Eat & Drink
The best and worst of Taste of the Danforth 2012
Toronto tasted Danforth Avenue for the 19th year this past weekend. The event's insane popularity is a tribute to Greektown, but many would agree that the crowds have become a detriment to the experience. The cornucopia of restaurants on the street still serve the great food that popularized the event and made it worth attending, but the cons are worth considering before one commits to a day of opa-filled fun.
THE BEST
Roasted pineapple
Rodeo Brazilian Steakhouse may be focused on meat, but their main attraction at Taste of the Danforth was roasted pineapple. This Brazilian treat is designed to be a palate cleanser after dinner. Rodeo covers their pineapples in cinnamon and brown sugar and then roasts them on a fiery spit. Watching the juice drip off as the pineapple cooks is incredibly appetizing.
The Greek food everyone's looking for
While Taste of the Danforth definitely offers more culinary options than it once did, the Greek standards are still available. Astoria has all of your shish kebob needs. Messeni promises authentic gyros. Athena Bakery offers an incredible array of Greek pastries, displayed alongside Greek statues that are also for sale.
Zesty calamari
When Taste of the Silk Road opened 17 years ago, they were the only Chinese restaurant in a sea of gyros, souvlaki and baklava. Now, the Danforth has diversified and eaters have many options if they're craving soy sauce. Nevertheless, Taste of the Silk Road's calamari is still so popular; they can sell over 2000 lbs (907 kg) of the fried squid in one weekend. Their calamari is fried in corn starch, not batter, so it isn't too doughy. It comes with a vinaigrette of chili, garlic, coriander and ginger, which gives it a zesty edge.
Gourmet fish and chips
Off the Hook is technically located on Broadview, but, to the joy of seafood lovers, they brought their gourmet fish and fishs to a Taste of the Danforth booth. The fried fish itself is pretty standard, but their 10 signature sauces really spice it up. I had the halibut with a creamy garlic sauce and it left me wanting more than the bite-sized sample.
Lots o' gelatoDolce Gelato is exactly what you need on a hot summer day and they happen to be creative too. Their 41 flavours of gelato include standards like chocolate and vanilla as well as more typical ice cream flavours like bubble gum and strawberry cheesecake. The presentation is impeccable- I noticed a server going through the gelato with a spoon and taking out stray bits that had fallen into the wrong flavour.
THE WORST
The advertising assault
The Taste of the Danforth's popularity has attracted quite a few large companies who are definitely not Danforth-based. In fact, there were almost as many of these advertisement/brochure/free sample booths as actual restaurant stands. There was free Astro yogurt (at least it was Greek krema), an Expendables 2 booth and an inexplicable Bell consultant stand. While it's hard to turn down a good free sample, this event should be about Danforth cuisine and culture and not multinational corporations and movie premieres.
The screaming children
Crowds + a family-friendly event = screaming children. This is a simple equation that applies to many events, including Taste of the Danforth. The children's screaming intensifies as you approach the carnival section. People who want their ears to remain intact should stay far away.
The threat of rain
This past weekend the weather did not cooperate with the event. There were periodic showers every day. While this of course is a danger with any outdoor event, it's particularly troublesome at Taste of the Danforth, because of the crowds. If it rains and you try and take cover, you can bet that 50 other people will be crowding into the same restaurant/store/overhang you do.
The crowds
Taste of the Danforth claims to attract 1 million people over the course of the weekend. This undoubtedly speaks to the popularity of the event, but it also means that attendees will not have room to walk at any point over the three days.
Writing by Felicity Feinman
Lead image by BruceK, following four images by Vera Schmalzriedt, last image by Gail Edwin-Fielding
Discussion
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Ruin just about everything.
What a whingy bit of amateur hour writing this piece is.
Your list of "the worsts" are nothing but simple facts of life. Corporate sponsorship is a necessary evil unless they start charing cover for this event to pay for all the stuff. Screaming children, yup, it happens, you know where they didn't have screaming children this pass weekend, Heavy TO fest. Rain and crowds....REALLY. REALLY!
What a whingy bit of amateur hour whinging.
As for the rain, I love it when it rains. Being out in the hot blazing sun at fesitvals like these gets old, fast. Plus rain helps clear out the crowds so those of us who aren't scared of a little water can enjoy the festivies more freely.
stay home, then. parents need to get out of the house too. we have been shamed out of every place and now we can't even go to a street festival without some childless ass whining that kids ruined your day.
This is the most intricate White Whine I've ever read.
Birth rates having been dropping for sometime now.
For good reason.
Complaining about children screaming and bell pushing plans down your throat is just plain amateur writing. It's clear there were no real cons or they would have been mentioned. Quite a shame this was actually posted BlogTO.
Additionally, please widen your scope of restaurant tastings. There are a few amazing ones you missed, as well some great patios that should have been highlighted. As a frame of reference, to tell your readers Messini has the best gyros, is basically saying McDonalds makes the healthiest cheeseburgers. I recommend sampling more gyros and possibly throwing some souvlaki's into you're mix.
Please get you're facts straight next time.
Cheers
It's all very well to say that if you don't like it, don't go, but people who live within earshot of the huge speakers at Logan and Danforth don't have a choice. You try living with three days of bouzouki fusion music, or whatever that was, along with the litter and illegally parked cars.
One of the long-term problems that TOTD is going to have is that the surrounding neighbourhoods haven't been at all Greek for many years now, and the festival itself is a complete pain in the ass for residents.
The worst thing about the TOTD is the crowds, period. It's crazy hard to walk down the street, and the lineups for food are insane.
Give her some slack will ya!
She wasn't singling out screaming children, she was merely writing some bad things that folks may not like. SHEESH!
