Monday, November 10, 2014

EVENT | A porkalicious Ontario Pork Food Tour with Foodies On Foot!

Last week, we were on a very interesting food tour hosted by Ontario Pork and organized flawlessly by Foodies on Foot. This #Porkalicious event took us foodies for a wild ride (on a pork party bus) around the city to 4 restaurants using Ontario Pork for some of their delicious menu items. It's an understatement to say that by the end of the tour, we were "porked-out" but it's one food tour we'll never forget!



Check out the sweet ride that took us from restaurants to more restaurants throughout the night! With music, drinks and yummy treats on this "Pork Party Bus," going from A to B was just as much fun as trying the dishes at the stops.

Custom Pork Rinds Doughnuts by Glory Hole Doughnuts 

Stop #1 Branca Restaurant (Bloordale/Brockton/Wallace-Emerson)
This new Argentinian inspired restaurant prides itself on using traditional fire roasting methods with locally produced and naturally raised, hormone free livestock. Their meats are prepared using only fire, salt and lots of time, so you can enjoy it with any of their house-made condiments to your taste. The hip but intimate ambiance and wine pairings for entrees, this makes for a great date spot for carnivores!


  
5 house-made sauces to accompany the entrees: chimichurri, salsa criolla, roasted eggplant, harissa & roasted garlic

 Crispy Potato Strings

 Salchicha Parrillera 
Heritage Pork Sausage with mustard seeds & corn bread

 Chanco Al Asador
Highland Farms Suckling Pig Fint Cuts including belly, shoulder, tenderloin & skin

 Traditional Argentinian Pig Roast in the Branca Restaurant


Stop #2 Pop-Up at Le Dolci: Stasis Preserves, Loka Snacks & Rashers

Stasis Preserves: By using all-natural preservation method, these farmers and artisans avoid the addition of unnecessary, unnatural additives for a healthy and ethical food option. Stasis brings back the idea of how we used to live: eat food when it's in season, or preserve it at its peak ripeness to enjoy the taste later when it's not growing.

Loka Snacks: Created by the 2012 PEI Chef of the Year, Chef Dave Mottershall, this pop up restaurant focuses on his passion and dedicated for the local and seasonal food. His unique and creative take on traditional dishes makes Loka Snacks, one to watch out for in the Toronto food scene.

Rashers: Open just 2 years ago, Rashers offers naturally raised and locally premium bacon only sandwiches. What could be special about a bacon sandwich? You won't know until you get a bite of one of Rashers sandwiches. Using Ontario pork and sauces and chutneys, all made in-house, this THE place to go to for a great bacon sandwich. Try 'The Hogtown,' which was chosen as one of Toronto Life's top 20 sandwiches in the city. 

 Cured Salamis preserved jams

 Loka Snacks Crispy Whey-Fed Pig Head
Served with pickled Niagara grapes and sauce grabiche

 Rashers Brie & Bacon Sliders
Smoked bacon and brie, caramelized onions & garlic aioli

 Rashers Apple & Maple Grilled Cheese
Maple glazed smoked bacon with cheddar & apple chutney on white bread


French Macarons from Le Dolci


Stop #3 Lisa Marie by Fidel Gastro (Queen West)
 It was my second visit here since my mind-blowing brunch experience few weeks ago and of course I leave happily satisfied once again! The two pork entrees they offered for our #Porkalicious food tour were super delicious. From the two, I preferred the Alabama Tailgaters using  kimchi!

 Alabama Tailgaters
Bacon-wrapped smoked cheddar, kimchi & short ribs

 Pork Tostadas with rapini


Stop #4 Ninutik Maple Sugar Lab (Bloordale Vilage)
I first came across Ninutik's maple ice with cheese this summer during Taste of Toronto. This time though, they wrapped the sweet maple syrup around roasted pork belly - O.M.G. The contradicting flavours of sweet and savoury got my attention and I did prefer that over the cheese that I've had previously.  Ninutik's innovative maple sugar creations make for great gifts (maple sugar cubes, anyone?) as well as for events!

 
Maple Sugar on Ice with Bacon Bits

 Maple Sugar on Ice with Pork Belly

  -Our meal at this event was complimentary but opinions are our own-

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