RoundUp
July 2007
Movable Feasts
Toronto’s top toques take it to the streets By Ryan Jennings
For pita’s sake: Pat Riley’s lamb kibbeh
Image credit: Claudia Hung
The summer of 2007 might just be remembered as the season our city finally got the street eats it deserves. City councillor John Filion, on a mission to end the provincial health ministry’s hot dogs–only edict, has enlisted some of Toronto’s best chefs to showcase the possibilities in a public street food demonstration (July 13, noon, Nathan Phillips Square). It’s a rare opportunity to taste celebrity-chef dishes at fast-food prices—and the most palatable thing ever to hit city hall. Here’s what some of them are planning.
| Who | What | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Pat Riley Perigee |
Lamb kibbeh with date and pine nut stuffing and banana pepper slaw, wrapped in a pita. Like a meat version of a falafel. Under $4. | “I’m half Lebanese, and I grew up with this dish. Every meal at my grandmother’s in Windsor would start with kibbeh. And you see some version of this in any street market throughout the Middle East.” |
| Didier Leroy Didier |
Crêpes with fresh Ontario fruit compote, folded into squares and dusted with icing sugar or cocoa powder. Under $3. | “This is what you see in Paris. I have wonderful memories of these from childhood.” |
| Claudio Aprile Colborne Lane |
Cracked oat cereal with freeze-dried fruit, served with honey-infused yogurt and soy milk, possibly (the chef is still experimenting) in an edible cone. Under $3. | “It’s street food for rascals, inspired by my five-year-old son, Adin—he doesn’t like to sit down at the table to eat. Plus, it’s really healthy.” |
| Guy Rubino Rain |
Porridge of frogs’ legs with oyster omelette. The legs are spiced with curry and sautéed to crunchy, then set on risotto-like broken rice with chopped oyster omelette mixed in. $3.50–$5. | “I ate this almost every day at the World Gourmet Summit in Singapore last year. Summit guests would offer to wine and dine us, but we’d say no—we’d go to the hawker’s stall after service at 1 a.m. to have this instead.” |
