seasonal

Every year, foodies can count on two things:  Summerlicious and Winterlicious.  Starting off the year just before Valentine’s Day, Winterlicious 2008 promises to be even bigger, with better selections and popular chefs such as Claudio Aprile of Colborne Lane, Didier Leroy of  Didier, Guy Rubino of Rain, and David Lee of Splendido.  This year, 121 restaurants are participating in the event, and it is gaining ground as one of  the most successful and anticipated annual events in Toronto.

The event is sponsored by local restaurants in the Toronto area that all offer prix fixe menus at a set cost of $15-20 for lunch and $25-35 for dinner.  If there was ever a time try out all the most prestigious restaurants in Toronto, the Winterlicious (and Summerlicious) season is it!

From the City of Toronto website for their Wintercity Festival

Experience the enchantment of Nights of Fire, magically created by Cie Carabosse, France's acclaimed fire art troupe in Toronto for their North American premiere. Fuel the flames of your imagination as you wander among intricate sculptures of metal, clay and fire that will transform Nathan Phillips Square into a wonderland of warmth and light.

The gentle illumination of the entire square will unfold over three hours as clay pots are individually lit until 1500 burn in unison, radiating heat and reflective beauty across the urban landscape.Haunting musical performances will accompany the fire installation, delicately enhancing the magic and wonder of the flames.

So, you and “Deb” have been dating for a bit now, but she hasn’t really met your buddies. You suggest a backyard BBQ – she can invite a couple girlfriends, you can invite a couple of the guys – and perhaps potential love connections will ensue.

Or not, but you still have to eat delicious food.

Impress everyone with your culinary expertise by serving up something different than your basic dogs and ‘burgs. Ask them to bring side dishes, desserts, and snacks, and fire up the grill with these four deviations from the norm:
Pad Thai Chicken Burgers
1/3 lb. ground chicken

Where: Danforth and Broadview
When: August 10th 6 p.m. – 12 a.m., August 11th 12 p.m. – 12 a.m., August 12th 12 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Pictures: 8 pictures

With the many events that happen in and around Toronto, this weekend hosts one of the biggest. It is the Taste of the Danforth running from Friday Aug, 10-12. For many years now, my family and I have gone down to enjoy the tastes, sounds, entertainment and shopping that this area of Toronto features. One year I even went down and met my friend and her friend and we wandered around together while my son and boyfriend played the many carnival games.

I do. I really do. I get a rush of excitement, my cheeks flush, and my heart beats fast when I step towards my rows of glorious produce.

By 'garden', I mean one kind: the kind filled with vegetables. (Except for my lovely sunflowers (that's one on the left!)... Otherwise I tend to kill them all.)

So when 'Bobby' and I are hanging out at my place, do I mention the 'other love' of my life? Never. We need not cause unwanted jealously. But realistically, 'Bobby' doesn't have my heart like my artichokes and jalapenos do.

August is the time of year when your garden over produces. I mean, this morning I picked seven thousand peppers, eighty-two tomatoes, and zucchini as long as my tibia.