The crowds came out in force for this year’s 1,000 Tastes of Toronto (Image: Igor Yu)
Luminato’ s always-popular 1,000 Tastes of Toronto food festival returned to the Distillery over the weekend, heading back to its original location after stints along Queen’s Quay and John Street. Meant to be a celebration of the diversity of Toronto’s food scene, it featured 33 restaurants and shops whose offerings ranged from shrimp po’ boys to brick-oven pizza, all redeemable for $5 tickets. We stopped by on Sunday to check out the action.
Although the event was quite busy, lineups moved pretty quickly, preventing some of the headaches associated with some other Toronto food fests. President’s Choice, the corporate sponsor, served up everything from marinated lamb chops to ice cream sandwiches. They also set up a large wall of plates where people were encouraged to write down their favourite Toronto restaurants and meals. Jamie Kennedy put his sons Jackson and Micha to work cooking up his signature frites. The largest lineups were for Khao San Road, which was selling Thai sausages with papaya salad, and east end favourite Queen Margherita Pizza, which made its namesake basil and mozzarella thin-crust pie. Vertical provided a little culinary theatre, making malloreddus pasta (similar to gnocchi) on-site, plated with spicy sausage and asparagus.
Also on-site: the interactive art installation known as Toronto Carretilla Initiative, a makeshift kitchen composed of shopping carts and wooden boards held together by vice grips, which encouraged participants to get their hands dirty prepping and cooking some potato-based dishes. Along with the large communal tables, the TCI helped bring a nice community-centric vibe to the weekend’s big foodie gathering.
Check out our slideshow of the event »
142831 (Image: Igor Yu) One eater writes down her favourite Toronto meals and restaurants on the wall of plates 1,000 Tastes of Toronto https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/june121000Tastes24-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/june121000Tastes24.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/june121000Tastes24.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/1000-tastes-recap/slide/june121000tastes24/ june121000tastes24 0 0
One eater writes down her favourite Toronto meals and restaurants on the wall of plates
142830 (Image: Igor Yu) Shrimp po’boys from Southern Accent 1,000 Tastes of Toronto https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/june121000Tastes23-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/june121000Tastes23.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/june121000Tastes23.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/1000-tastes-recap/slide/june121000tastes23/ june121000tastes23 0 0
Shrimp po’boys from Southern Accent
142829 (Image: Igor Yu) Bacon sliders from Enville Catering served two ways: smoked in applewood, and with cayenne and brown sugar 1,000 Tastes of Toronto https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/june121000Tastes22-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/june121000Tastes22.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/june121000Tastes22.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/1000-tastes-recap/slide/june121000tastes22/ june121000tastes22 0 0
Bacon sliders from Enville Catering served two ways: smoked in applewood, and with cayenne and brown sugar
142827 (Image: Igor Yu) Malloreddus pasta tossed with spicy sausage and Ontario asparagus 1,000 Tastes of Toronto https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/june121000Tastes20-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/june121000Tastes20.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/june121000Tastes20.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/1000-tastes-recap/slide/june121000tastes20/ june121000tastes20 0 0
Malloreddus pasta tossed with spicy sausage and Ontario asparagus
142828 (Image: Igor Yu) Asparagus and sausage cooked separately before combining with pasta and tomato sauce 1,000 Tastes of Toronto https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/june121000Tastes21-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/june121000Tastes21.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/june121000Tastes21.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/1000-tastes-recap/slide/june121000tastes21/ june121000tastes21 0 0
Asparagus and sausage cooked separately before combining with pasta and tomato sauce
142826 (Image: Igor Yu) Franco Berti from Vertical rolling fresh malloreddus pasta by hand 1,000 Tastes of Toronto https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/june121000Tastes19-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/june121000Tastes19.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/june121000Tastes19.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/1000-tastes-recap/slide/june121000tastes19/ june121000tastes19 0 0
Franco Berti from Vertical rolling fresh malloreddus pasta by hand
