Festivals and events galore this weekend!

There are a lot of festivals on the go this weekend in Toronto! You don't wanna miss out! Here are nine to choose from ...

Festivals are a time to celebrate!

1. Sunday Serenades: The Casablanca Orchestra will be performing this Sunday from 7:30-9:00pm at Mel Lastman Square. Just head up the Yonge line to North York Centre subway station.

2. 60 Years of Designing the Ballet & The Tutu Project: This exhibition at the Design 

A Summerlicious Patio Lunch

A Summerlicious Patio Lunch

#SpadinaKing

Two of my favorite joys, Asian food and sunlight, complimented one another on a Wednesday afternoon at Spice Route Asian Bistro and Bar. One of the 180 (or more) restaurants participating in Summerlicious 2012, Spice Route offered an appetizer, entrée and dessert to customers for just $15 per person. 

Spice Route's relaxing patio lounge on a sunny afternoon 

Growing up on spicy Asian fusion dishes, my taste buds are familiar to unusual mixtures of spices but as I licked Spice Route's spicy wasabi mayo off my finger, my taste buds began to tingle. After a sip of water to simmer down the spice, I gave it another go but this time, I coupled the wasabi mayo with my vegetable egg rolls. The tingling minimized to a mere kick that wasabi usually adds to Asian food, making my selected appetizer delicious! Lesson of the meal: Just because you can't see the wasabi, doesn't mean the flavor isn't there.

The route continued to remain a scrumptious one as I moved onto the soy-ginger glazed salmon plated with a colorful mix of red and green peppers. 

The restaurant's soy-ginger glazed salmon entrée laid out over a bed of bell-peppers and coleslaw.

But the best part of the meal was yet to come. Now I'm not a big fan of bananas to be honest, but I am a die-hard chocolate-lover. So, I had to order the only chocolate dessert on the menu. Well, it wasn't even chocolate really but tempura bananas just drizzled in chocolate and caramel sauce. Did I mention that I HATE bananas? But these freshly-fried, pipping bananas were like bananas that I have never tasted before. They melted right in my mouth! Did I mention they were covered in chocolate?

Mouth-watering tempura banana dessert with chocolate and caramel sauce

Enough said. Spice Route is definitely a must-try on Summerlicious' list of restaurants. The ambiance helps deliver an authentic Asian dining experience. Oh and don't forget to try the washrooms. You won't be disappointed!

Comfy inside seating area and bar space at Spice Route

Remember to check out our Hub-based list of Summerlicious restaurants and the inside scoop of five restaurants!

Summerlicious restaurants: Inside Scoop!

Eat! Eat! Eat!

The annual Summerlicious festival is back in Toronto this year from July 6 to 22, 2012. Prices are fixed, you get three courses along with some options, and there are over 180 restaurants to choose from.

I eat out a bit more than I should admit. The advantage, of course, is that I've had an opportunity to eat at  a fair number of the restaurants on TransitHub's Summerlicious list. That makes me somewhat qualified to provide an opinion.

So, I've chosen a few restaurants on the list to give you my inside scoop on them. I am a vegetarian, so I do bring a different perspective. Enjoy!

(All images courtesy City of Toronto Summerlicious restaurants page).


1. The Host Fine Indian Cuisine // Closest Hub: #AvenueBloor

Being of Indian origin, eating Indian food in a restaurant automatically heightens my standards. Overall, I was impressed by The Host. In fact, I've also eaten at their location up north. It's nice for the occasional meal, like Summerlicious, but too rich to eat there regularly, as is the case with most Indian restaurants.


2. King Street Social // Closest Hub: #JohnKing

King Street Social is part of the Hyatt Regency. Who would've thought, eating in a hotel? Only for tourists, right? I was pleasantly surprised. I was attending a conference at the hotel and just needed a place to eat. They had a delicious sandwich and soup combo. I even went back once with friends since it was so good. Just don't order a soft drink; they cost $4.00. (A friend got bill shock!)


3. Spice Route // Closest Hub: #SpadinaKing

Spice Route is one of those must-go places if you haven't been before. They've got some funky decor, including the washrooms. (Check 'em out and just be observant.) I liked hangin' out on the patio for a friend's birthday once. It gets quite lively on the weekend. Hmm, with regards to food, I just remember having a mix of different Asian tapas. It was quite delicious!


4. Vecchio Frak // Closest Hub: #OssingtonCollege

I've only been to Vecchio Frak once. It was for a friend's birthday. Very intimate and upscale. The bill was in the hundreds of dollars for a table of eight or so, so I'm sure a Summerlicious deal would be a good way to experience this place. I wouldn't say it was any different from other Italian restaurants I've been to in Little Italy but it was very stylish.


5. Jump // Closest Hub: #YongeKing

I wouldn't normally venture in to Jump. I was fortunate to have been taken there for a work occasion. As I browsed through the menu, I realized there was nothing vegetarian. (Maybe it's changed by now.) I didn't want cause a fuss and just asked for anything vegetarian they might have. They were so kind to make a special dish for me, with rice and veggies, and it was delicious! Another one to certainly take advantage of for Summerlicious!

#TransitHubbers: What Summerlicious restaurants will you be eating at? Or have eaten at? What's your favourite?