10 fun foods to eat this summer in Toronto
Summertime adventures aren't just limited to bike rides and canoe trips - there's tasty new twists on fun summer fare happening on Toronto menus this season. Discover reimagined takes on the classics and grown-up (read: alcoholic) adaptations of your childhood faves.
Here are 10 fun foods to eat this summer in Toronto.
S'mores
New twists on this campfire classic can be found at Lucky Red where the menu lists an insanely delicious s'more bao ($3) made with Nutella and brûléed marshmallows on a deep-fried steam bun. Big Crow also does a cool version with ice cream sandwiched between a brioche bun ($9) and topped with crumbled graham crackers and hot fudge. Meanwhile, Sullivan & Bleeker has a picnic-perfect solution in the form of a s'mores cupcake in a jar.
Slushies
Your inner teenager might have a soft spot for slushies if the summers of your youth were spent aimlessly in a Mac's Milk parking lot. Now slushies have grown up, too, with a 19+ resurgence of the Lime Rickey happening at La Cubana, piña coladas ($8) at Rhum Corner and Long Island iced teas at Home of the Brave. Also noteworthy are the frosty, swirl-capped frozen beers being poured at izakayas citywide.
Ice cream sandwiches
Sitting on the curb eating with ice cream melting down your forearm is a must before summer's end. Don't eat just any freezer section ice cream sandwich - try one of the quirky flavour combos (things like Cinnamon Toast Crunch ice cream between birthday cake cookies) found at Bakerbots and Bang Bang, where scoops of ice cream are nestled between thick house-baked cookies. For fun, less-traditional takes, check out the newly-opened Cluny for delicate macaron ice cream sandwiches ($10), get cheesy with Burgers Priest's grilled cheese and vanilla version ($5), or try Carbon Bar's aged cheddar, wafers and maple ice cream sandwich ($9).
Pie
The classic summer dessert is an all-time fave, whether it's pecan pie ($6.90) topped with bourbon creme anglaise from Smoque N Bones or the deep fried wedge of apple pie ($8) from Huntsman Tavern. If all-butter crusts filled with seasonal fruits are your jam, you'll be spoiled for choice when it comes to finding that personal slice of heaven.
Milkshakes
Why go vanilla when you can shake things up with unusual choices like the thick cinnamon doughnut milkshake ($7) offered at Stack Restaurant, or the salt caramel sour cream shake ($5) at Wallace & Co? If truly wacky flavours are your thing, look no further than Holy Chuck Burgers, where options include a wasabi, ginger and scallion shake ($5.99), or go ultra-indulgent with a foie gras and truffle oil shake ($15).
Corn on the cob
The summer festival favourite is making its way onto menus at places like Boots 'n' Bourbon where Mexican street corn ($9) is upgraded with guajillo chili butter, queso fresco, potato crisps, cilantro crema and lime. Rock 'N Horse Saloon offers a similar "Texas street corn" ($11), while upscale Japanese restaurant, Ki adds their own spin on corn on the cob with the addition of butter, miso and shichimi togarashi salt.
Corn dogs
The CNE isn't open quite yet, but you can still satisfy cravings for carnival foods with these upgraded takes on the PoGo. Tavern by Trevor offers duck corn dogs ($5) with beer mustard on its snack menu, while the Happy Hooker does shrimp corn dogs ($6) two at a time, and Huntsman Tavern's take is a hardly-weenie version with chorizo ($8).
Seafood boils
A "seafood boil" is not just a dish, but also a summer social event. The casual joy of seafood feasting can be enjoyed any time at Smoked & Cracked in midtown, where whole lobsters (MP) are steamed with potatoes and corn on the cob before bring spilled out onto checkered paper and enjoyed with your hands. At Rock Lobster on Queen West you'll also find crab boils ($28) and lobster boils ($45) complete with all the fixins.
Cold ramen
Gazpacho and vichyssoise can move over. Ramen is getting a cool summer makeover at Ramen Isshin with the introduction of Hiyashi chūka ($9.80), a.k.a chilled ramen noodle salad. Kinton Ramen is in on it too, offering a sesame-dressed goma ramen salad ($8.8).
Watermelon
The refreshing summer fruit is finding its way into all sorts of salads, like the five-spice watermelon salad ($14) with goat feta served at the Kennedy Public House. Better still, this melon gets a starring role when paired with tuna tartare ($13) at Mata Petisco Bar, or as the key to a tomato and watermelon gazpacho ($11) at Drake One Fifty.
What did I miss? Add your fun summer foods to the comments below.
Thanks to Growers Cider for sponsoring this post.
For more fun things to do this summer, check out our Toronto Fun Guide.
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