SUMMERLICIOUS

More than just a food festival, Summerlicious (and its seasonal opposite, Winterlicious) is one of Toronto’s most anticipated culinary events. Running from July 3 to 19, the thirteenth installment – as it has with all previous iterations – promises a spread of delicious fare for thousands of diners.

Produced by the city of Toronto, the biannual festival forges a symbiotic relationship between the city’s food industry and its clientele. Restauranteurs get to flex their culinary muscles, conceptualizing enticing meals that introduces their establishment to the event-going crowd. Conversely, customers get to sample some of Toronto’s finest cuisine and frequent some of its trendiest restaurants—all at a fraction of the cost.

Special three-course prix fixe lunch and dinner menus are featured at each of the more than 200 participating restaurants. Lunch specials range from $15 to $25; dinner specials from $25 to $45.

And, therein lies the Summerlicious appeal. The experience of dining at the newest hotspot, coupled with a palatable price point, ensures a full house for many of the restaurants listed as participants. That explains why, each year, said list grows longer and more varied, opening the doorway to patrons with more discerning palettes.

A number of restaurants provide vegetarian and vegan options and still others offer gluten- or dairy-free alternatives. When calling to make reservations (the only way to secure a table), make sure to advise of any specific allergies, and inquire as to whether a substitute is available. Often, the answer is “yes,” a trend that ensures that more and more people get to savour the many mouth-watering flavours of Summerlicious