Victoria Day!

Burger Bar (10 College St., 416-961-2227)

Wandas Pie in the Sky (287 Augusta Ave., 416-236-0018) 

Sadie’s Juice Bar (146 Baldwin Ave., 416-777-2343)

Milagro Restaurant (783 Queen St., 416-366-2855)

Dufflet (787 Queen St., 416-504-2870)

Delight Chocolate (805 Queen St., 416-760-9995)

The Done Right Inn (861 Queen St., 416-364-9102)

Pizzeria Libretto (221 Ossington Ave.„ 416-532-8000)

Fish Bar (217 Ossington Ave., 416-340-0227)

Loons Pub (416 Roncesvalles Ave., 416-535-8561) 

How are you staying cool this weekend? 

Stasis Preserves (476 Roncesvalles Ave., 416-553-1079) has one keen idea. 

St. Jacobs Farmers Market (878 Weber Street North, Woolwich, ON) is the place to satisfy your country cravings. About an hour and a half from Toronto, the journey will fly by as you press your face against the window to ogle at picturesque red barns and dream of fudge. Join me for a a country jaunt featuring some of Ontario’s finest gourmet treats. 

Not lying about the red barns and cows. 

The usual fudge-spects.

Beignets, butter tarts, and bags o’ candy floss.

Always down for some free samples. Especially when garlic butter is involved.

Flavours as bright as they appear. 

Fresh and fearsome pickles.

Can’t leave without asparagus and rhubarb! To be turned into jam and a goat cheese tart, respectively. 

Where to get the good purple stuff

You can practically hear these bright roots declaring pie season, right? If you keep your eyes to the ground, you can see these babies sprouting up in grassy patches throughout the city. But if you prefer to leave your urban foragging hat at home, head to one of these family farms close to the GTA for some fresh stalks. 

Andrew’s Scenic Acres (9365 10th Sideroad, Milton/Halton Hills, ON, 905-878-5807)

100% pick your own crops starting in may with rhubarb and asparagus. Helpful staff will lead your crew to the best picking spots. Pesticide free!

Brantwood Farms (251 Powerline Rd., Brantford, ON, 519-759-4383)

Pick your own stalks at 1$ per pound. That’s A LOT of pie. 

Brooks Farms (122 Ashworth Rd, Mount Albert, ON, 905-473-3920) 

Buy some fresh cut local rhubarb, and / or and snap up some rhubarb pies, preserves and other treats at their farmers market. 

Hutchinson Farm (6202 Walkers Line, Burling, ON, 905-335-2515)

Put this Niagra Escarpment gem on your hit list for the next few weeks - they’ll have lots of fresh cut rhubarb up for the taking. 

If you’re REALLY loathe to get your nails dirty, cut to the chase and wrap your mouth around some of these tasty treats:

Wanda’s Pie in the Sky (287 Augusta Ave, 416-236-7585) makes a dreamy Strawberry Rhubarb Pie. If you’re not a pie purist, top that slice with a scoop of their homemade ice cream! ($5.25)

Die hard rhubarb fans need to check out Canoe’s rhubarb tasting menu, (66 Wellington St., 416-364-0054) where rhubarb makes a guest star appearance in each creative course. 

Don’t skip dessert at Nota Bene (180 Queen St. W., 416-977-6400) - go for the “poached rhubarb and rhubarb sorbet”, poached rhubarb with rhubarb sorbet and puff pastry ($12.00)

For something a little stiffer, try The Grove’s (1214 Dundas St. W., 416-588-2299) rhubarb Fizz cocktail - Blue Mountain sparkling wine, rhubarb simple syrup and rhubarb bitters ($15.00). 

My Market Bakery (184 Baldwin Ave., 416-593-6772) makes a crumbly strawberry rhubarb slice ideal for Pedestrian Sunday strolling ($1.50). 

Photos by ksbuehler and sifu_renka via Flickr

Picnics, patios and ice cream trucks: top 5 spring food memories

Ready your picnic baskets, food fans - spring is here and it has a ton in store for your taste buds. Here are a few favourites we packed away in the backs of our minds over the winter. Now, they’re ripe and ready for action. 

THE TRIUMPHANT RETURN OF ALFRESCO

A happy crew toasts to the season in Trinity Bellwoods Park. 

It’s the best when potlucks move outside again. Hummus, cheese and crackers gain a new meaning when you can make them into an epic alfresco spread for a few meager bucks. Throw some tall cans and travel scrabble into the mix and you have a recipe for a sweet afternoon. High Park during blossom-time, Trinity Bellwoods, and the Island make ideal picnic spots. 

