Here you have it the 2017 #Sporkies finalists. Yes, I tried all 8 in the name of science, er, live tv. Listed roughly in order of preference. Individual reviews to follow. #wistatefair #wifoodie #fairfood #foodie #bacon #sliders #quesadilla #banana #monkeybusiness #greatballsoffire #grilledcheese #gelato #wisn12 #onastick #takingonefortheteam #toughassignment #tvlife @melindaontv @itsandychoi @reneeraffaelli @wisn12news (at Wisconsin State Fair)
And now we are proud to present, the first edition of the Sporkies, where we humble food bloggers here at the Meandering Spork headquarters put our heads together and try to determine the best that Toronto has to offer. Today, we'll break down our favourite Summerlicious restaurants, meals, and dishes, giving them our official Meandering Spork stamp of approval, with a great big virtual top-hatted and mustachioed Spork.
Best Service
Anna: We've mentioned this before, but shout out to Eugene and the other staff who helped us at Bosk for an amazing dining experience. Our food arrived promptly, our glasses of water were always topped up, our bill came without us having to flag down a waiter...and yet they never hovered at our shoulders. It definitely felt like an upscale dining experience (and for their regular menu prices, deservedly so).
Dan: Okay, let's be honest. The service was fantastic practically everywhere. The great thing about Summerlicious is that you get the opportunity to experience higher-end restaurants, which come with higher-end service, and that's exactly what we did. But yes, Bosk and Eugene take the Sporky on this one. They were just made us feel that little bit more comfortable at the end of the day.
Best Ambiance
Anna: I really liked the atmosphere at Nota Bene, which felt very bustling and welcoming while still being upscale, plus it's not too loud which is always a plus. However, I would say the runner-up would be Jump, since their decor is definitely very modern and posh, and their hanging lighting fixtures were some of the coolest I've seen by far.
Dan: Now this is a tough one, depending on whether you like nice and quiet or a more bustling dining experience. Anna's choice of Nota Bene leans toward the latter. At the end of the day, all of the candidates are superb. Personally, I'm going to have to give it to Bosk again. The quiet, bright-lit atmosphere was charming and made us feel comfortable and at-ease despite being a high-class restaurant.
Most Unique Menu
Anna: I definitely have to give this one to Canteen. You may have noticed a trend in the restaurant offerings, especially for the mains. It's always surf, turf, and a vegetarian option that we never spring for. But Canteen's menu not only had 5 options for mains, but it had something different for everyone, from fusion dishes like jajeongmyeon to classic dishes like grilled calamari. Plus, the tostadas were a brilliant offering.
Dan: I agree with Anna on this one. Canteen wins this one. The sheer diversity of options presented to you by Canteen is one thing, the fact that they stand out from what other restaurants offer is what really really seals the deal here. Hotel Ocho is the runner-up in the category for me, but Canteen's willingness to bring in Mexican, Asian, etc. classics gives it our first Sporky.
Fusion Done Right
Anna: Hotel Ocho was definitely the standout for east-west fusion dishes that were just exotic enough to break the norm but still not too out there with their flavour combinations. The filo parcel was a standout dish among all the other steaks that were on offer for Summerlicious, being a giant spring roll, and that's how I like it. A+ for creativity.
Dan: Where Canteen was great at bringing in the classic dishes from different cultures, Hotel Ocho was the most memorable at bringing eastern influences to western foods. From the sweet citrus on the halibut, to that amazing filo parcel, it was excellent. Runner-up goes to Café Boulud for a very, very good try at fusion cuisine, from the beef brisket to the terrine.
Most Bang for your Buck
Anna: It may partially have been because we sampled their lunch menu, but Bosk was definitely a lot of bang for a relatively cheaper price tag. Every single dish was well-cooked, beautifully presented, and had filling portions.
Dan: This one's a toughie. It really depends on what you're looking for. Are you looking for more Summerlicious value, where you can try out high-end food for less or more value overall? But seeing as this is the Summerlicious Sporkies, I'm going to have to ... agree with Anna and say Bosk. But only for the lunch menu that we tried. If it were dinner, then I'd run with Nota Bene, who is the very close runner-up for this category.
