Winterlicious is an annual celebration where over 175 of Toronto’s top resturants offer up three course prix fixe menus at amazing price points ranging from $15 to $45 per person. And now it’s that time of year again. The mad rush to make reservations at the best restaurants in town is on, all so we can finally afford to eat at these places on a student budget. Sure, some may say that during Winterlicious, restaurants don’t serve their best food or that the staff at said restaurants tend to look down on those who come in during Winterlicious. Furthermore, a $45 dinner that really comes out to around $60 after tax and tip, can still be said to be out of a student budget. But in general, Winterlicious is a great opportunity for people to try out places that they wouldn’t usually go to and for foodies it’s one of Toronto’s best events (and infinitely better than Summerlicious in my opinion).Â
So without further ado, here are my tips and picks for Winterlicious 2012!
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- If you’re on a strict budget, try the lunch menus. A big part of the appeal of Winterlicious is that it’s affordable. And if you’re on a strict budget, as many students are, lunch is a great way to participate in Winterlicious without breaking the bank. Lunch menus feature many, but not all, of the foods that are featured on the dinner menu. Lunches are either $15, $20, or $25 and the food is just as good as it is at dinner. Try out Archeo in the Distillery District, the Rosedale Diner, or Bistro 990, which is just off campus, directly across from St. Mike’s!
- Try something that’s usually completely out of your budget. If staying on a strict budget isn’t a huge priority for you, I recommend going somewhere that is usually completely out of your budget. Get all dressed up and drag your boyfriend to the fanciest restaurant in Toronto. Or get your girls all gussied up and head out for a girl’s night. Head over to Canoe where for the price of a typical entre, you can get a full course meal under the Winterlicious Prix Fixe menu, Prime for some amazing steaks where you can also take in the gorgeous interior of the Windsor Arms Hotel at the same time, or Didier, whose amazing French cooking has made him a local culinary celebrity.
- Try a new type of cuisine. At the heart of every Toronto foodie’s quest is the desire to try something new. Whether it’s Indian, Chinese, French, Greek, Vegan, or even Southern, Toronto has every kind of cuisine imaginable. And it’s GOOD. We’re lucky to live in one of the few cities in the world where you’re guaranteed to find genuine food from almost every culture imaginable. So this Winterlicious, head out and try something new! Try Amaya for some amazing Indian food, Linda for Thai food, or 93 Harbord for Middle Eastern food!
- Get to know what “Canadian cuisine” actually means. Sure, Canada has great Indian food, amazing Chinese food, and award winning Italian and French cuisine. But, what exactly is Canadian cuisine? Canadian cuisine is more than just butter tarts, maple syrup, and poutine… but what exactly it is, I’m not quite sure. It’s hearty and filling and filled with rich flavours and fresh produce. But there’s something more to it than just that. Find out for yourself what Canadian cuisine actually entails by trying out restaurants such as the Boiler House, Mildred’s Temple Kitchen, or Tundra. Â
- Go with friends and family, but keep the group small. It’s tempting, when one is offered such an amazing deal, to take a giant group to a restaurant. After all, the more the merrier, right? Not so much. Not only can it be harder to get a reservation for large groups of people, I like to think that the Winterlicious experience should be all about the food and when you have too many people with you, it becomes about the group experience rather than the food. So I like to stick to groups of four or five maximum, but maybe that’s just me.
So that’s it! Are you going to try out Winterlicious this year? What are your suggestions? Let us know in the comments!
For more information check out the official Winterlicious page.Â