Relax!!!!
http://www.tasteofthedanforth.com/tasteofthedanforth_festivalprogram.php
Since it's compulsory listening, we might as well have a say in it.
I would like it to be known that corporate sponsorship is required to pay for this event as it costs over $500,000 to put this event on. Plus it is the only festival as far as I know that does not take money from the City of Toronto. We payed for all the clean up, the extra policing as well as money to the TTC for the rerouting of buses that run along the Danforth. The only thing the city pays for is for advertising outside the GTA to help bring more people down and more money into the local economy. Please support the Danforth businesses throughout the year as well, too many one timers come for just the weekend and don't come back till following year.
Now, don't get me wrong. I like flight as a concept and I have nothing against the Wright Brothers or Charles Lindbergh or Chuck Yeager, but why does the Air Show have to take place outdoors near my sky?
Sure, a lot of children enjoy the spectacle and thousands of people gather to watch at the lake, but you can imagine the horrid inconvenience to those of us with ears. It's a real pain in the ass.
I love the snark in these comments. I went last year with a group and not one of us returned. Eventually people just get sick of the crowd, the prices and the very little that isn't available on an average Tuesday.
And I keep hearing this million people nonsense...if there were a million people I'll eat my hat.
Regardless, I probably won't go to Taste of the Danforth just because I do not feel it offers much value/variety of food and it has become way too crowded. Good for the festival and for people that enjoy it but I will stick to smaller festivals.
I also thought that mostly all vendors wearing similar t-shirts white with the Pilaros logo on the back and store name on the front was a cool idea. Anyone know which company made these shirts?
Over $50,000 to TTC for rerouting
Close to $100,000 for policing, overtime etc.
Stage rentals, sound equipment, fencing, barriers, Ambulance, Fire, performers, the list goes on and on.
Not cheap
It’s so easy for people without children to comment and pass judgment on those that do. Everyone (whether you have a child or not) does the best they can with what they know. Just as my child sometimes screams and annoys people, twenty somethings who can’t hold their liquor after a night of partying and stumble down the street yelling about how great they are, are annoying too. But moments like that happen in life and just as quickly as they come, they go.
As for the residents of the Danforth, I know it sucks BUT it’s only a few nights of craziness a year and frankly, they bring LOTS of money into your community and keep your property values high. If you’d rather not endure it, go away for the weekend. Otherwise, join the party.
The real problem with Taste of the Danforth: douchebags. There's nothing much to actually *do* at the festival, apart from line up for overpriced mostly non-Greek food, then wander around eating off a plate like an animal. It brings out the inner douchebag in everyone. Most people are normally decent, but somehow TotD encourages them to throw their litter everywhere, park like fucking morons, and even piss in people's yards. I cheered on both the torrential rain and the parking enforcement cops, joyfully littering yellow tickets on everyone's windshield. Enjoy your $6 skewer of lamb! It just cost you $46! Hurray!
Plus, Rob Ford attends and parks illegally. Douchebags. I rest my case.
Yes the shirts were supplied by a company called Jastex Promotions they have been doing it for awhile now.
@ Logan: I didn't know that 2 guys tried to do that. No, that's inexcusable and terrible! I just meant having events like TOTD keeps money flowing into your community...keeps it vibrant, desirable, happening and a destination.
Strollers are getting bigger because new parents like to keep up or beat out their neighbours.
Stroll down the Danforth at midnight and in the dead of winter to avoid the crowds and kids.
It's the type of umbrella that'd flip inside out and wrongside-backwards at the brush of wind.
But this is just a "taste" of the Danforth. The point is to keep coming back the rest of the year. I have celebrated many birthdays, graduations, wedding rehearsal dinners and other events at Danforth restaurants and I will continue to support these amazing shops in the area the rest of the year.
Second, why in the hell does it matter if a Greek person wrote this article? It was a review of a festival, which required know prior knowledge of greek traditions-that you couldn't find on google.
Take a lap, and figure it out
pack some patience people, or figure out when the crowds will be thinner and go then.
Put a urinal trough behind a privacy wall, so these disgusting creeps won't pee on people's yards. Men are so gross.
We went on the Saturday, thinking correctly that the rain would thin the crowd, I will only go if there is rain in the forecast, makes the crowds bearable.
Agree there should be decent toilets.
You don't have to line up outside. We went and sat inside in three places - Dora's, Asteria and Eton House - Eton House had a good band and all the TVs tuned to the closing Olympics. Walked from Broadview to Jones, sure it was crowded but we made it...although I was stung by a wasp..ouch. So was a little girl who had a reason to be screaming.
Tired of reading about people who live in happening neighbourhoods complaining...like the woman in the Beach. It's 3 days. Get over yourself.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uj6d-CQNJ-c
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LbXiECmCZ94
As for the screaming kids-babysitters are expensive, nobody in their right mind would trust a teenager with small kids, and foisting them onto older adults is quite a dick thing to do.
Southern Cyprus called. They want the North back.
Best Regards,
Your half Brother
Jimmy The Greek
When the Ottomans ruled the balkans. The Greeks (invented in the 1800) adopted the following and like a lot of things, they claim that its now greek!
White Cheese = Greek Feta
Kasar Cheese = Greek Kasseri
Sis Dürüm = Souvlaki
Döner = Gyros
Cacik = Tzatziki
Baklava = Baklavas
Turkish Delight = Greek Delight
Turkish Coffee = Greek Coffee
Karagöz & Hacivat = Karagiosis & Hatzivatis
And
Mediterranean Salad = Greek Salad lol
You are right. But The Greeks made everything better
I have much love for my half brothers the Truks. I just wish we could unite as One Cyprus.