On Wednesday night my hubby and I ventured out for our very first Dishcrawl. For those of you who aren’t familiar with Dishcrawl, it’s all about sharing a passion for good food by exploring a few restaurants – one neighbourhood – one night. Our Dishcrawl was in the Leslieville area of Toronto which was convenient and fun for us since we live there too! It was great to be able to explore the cuisine close to home.
The Dishcrawl experience is popping up all over North America and it’s no surprise – visiting 4 or 5 restaurants in one night for about $60 is an amazing deal! The flat rate is paid in advance when booking online and drinks are additional and paid as you go. Many restaurants will offer a drink special or discount, so drinks won’t break the bank…unless you really want to party 
A couple of days before Dishcrawl day, we were notified via email where the meeting location would be. At 6:45pm on Wednesday evening, a group of approx. 30 people convened in front of the rec centre in Leslieville – hungry, happy and ready to go! The lovely Gretchen Wilson is the local Dishcrawl Ambassador and greeted everyone with a smile along with her hubby Zeion and another team leader Matthew. We were split up in to two groups and introduced to our leaders prior to embarking on our yummy journey.
We were on Zeion’s team and we kicked off the night at Le Canard Mort. Wine was $6 a glass, both the Owner and Chef were fun and friendly and the samples of creative French cuisine were scrumptious! We sampled buffalo wing inspired sweetbreads with blue cheese sauce, mini yorkshire pudding stuffed with shaved roast beef and hollandaise sauce and lastly, a deep fried brussel sprout salad with prosciutto and parmesan. Every last bite was amazing and I loved the unique flavour combinations.
Next up, we visited a new restaurant called Toucan Taco Bar. Owned by the same owner as Le Canard Mort, but offering casual Mexican cuisine in a quaint yet cozy atmosphere. We were greeted by the Chef who was carrying two generous veggie nacho platters for each table to share. The chips were thin and fresh with just the right amount of salt – layered with queso and cheddar cheese and topped with tomato salsa, onions, quacamole and a sweet mole sauce. Heaven! We also sampled the braised pulled pork burritos – jam packed full of tender meat, rice, refried beans, salsa and cheese. They were amazing!
Starting to get a little full at this point, but the walks in between each restaurant gave us a little time to digest before pigging out again!
Next, we visited a Queen Street East landmark – The Real Jerk! I love spicy Caribbean food and I’ve always wanted to try to this place, especially since they’ve been in the news lately facing eviction from their landmark location. Visit Save The Real Jerk for more information and sign the petition. The owners Ed and Lilly Pottinger greeted us in friendly Jamaican style and spoiled us with a full plate of best-sellers. We sampled their famous roti, jerk chicken wings, jerk pork and oxtail with a side of rice. By far the most generous portions of the night and I enjoyed every last bite! We just took our honeymoon in Jamaica so it was great to dive back into the culture (and the Red Stripe beer) for a little while! Definitely going back again soon.
Our last stop for the night was Swirl Wine Bar. It was the perfect spot to wind down the gastronomic delights of the evening with a glass of fine wine and charcuterie platters. In lieu of a full kitchen, Swirl offers a wide selection of cured meats, artisanal cheeses, olives, fresh bread and preserves – served up in the cutest little mason jars. The atmosphere is intimate, vintage and a little boudoir – great for a date! The owners maintain a super chill vibe and the sommelier has put together a small but well-chosen selection of fine wines. I enjoyed a few varieties of cheeses on a crusty baguette and then I threw in the towel!
Based on previous experience, the Dishcrawl team decided to send us home with dessert rather than having us attempt another bite. I loved the individually packaged cupcakes from Desmond and Beatrice Bakeshop & Cupcakery that we got to take home - well – I ate mine on the street before I even got home So yummy!
Overall, we loved the Dishcrawl experience and can’t wait to do it again! It’s the perfect night out for foodies – we got to try some amazing dishes at local restaurants with great people! The buzz is catching too – Dishcrawl has quickly expanded across North America and soon, they’ll be offering Corporate Dishcrawls and multi-course Dishcrawl Dinners.
Check out our Dishcrawl gallery – great food, fun people, full bellies and smiling faces!
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