It's a summer of great treats, eats across Ontario

   One-Tank Trip for June 27/15

   (c) By Jim Fox

   Combing summer with some delicious eating becomes simply “Summerlicious.”

   That’s Toronto’s big dining bash being extended by an additional week this year and featuring its first culinary event series.

Taste of Toronto. (Ryan Emberley)

   There’s other good eating at Taste of Toronto with a lineup of top chefs and restaurants and, if you hurry, you can catch a food, craft beer and wine festival in Port Colborne.

   Yummy, delicious

   Summerlicious, the prix-fixe dining promotion, involves 210 restaurants with special prices and menus from July 3 to 26.

   “In celebration of Toronto hosting the Pan Am and Parapan Am Games, Summerlicious will include a culinary event series featuring five mouth-watering events inspired by the culture and flavours of the 41 nations participating,” said publicist Anastasia Saradoc.

   Mayor John Tory said Summerlicious “shines a spotlight on Toronto’s diverse and impressive restaurant industry.”

   Some 5.2-million meals have been served since 2003 during Summerlicious and its cold-weather partner, Winterlicious.

   Participating restaurants offer three-course prix-fixe lunch menus for $18, $23 and $28, while dinner is $25, $35 or $45.

   This year’s culinary event series features five “one-of-a-kind dining experiences” hosted by some of Toronto’s top chefs.

   There will be a Culinary Celebration of Canada (at Casa Loma) on July 4, 5, 11 and 12.

   The International Buffet Brunch (Windsor Arms Hotel) is July 5, 12, 19 and 26 while a Dinner in Peru (Malaparte) is July 8.

Enjoy a sampling of craft beers during Summerlicious. (Photo by Jim Fox)

   There’s also 41 (Palais Royale) July 9 and Tapas in Parkdale (The Tempered Room), July 17.

   Details are available at toronto.ca/summerlicious where restaurants can be sorted by price, neighbourhood, cuisine and menus along with an interactive map.

   Reservations, which are advised, are to be made directly with the restaurants.

   Tasty treats

   Taste of Toronto is back for its second year from July 2 to 5 at Fort York as the only city in North America hosting this internationally acclaimed food festival.

Cooking demonstrations at Taste of Toronto

   The line-up of more than 30 chefs includes Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto.

   “Toronto has so many international star-power chefs contributing to the buzzing culinary scene, we are thrilled to be able to showcase so many at the festival this year," said Meghan O’Hanlon, event director, Taste of Toronto.

   “We are particularly looking forward to getting a sneak peek of Morimoto’s new restaurant, as well as welcoming big names like Alvin Leung, Lynn Crawford, Massimo Capra, Rick Moonen, Jonathan Waxman, Michael Bonacini, Mark McEwan…the list goes on.”

   Festival-goers can meet the chefs, taste restaurant’s signature dishes, attend cooking classes and demonstrations on-site, and sample, sip and shop at the vendor marketplace, featuring mostly Ontario food producers, she added.

Care for some bubbly at Taste of Toronto. (Photo by Ryan Emberley)

    Iron Chef Morimoto is set to debut signature dishes with a fusion of Japanese and Western ingredients for his highly anticipated first Canadian restaurant to open late this year in the King West neighbourhood.

   Also previewing a new restaurant will be chef Rob Bragagnolo of Marben who will introduce Carver to open downtown in the fall and focus on locally sourced and naturally-raised, slow-roasted meats.

   “Toronto has so many international star-power chefs contributing to the buzzing culinary scene,” O’Hanlon said.

   They include Lynn Crawford demonstrating and holding a cooking class as an Egg Farmers of Canada ambassador and Massimo Capra presenting has Italian favourite Galbani cheese.

Sweet treats can be enjoyed at restaurants participating in Summerlicious. (Barbara Fox photo)

   The taste festival concept began 10 years ago in London, England and has rapidly grown into an international event taking place in 20 cities.

   Tickets start at $19 to attend one of six lunch or dinner sessions ($15 for ages six to 15; no charge to age five), along with “VIP and premium ticket packages” available. tasteoftoronto.com

   Sip and savour (Come back next year)

   Happening now: After a one-year hiatus, “flavours” has returned to Port Colborne this weekend (June 27, 28) from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

   Underway at HH Knoll Lakeview Park, the fest features the “best of Niagara’s culinary delights, with 15 unique food vendors, five craft breweries and five wineries,” said publicist Robyn Wilcox.

   The party includes free admission to entertainment shows headlined by local musicians.

   Brewers taking part are Brimstone Brewing Co., Wellington Brewery, Silversmith Brewing Co., and Beau’s All Natural Brewing Co.

   Wineries are Stratus Vineyards, Calamus Estate Winery, Sue-Ann Staff Estate Winery, Reif Estate Winery and Ironwood Hard Cider.

   Visitors can experience the city as a “culinary destination while enjoying the sights and sounds of Niagara’s South Coast,” said Mayor John Maloney. flavoursportcolborne.ca

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Jim Fox can be reached at onetanktrips@hotmail.com

For more One-Tank Trips: http://1tanktrips.blogspot.ca