PEDESTRIAN SUNDAY SNACKS

 
An Empanada from El Gordo Fine Foods, where you can choose from over 50 empanadas. Grab it, hot sauce it, and go!

Pedestrian Sundays just wouldn’t be the institution they are without the BBQ dealing street vendors, the Patty king patties, empanadas, and churros. Clear your schedule and save your appetite for this years events, May 27, July 29, Sept. 30. 

SEASONAL BEERS

Gal-pals share some laughs and a pitcher at Cafe Diplomatico (594 College St., 416-534-4637) 

Lagers gain new life in the spring. Amsterdam’s slightly spicy Oranje Weiss ($3.95 / 500 mL bottle @ LCBO) and Spring Bock ($3.95 / 500 mL@LCBO) hit the shelves earlier this month. Spring also sees a revival in beer cocktails. The Victory Cafe (581 Markham St., 416-516-5787) makes a mean shandy along with a ton other beer cocktails. For the DIY enthusiast, mix half - three quarters lager with half ginger ale. Sub ginger beer for a swift injection of zero to hero spiciness.

ICE CREAM TRUCKS

Can you blame us? The ice cream truck is an icon of happiness. $2 for a swirly cone of modified milky goodness and you’re a kid again. Don’t forget about those cartwheels and slushies. Freezer fresh to death!

PATIO BRUNCHES

Smiling fellows enjoy brunch and banter at KOS.

Going for brunch in the spring is awesome because you can hit the patio in the morning. (Mimosas anyone?) If you want a dirt cheap, kick ass brunch, head straight to KOS (61 Bellevue Ave., 416-597-6912). They have a spacious, no frills patio tucked just off bustling Augusta St. Diner style brunch and lunch items are super veg friendly and super carnivore friendly. Pancake enthusiasts: you’re in for a treat. 

HONOURABLE MENTIONS:

Jazz Fest street food (June 22 - July 1st) . Music sounds even better whilst gnawing on a handheld corn cob drenched in butter and paprika.

Iced lattes. Homemade are best. 

Windowsill herbs. Salads with fresh basil are the best. 

Fresh mojitos. Check out Souz Dal (363 College St., 416-537-1883) for some seriously superior handmade mojitos. 

Ice cream sandwiches. Bakerbots Baking (205 Delaware Ave.) does ice cream sandwiches that let you pair your choice of Ed’s Real Scoop ice cream with 2 of Bakerbot’s homemade cookies. Warning: you might never go back to Chapman’s.

White wine sangria. Fill a massive bowl with chopped fruit, rind swirls and ice. Stick some straws in and glasses are optional. Dionysus would have wanted this.   

Photo by roboppy, matthew burpee, ericparker, ianmuttoo, ineedsugar via Flickr. 

They do it right in Austin. (Taken with Instagram at Hudson Sausage And Co.)

Page Springs Vineyard in Sedona, Arizona. (Taken with instagram)

Get food truck news delivered to your iPhone, fresh off the grill 

Just in time for summer, a street food directory can be at your fingertips all the time. The free iPhone app, Street Food Toronto, launched yesterday.

The app will help street eaters keep their greasy paws right where they ‘ought to be: on the pulse of the city’s street food scene. App owners will be the first to find out about events, food truck openings and closings, and which places are getting rave reviews.

Info is collected from vendors through their website, Twitter and Facebook accounts to include food offerings and hours. Users can also add their two cents directly through the app. It’s updated daily.

The developer, Vancouver based Tatlow Park Software, has made similar apps for Calgary, Vancouver and Boston - cities where treats like fried dough, crepes and tacos spill in abundance from trucks, trolleys and rickshaws.  

So the Toronto version is going to help you find … hot dogs?

Well, so far, vendors include Blue Donkey, Caplansky’s Deli Truck, Cupcake Diner, Dobro Jesti, El Gastronomo Vagabundo, Food Cabbie, Gorilla Cheese, Gourmet Bitches, Smoke’s Poutinerie, Toasted Tangerine, and Twirlees Ice Cream.

So we’re not exactly basking in a rainbow of different flavours in our streets, but there’s no reason you should be forced to close your eyes and imagine that heavily garnished Oktober sausage tastes like a homemade tostada. This app will lead you to what you really want. 

Check out our picks for more nifty ways your iPhone can help you find awesome food in Toronto. 

By Kait

Photo by 35mmmonkey via Flickr. 

Zoltan Szabo, Steven Souse and Angela Aiello judging sweet wines. #owa (Taken with instagram)

Michael Pataran judging sweet wines for Ont Wine Awards. #owa (Taken with instagram)