142825 (Image: Igor Yu) Micha Kennedy tosses up his father’s famous frites 1,000 Tastes of Toronto https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/june121000Tastes18-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/june121000Tastes18.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/june121000Tastes18.jpg 300 450 [] https://torontolife.com/food/1000-tastes-recap/slide/june121000tastes18/ june121000tastes18 0 0
Micha Kennedy tosses up his father’s famous frites
142824 (Image: Igor Yu) Micha Kennedy tosses up his father’s famous frites 1,000 Tastes of Toronto https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/june121000Tastes17-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/june121000Tastes17.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/june121000Tastes17.jpg 300 450 [] https://torontolife.com/food/1000-tastes-recap/slide/june121000tastes17/ june121000tastes17 0 0
Micha Kennedy tosses up his father’s famous frites
142823 (Image: Igor Yu) Communal table set up on Mill Street 1,000 Tastes of Toronto https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/june121000Tastes16-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/june121000Tastes16.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/june121000Tastes16.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/1000-tastes-recap/slide/june121000tastes16/ june121000tastes16 0 0
Communal table set up on Mill Street
142822 (Image: Igor Yu) On-site brick oven cooking up Queen Margherita Pizza’s signature pie 1,000 Tastes of Toronto https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/june121000Tastes15-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/june121000Tastes15.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/june121000Tastes15.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/1000-tastes-recap/slide/june121000tastes15/ june121000tastes15 0 0
On-site brick oven cooking up Queen Margherita Pizza’s signature pie
142821 (Image: Igor Yu) Susur Lee’s cheeseburger springrolls 1,000 Tastes of Toronto https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/june121000Tastes14-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/june121000Tastes14.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/june121000Tastes14.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/1000-tastes-recap/slide/june121000tastes14/ june121000tastes14 0 0
Susur Lee’s cheeseburger springrolls
142820 (Image: Igor Yu) Mussels Provençale from Pure Spirits simmered in white wine, shallots, garlic and parsley 1,000 Tastes of Toronto https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/june121000Tastes13-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/june121000Tastes13.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/june121000Tastes13.jpg 300 450 [] https://torontolife.com/food/1000-tastes-recap/slide/june121000tastes13/ june121000tastes13 0 0
Mussels Provençale from Pure Spirits simmered in white wine, shallots, garlic and parsley
142819 (Image: Igor Yu) Mill Street was closed off to host the festivities 1,000 Tastes of Toronto https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/june121000Tastes12-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/june121000Tastes12.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/june121000Tastes12.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/1000-tastes-recap/slide/june121000tastes12/ june121000tastes12 0 0
Mill Street was closed off to host the festivities
142818 (Image: Igor Yu) PC Executive chef Tom Filippou grilling lamb chops 1,000 Tastes of Toronto https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/june121000Tastes11-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/june121000Tastes11.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/june121000Tastes11.jpg 300 450 [] https://torontolife.com/food/1000-tastes-recap/slide/june121000tastes11/ june121000tastes11 0 0
PC Executive chef Tom Filippou grilling lamb chops
142817 (Image: Igor Yu) Free sampling of new President’s Choice ice creams flavours 1,000 Tastes of Toronto https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/june121000Tastes10-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/june121000Tastes10.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/june121000Tastes10.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/1000-tastes-recap/slide/june121000tastes10/ june121000tastes10 0 0
Free sampling of new President’s Choice ice creams flavours
142815 (Image: Igor Yu) Participants cutting potatoes as part of Toronto Carretilla Initiative 1,000 Tastes of Toronto https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/june121000Tastes08-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/june121000Tastes08.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/june121000Tastes08.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/1000-tastes-recap/slide/june121000tastes08/ june121000tastes08 0 0
Participants cutting potatoes as part of Toronto Carretilla Initiative
142834 (Image: Igor Yu) Potato salad was on the menu at the Toronto Carretilla Initiative <a href="http://www.torontolife.com/daily/daily-dish/foodie-follies/2012/06/08/toronto-carretilla-initiative-preview/">(check out our preview of the project)</a> 1,000 Tastes of Toronto https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/june121000Tastes07-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/june121000Tastes07.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/june121000Tastes07.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/1000-tastes-recap/slide/june121000tastes07/ june121000tastes07 0 0
