Despite the crowds, the lineups, the insane heat — year after year, I still come back to Taste of the Danforth. I just can't resist all that delicious Greek Food at ridiculously cheap prices.
The Danforth has a long history of being a Greek community, but in recent years, the yearly street festival has featured cuisines from all over the world. My mom ordered a spring roll and said it was her favourite thing!
Not to worry, there was authentic Greek food on every corner, too, with those iconic stacks of meat roasting on spits.
I have one place and one place only that I eat gyros (Greek version of a burrito) from — Messini's. For only $5, you get a gigantic lamb or pork or chicken gyros stuffed with tzatziki, tomatoes, onions, and if you want, french fries. I usually opt out of the fries because the gyros itself is like an entire's day meal in one.
From corn to kebabs to gyros to whatever those things up there are, there's an endless amount of food to try on the Danforth.
Since Mom was still hungry after her spring roll and piece of lamb, I convinced her to get a slice of pizza from Pizzeria Libretto, hands down my favourite pizza in the city. They're certified by Naples for making real Neapolitan pizza, chewy and crispy and fresh.
For dessert, Mom and I shared loukoumades from Athen's Bakery. They're these delicious fried honey pastries and they're oh so good!
Zoey was super interested in all the food we were eating, too. She was like a little vacuum strolling down the street with her nose to the pavement eating up any crumbs she could find.
This year, they had peformers dress up as Grecian statues posing in the middle of the street for photos. The line up to get a photo with these faux-Greek-gods was insane!
If you didn't get a chance to go to Taste of the Danforth this year... you can still eat all this delicious food year-round. Messini's and Athens Pastries are long-time staples of the community. The crowds won't be there, the lines won't be there, but you'll still have an amazing meal. Promise.
