I already know where I’ll be eating every Friday night this July. Deciding what to eat will be the more difficult choice.
Cultura, the festival I founded in Mel Lastman Square, has become known in recent years for its fabulous musical performances, the entertaining buskers, the strolling musicians and the award-winning films.
But in the beginning, five summers ago, it was primarily a food festival, and international street food remains one of its greatest attractions. This year, we are adding several new vendors to an already-strong lineup.
Gilaneh, a fine Persian restaurant, will introduce you to some excellent examples of food from Iran. Soul Smokin’ will have pulled pork and beef brisket sandwiches, topped with apple coleslaw. Bet you can’t eat just one! Crepes-a-Go-Go will offer a variety of fruit, vegetable and meat-filled crepes. Banjara Indian Cuisine, offering some of the best Indian food in the city, will return this year, as will Sunshine Shakes, which has been with us since the beginning, serving pure fruit smoothies.
Malaysian kitchen, a new vendor with a less-familiar product, will serve murtabak, a close cousin to the South Asian roti.
Friday lunchtimes — 12 noon to 2 p.m. — offer a mini Cultura, with sponsor St. Louis Bar and Grill serving its signature dishes on Yonge Street. Some surprise lunch hour programming is still in the works.
Cultura opens Friday, July 4, and continues July 11, 18 and 25. Food is served, starting around 6 p.m. and continuing into the evening. For detailed information, visit our website at www.culturafestival.ca.