Eat & Drink
Winterlicious 2009
Winterlicious is back for its seventh year in our fair city, being held as part of the annual WinterCity festival.
150 local restaurants are participating in the two week Prix-Fixe culinary event, giving Toronto foodies the opportunity to dine their way across the city.
Among the usual suspects are all of the Oliver & Bonacini restaurants (Canoe, Jump, Auberge de Pommier, Biff's Bistro and the Oliver & Bonacini Cafe Grill), Chef Mark McEwan's North 44 and Bymark (but not his newest Yorkville resto One), Chef Marc Thuet's Atelier Thuet, and of course West Queen West mainstays like The Drake and Czehoski.
New additions to the Toronto food scene like The Citizen in Leslieville (from Rodney Bowers Chef/owner of the Rosebud), and Bite Me! (the reinvention of Marc Thuet's original restaurant on King West) are also participating, a perfect way to sample what these spots have to offer.
Unfortunately new additions also include chains like Alice Fazooli's Italian Grill and Lone Star Texas Grill; however eligibility criteria set by the city only allow one location to participate.
Also new this year is an updated pricing structure - lunch price points are now $15, $20, or $30 (from $15 or $20 last year) and dinner price points are now $25, $35, or $45 (from $25 or $35 last year). The prices charged are up to the individual restaurant.
The new pricing structure is coupled with a requirement for each restaurant to prove that a three course meal at their establishment is more expensive than the Winterlicious prix-fixe promotional price, but interestingly this rule doesn't apply to restaurants that have participated in any Winterlicous before 2009.
And for those of us looking to do more than eat ourselves silly, in recent years the Winterlicious franchise has expanded to include food centric events including cooking classes, art exhibitions, charity fundraisers and fashion shows. Many of these events, though, are far more expensive than even the highest Winterlicious price point of $45.
Among the more affordable options are: a fashion brunch at the Drake called "Guilty Pleasures V: Fashion + Food = Fabulous!" ($35); Spice Route's culinary journey along the ancient Spice Route "Travel the Spice Route Brunch" ($40); a meal featuring pairings of 8 artisanal beers with cuisine from local Toronto Restaurants "Artisanal Brewers at Todmorden Mills Museum" ($50); and a spectacular brunch "Five Senses Brunch" at Rosewater Supper Club ($50).
The rest of the events range from $60-$200+, leaving me wondering what the criteria are to become a "Winterlicious Culinary Event."
So yes, Winterlicious has expanded to become a more robust culinary happening for the city, with higher prices to match. And yes, I may occasionally feel like cattle being herded through the pasture when owners/operators have a less enlightened view on hospitality.
But for me its all about the food, and all in all Winterlicious still offers some good value.
Winterlicious runs from January 30 to February 12, 2009. Photo by IndieYuppie on Flickr
Discussion
23 Comments
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The new pricing structure is worriesome ... and I think these events should rethink their reservation policy. Maybe even introduce a handful of first-come-first-serve nights.
Although overall, it's a good way to try restaurants I normally wouldn't.
There are statistics that show that vegetarianism and veganism is lowest in countries that deal more directly with the raw forms of meat and higher in countries that process and 'form' the meat into unnatural shapes (Chicken nuggets, ground beef, boneless ham, etc). This doesn't necessarily show a correlation between the two (it's hardly been a priority to spend too much time researching it), but if there <i>was</i> a correlation, it might be less likely for someone who was trained in chef school, handling raw forms of meat to later adopt a vegetarian lifestyle.
I agree with Paul that Jump is a pass -- overrated.
What I'd give to get a reservation at Canoe! :)
To the vegans and vegetarians: Have you tried calling the restaurant and asking for a special menu? It might not work for a discount special like Summer- or Winterlicious but I bet you can expand your regular restaurant options just by asking. Some are pretty accommodating if you give them notice.
What? Just because they're a chain means they can't play too?
Sushi 101?
James, I don't think it's the fact that Alice Fazooli's is a chain that is the issue; it's the fact the food is terrible.
I like to try new places but if I want to have a decent meal, I'd go to my favourite restaurant instead.
Which is exactly why its a good idea for these restaurants to get involved. Most people are hesitant in spending more than they're used to on restaurants they've never been to before, so they tend to stick to their old reliable favourites. Winter/Summerlicious is a great way to entice people to try your restaurant and encourage repeat business.
http://www.n49.ca/p/toronto:695/dining/winterlicious_restaurants/place
hope some people find it helpful in deciding where to go.
I did not stop thanking my friend who dragged me into there few weeks ago.
i still taste the most delicious vegan French Toast with mixed home made berries preserve and I'm dying to go back on my next visit to Toronto. Go Now and let me know!
Don
Yam yam...
Disastrous.
The place? Centro. Ignoring the advice of a co-worker, I decided to make the trek to this well to do restaurant, that has a relatively good fine dining reputation. First came the starter – a marinated artichoke salad. Overall, it was rather forgettable. A lack in taste was offset by a solid presentation and simply left me looking forward to some delicious slow braised beef. As seems to be representative of the restaurants culinary philosophy, the braised beef looked divine yet was unseasoned and left me wondering if I could order a side of taste. Personally, I quite enjoy cooking braised beef. It’s a fun dish with a longstanding tradition and the possibility of bold delicious flavours. To the chef who cooked such a outrageously bland dish you should be ashamed of yourself. Finally the chocolate cake desert was equally disappointing, and in tune with the overall theme of the night was once again tasteless. I was expecting a rich chocolate taste however I received a lifeless cake with a questionable sorbet pairing. To put it in perspective MacDonald’s apple pie has more character.
But it all looked great.
Save yourself the expense and avoid this restaurant like the plague. Better yet, purchase yourself some oversized plates, turn on CBC radio 2 (hopefully vinyl tap) and get your cook on, spend 5 minutes coming up with suitable garnishes, open a few bottles of wine and have some friends over.
Yours truely,
Christopher