Sweet Treats on the Street
Posted by Sheryl Kirby in event reviews, events, politics on July 13, 2007 at 2:12 pm
What are these people waiting for??
Curried Vegetables and Rice Hopper from Jamie Kennedy.
To say that the City’s Street Treats Fair was a resounding success would be a huge understatement. That line-up provoked a refrain of “Holy Shit!” from any number of people who entered Nathan Phillips Square from the north-east corner and were confronted with the throngs of people as they rounded the Peace Garden.
Crowds were lining up by noon and booths were selling out shortly thereafter. And sure, some of it was definitely the attraction of getting a meal from Jamie Kennedy or Rain for $5, but I think it’s safe to say that the people of Toronto really do want more than hot dogs and sausages. Another common refrain of the day was “Where did you get THAT??” as people walked past with melon soup or empanadas.
What was meant to be a day of protest became a day of celebration as the Province swooped in this past Saturday and announced the exact changes to the legislation that Councillor John Filion was pushing for. (Apparently he found out about it by reading it in the paper!)
People came out by the thousands anyway and by the official start time of the event, line-ups at some booths were 50 to 60 people long. Colborne Lane disappeared pretty quickly - their bowls of cereal got snapped up right away. Even the Florentine Tripe from Cava sold out by 12:20pm or so.
Because of the crowds, we didn’t get a chance to try everything, but managed to try the Flamishe (sort of like a mini quiche, but different pastry) from Didier, the spicy melon soup from Rain (served cold from a Moet & Chandon punchbowl with dry ice in the bottom to make it bubble), the hopper and curry from Jamie Kennedy and the chicken Tsukune and tofu from Izakaya.
The question now is will individuals step up and create new businesses around a pushcart-type restaurant? The carts themselves must be custom-made and are not cheap.
Today was proof, however, that Torontonians really do want more diverse street food, and the first step in the long road to reach that goal has been taken.
Tripe Stew from Cava.
Chef Rubino from Rain dishes up some 5-Spice Chinese Melon Soup with Curried Shellfish.
Tsukune from Izakaya.
Chef Didier Leroy of Didier with the Flamishe.
Colborne Lane’s cereal.
July 13th, 2007 at 2:45 pm
Great write up, and so fast! (mine will have to wait for a few more hours)
I loved it!
July 13th, 2007 at 3:21 pm
Heh, thanks. It would have been up even sooner than that, but WordPress was being teh ass.
And yeah, it was a pretty awesome event. But it also makes one pause and think about how better the food was today than at most places where restaurants are plunked down under a tent.
I suspect my visit to the World Cafe at Harbourfront tonight is going to be a resounding disappointment.
July 13th, 2007 at 3:57 pm
I know what you mean.
The first summer I checked out th World Cafe (during an african festival, ) i loved it….but ever since…I’ve hated it.