Saturday, 09 August 2008

• Taste of the Danforth

  For the folks in Toronto, this weekend is the annual Taste of the Danforth street festival. Over the past few years, the Taste has turned into an innane aggravating exercise in futility, as you try to battle the crowds only to move slower than a turtle in molasses.
  

  I've learned that Friday evenings right after work is the absolute perfect time to go, in order to beat the crowds.  You can easily clear the entire street within two hours, and that's including all the stopping and eating.

  Ah, yes, the eating.  I have 2 pilgrimages to make every year -- Ouzeri and Messini.

  Ouzeri (500A Danforth, north side of street) has an incredible Rosemary Lamb Pie wrapped in phyllopastry ($3.00), but it may be too intense for those that don't enjoy the heavy gameyness of mutton.  While Ouzeri also offers a Rosemary Chicken Pie, it's simply not in the same league -- pass pass pass..
  

  Messini (450 Danforth, south side of street) has the hands-down best gyros ($5.00) in town.  The line-up on Friday night was 30+ deep, but their operation ran like a well-oiled machine..
  

  Fresh slabs of chicken and pork roasted on their roasting spits -- none of that processed mystery meat from the other places around town.  .
  

  The gyros are packed with tomatoes, onions, tsaziki, and FRIES. Yes, their gyros are stuffed with french fries. You can not go wrong with this. can. not.  Their pitas are also toasted, though not as freshly-toasted as during the regular year due to the madness of the Taste..
  

  The Rosemary Lamb Pie from Ouzeri only seems to be available during the Taste, so get it while you can.  Messini's gyros are available year-round, but why eat a gyro from any other stall when Messini's are available?  Both Ouzeri and Messini are located between Chester and Pape TTC stations. If you miss them -- turn back.

  While not particularly noteworthy, we also hit up The Auld Spot Pub (346 Danforth, south side of street) for their fresh-shucked oysters (3 for $5)..
  

  The shucking and service can sometimes be a tad slow, but the weather's nice out and the line-ups aren't usually too long..
  

  The condiments are self-serve, so we help ourselves to plenty of fresh-grated horseradish, with squirts of lemon juice and tobasco.  A nice light appetizer for the evening..
  

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