Big news food lovers! Brooklyn's famous outdoor food market, SMORGASBURG, is coming to Toronto for the first time this summer.
Smorgasburg launched in Brooklyn as an off-shoot to The Flea Market in 2011. Since it's inception, it has attracted millions of hungry travellers each weekend to Brooklyn, Manhattan, Jersey City, Los Angeles and most recently, Miami, to taste and explore the food from unique local vendors.
Baker Rae Cafe will be slinging Filipino infused desserts like these Ube cupcakes, as well as one's with pandan and coconut
Hiletito Bits will be on hand with frozen treats like this spicy mango slushie and palettas
"The Toronto version will be a little different" said Suresh Doss, who is curating the vendor list from his little black book of personal favorites across the Golden Horseshoe. Vendors are coming from all over including Oshawa, Scarborough, Hamilton and as far as Niagara. "A lot of people don't get the opportunity to travel to these places for this kind of food, so we're bringing it to them."
Doss was part of the team who brought TUM: Toronto Night Market to the city over a decade ago. It was a platform for new food entrepreneurs to test their products, grow their audience and find their footing before opening permanent store fronts. He hopes this market will operate in a similar way.
We got a sneak peek of some of the UNBELIEVABLE treats that will be available at the market. "There's going to be very little overlap in foods at the event. You know, lots of people started cupcake pop-ups during the pandemic. We will only have one. This is about diverse offerings, regional flavours and showing people something new" said Doss.
The list of confirmed vendors is slowly being released. So far, we can confirm:
- Hand made Singapore Kueh and fresh brewed Kopi by Kiss My Pans
- Sri Lankan street food by Secret Chef
- Mexican-Canadian iced treats by Hiletito Bits
- Filipino-inspired baked goods by Baker-Rae
- Mumbai street food by Poppadum.TO
- Indian Comfort Food by Spice Girl Eats
- Dumplings by FeasTO
- Regional Nigerian food by Afrobeat Kitchen
- Spanish Pintxo by Noctua Bread
- South Asian Street Food by Indonesian's Flavour
- American Classics by Cabano's Comfort Food
- Regional Chinese street cooking by Sunny’s Chinese
- Ice Cream bar by Good Gang
Also on board is Evelyn Chick who will be curating a craft beverage program for the event focusing on Ontario producers and creative, regionally inspired cocktails.
Smorgasburg will operate between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. every Saturday from July 23 to Sept. 8 at 7 Queens Quay East, right at the foot of Yonge Street near the waterfront. They're also currently working out logistics and details to bring the market back in spring 2023.
See you there!