Stinky tofu, octopus balls and a midway greeted revellers at this year’s T&T Waterfront Night Market
(Image: Igor Yu)
What smells like rotting garbage and brings out block-long line-ups? Stinky tofu at an Asian food festival, of course. T&T Supermarket hosted the most recent one this past weekend at its Cherry Street location, one of three such events in the GTA now. These food festivals are a small glimpse into (and sometimes pale reflection of) the night life of pretty much every city of any size in Asia, with street vendors selling everything from cheap toys to grilled skewers of meat. We dropped by to see how the national Chinese grocer fared at its third annual Waterfront Night Market.
In theory, night markets like this are the perfect opportunity to sample the kind of specialty Asian dishes you’d never expect to find in restaurants—which is why stinky tofu is perhaps the signature item at these events. Chunks of deeply fermented tofu are deep fried and served with hoisin and chili sauce, making for a sweet, spicy and decidedly funky treat. The second most popular in recent years has been takoyaki, a kind of Japanese dumpling filled with bits of octopus that’s made by constantly “flipping” the batter in round moulds as they’re cooked. The little balls are then topped with japanese mayo, bbq sauce and, often as not, bonito flakes. Still, at last weekend’s market, grilled meat skewers—beef, chicken, lamb and squid—abounded as well. There were also plenty of dessert choices, ranging from the decidedly non-Asian churros filled with chocolate and caramel to fruit-flavoured shaved ice.
Food wasn’t the only spectacle at this event: there was a stage for live music, hoops for one-on-one basketball, and a midway, brought in to keep people entertained. Not surprisingly, though, the crowd was mostly interested in things they could stuff into their mouths, leaving the games and other non-food attractions a little empty. Likewise, the obligatory booths shilling cars, newspaper subscriptions and political party memberships did not get much attention. All in all, it was still a pretty fun event—as long as you don’t mind holding your nose now and then.
154103 Lamb skewers, fresh off the grill, at the T&T Waterfront Night Market. T&T Waterfront Night Market 2012 https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12TTnightmarket35-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12TTnightmarket35.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12TTnightmarket35.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/waterfront-night-market/slide/jul12ttnightmarket35/ jul12ttnightmarket35 0 0
Lamb skewers, fresh off the grill, at the T&T Waterfront Night Market.
154102 The ever-popular stinky tofu booth (Image: Igor Yu) T&T Waterfront Night Market 2012 T&T Waterfront Night Market 2012 https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12TTnightmarket34-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12TTnightmarket34.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12TTnightmarket34.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/waterfront-night-market/slide/jul12ttnightmarket34/ jul12ttnightmarket34 0 0
(Image: Igor Yu)
154101 A vendor announcing the specials at the T&T booth (Image: Igor Yu) T&T Waterfront Night Market 2012 T&T Waterfront Night Market 2012 https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12TTnightmarket30-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12TTnightmarket30.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12TTnightmarket30.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/waterfront-night-market/slide/jul12ttnightmarket30/ jul12ttnightmarket30 0 0
(Image: Igor Yu)
154100 (Image: Igor Yu) T&T Waterfront Night Market 2012 T&T Waterfront Night Market 2012 https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12TTnightmarket29-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12TTnightmarket29.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12TTnightmarket29.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/waterfront-night-market/slide/jul12ttnightmarket29/ jul12ttnightmarket29 0 0
(Image: Igor Yu)
154099 (Image: Igor Yu) T&T Waterfront Night Market 2012 T&T Waterfront Night Market 2012 https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12TTnightmarket28-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12TTnightmarket28.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12TTnightmarket28.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/waterfront-night-market/slide/jul12ttnightmarket28/ jul12ttnightmarket28 0 0
(Image: Igor Yu)
154098 Fish-shaped pastries filled with red bean paste (Image: Igor Yu) T&T Waterfront Night Market 2012 T&T Waterfront Night Market 2012 https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12TTnightmarket27-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12TTnightmarket27.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12TTnightmarket27.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/waterfront-night-market/slide/jul12ttnightmarket27/ jul12ttnightmarket27 0 0
(Image: Igor Yu)
154097 Lamb skewers (Image: Igor Yu) T&T Waterfront Night Market 2012 T&T Waterfront Night Market 2012 https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12TTnightmarket26-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12TTnightmarket26.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12TTnightmarket26.jpg 416 624 [] https://torontolife.com/food/waterfront-night-market/slide/jul12ttnightmarket26/ jul12ttnightmarket26 0 0
(Image: Igor Yu)
154096 Taiwanese-style oyster omelette (Image: Igor Yu) T&T Waterfront Night Market 2012 T&T Waterfront Night Market 2012 https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12TTnightmarket23-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12TTnightmarket23.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12TTnightmarket23.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/waterfront-night-market/slide/jul12ttnightmarket23/ jul12ttnightmarket23 0 0
(Image: Igor Yu)
154095 Meatballs and seafood waiting to be dunked into a “hot pot” (Image: Igor Yu) T&T Waterfront Night Market 2012 T&T Waterfront Night Market 2012 https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12TTnightmarket22-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12TTnightmarket22.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12TTnightmarket22.jpg 416 624 [] https://torontolife.com/food/waterfront-night-market/slide/jul12ttnightmarket22/ jul12ttnightmarket22 0 0
(Image: Igor Yu)
154094 Curry fish balls and fish shui mai (Image: Igor Yu) T&T Waterfront Night Market 2012 T&T Waterfront Night Market 2012 https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12TTnightmarket21-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12TTnightmarket21.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12TTnightmarket21.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/waterfront-night-market/slide/jul12ttnightmarket21/ jul12ttnightmarket21 0 0