Potato salad was on the menu at the Toronto Carretilla Initiative (check out our preview of the project)
142811 (Image: Igor Yu) Pulled pork with rice and salad from La Fiesta 1,000 Tastes of Toronto https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/june121000Tastes04-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/june121000Tastes04.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/june121000Tastes04.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/1000-tastes-recap/slide/june121000tastes04/ june121000tastes04 0 0
Pulled pork with rice and salad from La Fiesta
142813 (Image: Igor Yu) Pulled pork being served up from La Fiesta 1,000 Tastes of Toronto https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/june121000Tastes06-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/june121000Tastes06.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/june121000Tastes06.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/1000-tastes-recap/slide/june121000tastes06/ june121000tastes06 0 0
Pulled pork being served up from La Fiesta
142812 (Image: Igor Yu) Chicken kebabs on the grill from La Fiesta 1,000 Tastes of Toronto https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/june121000Tastes05-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/june121000Tastes05.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/june121000Tastes05.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/1000-tastes-recap/slide/june121000tastes05/ june121000tastes05 0 0
Chicken kebabs on the grill from La Fiesta
142816 (Image: Igor Yu) The Khao San Road sausage and papaya salad 1,000 Tastes of Toronto https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/june121000Tastes09-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/june121000Tastes09.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/june121000Tastes09.jpg 300 450 [] https://torontolife.com/food/1000-tastes-recap/slide/june121000tastes09/ june121000tastes09 0 0
The Khao San Road sausage and papaya salad
142810 (Image: Igor Yu) Thai sausages from Khao San Road on the grill 1,000 Tastes of Toronto https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/june121000Tastes03-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/june121000Tastes03.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/june121000Tastes03.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/1000-tastes-recap/slide/june121000tastes03/ june121000tastes03 0 0
Thai sausages from Khao San Road on the grill
142809 (Image: Igor Yu) Fresh-shucked oysters from Rodney’s 1,000 Tastes of Toronto https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/june121000Tastes02-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/june121000Tastes02.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/june121000Tastes02.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/1000-tastes-recap/slide/june121000tastes02/ june121000tastes02 0 0
Fresh-shucked oysters from Rodney’s
142808 (Image: Igor Yu) Crossing the crowds to carry a tray of fresh sausage rolls to the Brick Street Bakery tent 1,000 Tastes of Toronto https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/june121000Tastes01-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/june121000Tastes01.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/june121000Tastes01.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/1000-tastes-recap/slide/june121000tastes01/ june121000tastes01 0 0
Crossing the crowds to carry a tray of fresh sausage rolls to the Brick Street Bakery tent
142807 (Image: Igor Yu) A very busy Gristmill Lane was home to Rodney’s, Khao San Road and La Fiesta 1,000 Tastes of Toronto https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/june121000Tastes_intro-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/june121000Tastes_intro.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/june121000Tastes_intro.jpg 656 387 [] https://torontolife.com/food/1000-tastes-recap/slide/june121000tastes_intro/ june121000tastes_intro 0 0
A very busy Gristmill Lane was home to Rodney’s, Khao San Road and La Fiesta
Great pics and article!!!
This was a great event, lots of selection and not too crowded. We are lucky to live nearby so we went by for lunch both days. One small correction in your slideshow: the Shrimp Po’ Boys are from the restaurant Southern Accent, not “Southern Comfort”.
Good if you willing to pay $5 ‘EACH’ per dish on those 1,000 dishes. My own opinion : Enjoy upcoming ‘Summerlicious’…which is way much affordable than these event.
La Fiesta’s pulled pork was delicious. But your photograph misrepresents the plate. There was salad, rice and beans to accompany the meat. But when I asked for a bit of each, i was told that I had only one choice. Your photograph shows a lovely plate with a bit of each……..unfair
La Fiesta catering has really terrible food. For the price they charge, it is poor quality meat. I have tasted it at another event and it was gross.
Unfortunately in this city anyone can set up a stand, pay a fee and sell garbage. Do they even have a liquor licence to sell beer??