Most Likely to Return for LiciousTO Menu
Anna: I was super impressed by all of the restaurants that we went to this year for Summerlicious and any of them are contenders for the next Licious event. But if I had to pick a favourite, it would probably be Bosk or Nota Bene. I just can't decide between the two!
Dan: Hehehe...this is where I'm supposed to be able to help out...and I'm not sure I can either. Both Bosk and Nota Bene are at the top-tier of Summerlicious pricing, which makes it tough for the two of us to return to for their regular menu. So that's a big part of why these two are up for this Sporky. But who gets to take it home? *Drum roll* Bosk! Nota Bene offers very homey food that we absolutely loved, for the experience, Bosk is just a bit...fancier.
Most Likely to Return for Regular Menu
Anna: No question about it, I would definitely return to Hotel Ocho for their regular menu. I really enjoyed the two main course dishes, and if their regular mains are anything comparable I would be a very happy girl. ^^
Dan: It's a tough call for me between Canteen and Hotel Ocho, but I'm siding with Anna and going with Hotel Ocho. At the end of the day, that filo parcel was just that good and their relatively low regular menu prices has us hook, line, and sinker.
Best Date Night Experience
Anna: I think Jump is a solid contender for a date night worthy restaurant. While it's not the quietest restaurant, the candles and mood after dark definitely contributes to the romantic atmosphere. Plus, they have really comfy seating. :)
Dan: Hmm...is that a hint for me? XD Any of the restaurants that we went to make for a great date night. So as with the other award categories, this is a really tough call. I'd have to say that I'd have to lean toward Bosk. No, you don't need to take a girl out to a fancy restaurant to make for a great date night, but wining and dining doesn't hurt right? XD
Best Overall Experience
Anna: Can you already guess? This one definitely goes to Bosk. Ambiance, service, food, price: everything was just perfect. And also, its Asian inspired elements just speaks to the Chinese girl in me.
Dan: (Quickly tallies up the Sporkies count so far)...Hmm...Bosk has won the most Sporkies so far and well-deservedly so. From superb service to amazing ambiance to fantastic food, Bosk is a high-class restaurant that most definitely earns its reputation. It may be expensive, but what you experience lives up to expectations.
Best Mix'n Match Meal
Anna: My ideal meal would have the amazing chickpea amuse bouche from Café Boulud, green bean salad from Canteen to start, the beef vindaloo from Jump for my entrée, and finally, wrapping it up with the dark chocolate mousse from Bosk for dessert. Come to my stomach, my pretties. XD
Dan: Ohh boy, the difficult decisions just don't end do they...But here we go. My ideal meal would also start with those brilliant chickpea fries with piquillo sauce from Café Boulud. For appetizer, the green bean salad with bacon comes close, but I'll have to go with the pulled braised goat from Nota Bene, For the ever important main course, I'll go with the peppercorn steak from Nota Bene too. Those were some amazing fries. Finally to close this wondermeal, I'll take that Bosk dark chocolate mousse too. ^^
The Sporkies: Summerlicious 2014 Edition Wrap
Yes, yes, it looks like Bosk was the heavy favourite by looking at the results, but please, we promise that these were no easy decisions. Any one of these awards could have easily gone to another restaurant because they all deserve them and quite frankly, we chose the winner based on our own whim and fancy (well, based on our particular experiences there). If you get the chance, please do visit and try all of our worthy candidate restaurants: Bosk, Nota Bene, Café Boulud, Hotel Ocho, Jump, and Canteen. But without further ado, here are your Summerlicious 2014 Sporky Award Winners!
Best Service: Bosk
Best Ambiance: Nota Bene/Bosk
Most Unique Menu: Canteen
Fusion Done Right: Hotel Ocho
Most Bang for Your Buck: Bosk
Most Likely to Return for LiciousTO Menu: Bosk
Most Likely to Return for Regular Menu: Hotel Ocho
Best Date Night Experience: Jump/Bosk
Best Overall Experience: Bosk
Best Mix'n Match Meal: Café Boulud/Canteen/Nota Bene/Jump/Bosk