(Image: Igor Yu)
154093 A vendor showing off a selection of fish balls and samosas (Image: Igor Yu) T&T Waterfront Night Market 2012 T&T Waterfront Night Market 2012 https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12TTnightmarket20-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12TTnightmarket20.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12TTnightmarket20.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/waterfront-night-market/slide/jul12ttnightmarket20/ jul12ttnightmarket20 0 0
(Image: Igor Yu)
154092 Fresh-fried churros cooling before being filled (Image: Igor Yu) T&T Waterfront Night Market 2012 T&T Waterfront Night Market 2012 https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12TTnightmarket19-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12TTnightmarket19.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12TTnightmarket19.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/waterfront-night-market/slide/jul12ttnightmarket19/ jul12ttnightmarket19 0 0
(Image: Igor Yu)
154091 Churros being fried (Image: Igor Yu) T&T Waterfront Night Market 2012 T&T Waterfront Night Market 2012 https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12TTnightmarket17-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12TTnightmarket17.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12TTnightmarket17.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/waterfront-night-market/slide/jul12ttnightmarket17/ jul12ttnightmarket17 0 0
(Image: Igor Yu)
154090 Stinky tofu being fried (Image: Igor Yu) T&T Waterfront Night Market 2012 T&T Waterfront Night Market 2012 https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12TTnightmarket16-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12TTnightmarket16.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12TTnightmarket16.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/waterfront-night-market/slide/jul12ttnightmarket16/ jul12ttnightmarket16 0 0
(Image: Igor Yu)
154080 A large crowd gathering outside T&T’s own booth (Image: Igor Yu) T&T Waterfront Night Market 2012 T&T Waterfront Night Market 2012 https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12TTnightmarket_intro-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12TTnightmarket_intro.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12TTnightmarket_intro.jpg 656 430 [] https://torontolife.com/food/waterfront-night-market/slide/jul12ttnightmarket_intro/ jul12ttnightmarket_intro 0 0
(Image: Igor Yu)
154089 (Image: Igor Yu) T&T Waterfront Night Market 2012 T&T Waterfront Night Market 2012 https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12TTnightmarket14-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12TTnightmarket14.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12TTnightmarket14.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/waterfront-night-market/slide/jul12ttnightmarket14/ jul12ttnightmarket14 0 0
(Image: Igor Yu)
154088 The basketball was courtesy of the CCYAA (Canadian Chinese Youth Athletic Association) (Image: Igor Yu) T&T Waterfront Night Market 2012 T&T Waterfront Night Market 2012 https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12TTnightmarket11-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12TTnightmarket11.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12TTnightmarket11.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/waterfront-night-market/slide/jul12ttnightmarket11/ jul12ttnightmarket11 0 0
(Image: Igor Yu)
154087 The carnies were not always successful at enticing eaters into the midway (Image: Igor Yu) T&T Waterfront Night Market 2012 T&T Waterfront Night Market 2012 https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12TTnightmarket10-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12TTnightmarket10.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12TTnightmarket10.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/waterfront-night-market/slide/jul12ttnightmarket10/ jul12ttnightmarket10 0 0
(Image: Igor Yu)
154086 (Image: Igor Yu) T&T Waterfront Night Market 2012 T&T Waterfront Night Market 2012 https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12TTnightmarket9-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12TTnightmarket9.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12TTnightmarket9.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/waterfront-night-market/slide/jul12ttnightmarket9/ jul12ttnightmarket9 0 0
(Image: Igor Yu)
154085 Soft serve ice cream helped to cool things down on a hot summer night (Image: Igor Yu) T&T Waterfront Night Market 2012 T&T Waterfront Night Market 2012 https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12TTnightmarket8-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12TTnightmarket8.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12TTnightmarket8.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/waterfront-night-market/slide/jul12ttnightmarket8/ jul12ttnightmarket8 0 0
(Image: Igor Yu)
154084 Grilled pork skewers from Kamayan getting sauced (Image: Igor Yu) T&T Waterfront Night Market 2012 T&T Waterfront Night Market 2012 https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12TTnightmarket7-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12TTnightmarket7.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12TTnightmarket7.jpg 416 624 [] https://torontolife.com/food/waterfront-night-market/slide/jul12ttnightmarket7/ jul12ttnightmarket7 0 0
(Image: Igor Yu)
154083 Lamb and squid skewers were popular orders (Image: Igor Yu) T&T Waterfront Night Market 2012 T&T Waterfront Night Market 2012 https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12TTnightmarket6-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12TTnightmarket6.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12TTnightmarket6.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/waterfront-night-market/slide/jul12ttnightmarket6/ jul12ttnightmarket6 0 0
(Image: Igor Yu)
154082 Local band Phusion kicks out the jams (Image: Igor Yu) T&T Waterfront Night Market 2012 T&T Waterfront Night Market 2012 https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12TTnightmarket4-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12TTnightmarket4.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12TTnightmarket4.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/waterfront-night-market/slide/jul12ttnightmarket4/ jul12ttnightmarket4 0 0
(Image: Igor Yu)
154081 Takoyaki balls being poked and prodded as they cook (Image: Igor Yu) T&T Waterfront Night Market 2012 T&T Waterfront Night Market 2012 https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12TTnightmarket2-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12TTnightmarket2.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/jul12TTnightmarket2.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/waterfront-night-market/slide/jul12ttnightmarket2/ jul12ttnightmarket2 0 0
(Image: Igor Yu)