As most people in Toronto know, Summerlicious starts this Friday. Again, some 200 restaurants will be participating in this twice yearly affair where people get to dine on a three course meal of $15, $20 or $25 for lunch or $25, $35 or $45 for dinner. However, what I’ve always wondered was how restaurant decide to apply. I know that many just want to showcase their menu, but why do some restaurants even bother? It’s usually the same restaurants over and over again, and the menus don’t change very much. For example, Tabülè, a Middle Eastern (and author favourite) restaurant will, once again, include chicken skewers served with rice and grilled vegetables on their Summerlicious menu, something which is on their regular list. Other very regular dishes on the menu include flash fried cauliflower with tahini (again on the regular menu) and a “combination plate” of hummus, babaganüj, tabülè. At least on the regular menu, you actually get a bit more pick for the same item. Of course, not all restaurants are like this. Some will have items that are on NOT on their regular menu.
A Milestones restaurant in British Columbia (obviously NOT the Toronto location participating in Summerlicious). Should chain restaurants like this one take part in culinary events?
Another thing I found interesting this season is the inclusion of restaurants like Milestones Queensway. Really? A NATIONAL CHAIN? Why would a national chain with several locations in not just Toronto, but all over Canada, even think of participating? I can understand a restaurant with perhaps two or three locations in Toronto (e.g. Milagro Cantina), or ones with different banners (Oliver & Bonacini, where it seems like every brand is participating), but something like Milestones? Just. Plain. Weird. Perhaps even wrong. It’s not like someone is going to be “oh, I’m going to go to Summerlicious to try something different. Let’s go to Milestones!” Going to Milestones is like going to Starbucks. It might look different inside, but the food is pretty much the same. It’s a comfort thing and not really a place I’d even think about going to during a culinary event. It’s a place I go to on a regular time of year if I don’t really feel like something “different.” I mean, wouldn’t you find it weird if a Swiss Chalet location took part in Summerlicious?
Perhaps I’m just a bit of a snob when it comes to events like Summerlicious. To me, Summerlicious is supposed to be about restaurants trying to promote themselves (which also makes me question why Tabülè is, once again, holding Summerlicious in their Yonge and Davisville location rather than their newer Leslieville spot). Milestones doesn’t need to be promoted. Everyone knows who they are, whether they live in Toronto or Calgary. Sure, they might be trying to test out new items that might eventually be rolled out nationwide, but to me, this is something that can be done during the regular year. It’s called a daily special. Honestly, this is one reason why I try to avoid sit down chains that exist in Toronto when I’m in another city whenever I can and don’t understand why people would consider the same when they come here. Unless you have very picky kids, you should try something a little different. And yes, one location of a nation-wide chain taking part in something like Summerlicious isn’t that different from a restaurant listing only regular menu items for the same event.
Anyway, enough of my rants. I’m not trying to be too harsh, and yes, I’m looking forward to going to my two picks for this season’s event (look for Instagram pictures!). And if you haven’t booked your table, do so soon as many places have already filled up!
Image: payphoto/iStockphoto
