The Mastro and San Daniele Taste of Little Italy food festival took place last month, June 16 – 18. My eyes were busy, my ears were buzzing and my stomach was full of delicious Italian food.

The sights of the Taste of Little Italy were plentiful. From the vendors up and down the streets to the authentic Italian restaurants, I really was immersed in the Italian culture. I was able to see some of the renowned restaurants serving the community, despite the rain. I enjoyed the sights of many restaurants extending their patios. Trattoria Taverniti embraced their Italian heritage by simply decorating their extended patio with the classic red and white checkered table clothes. This, coupled with the old brick exterior and the beautiful Italian entry door, provided the perfect visual for the festival.

If the sights weren’t enough, there was a combination of musical performers adding to the culture. Italian performers from the community lined the streets on almost every corner, while acclaimed electric violinist, Dr. Draw, played a memorable show right outside the CHIN building. The variety of music and the sound of Torontonians enjoying the festival made the trip in the rain all worthwhile.

And of course, the reason everyone goes to street festivals – the FOOD!

The night started off at Hogtown Pub and Oysters with prosecco – a delicious Italian white wine, paired with oysters. The two complemented each other well and made for a nice light treat to converse over. The owner shared with us his commitment to not only the Taste of Little Italy, but the community as well. He would be spending the night at his restaurant all weekend shucking oysters to ensure everything was ready each day to serve their guests – if that’s not commitment, I don’t know what is!

Once the rain let up we enjoyed some traditional Italian food, cosy enough for the wet evening. There was arancini, ravaioli, spiducci, and we can’t forget about gelato; the sweet, delectable gelato from Sicilian Café.

Café Diplomatico did not disappoint with their savoury snacks and rich history. As the first licensed patio in Toronto, Café Diplomatico continues to satisfy their customers. All of the dishes complimented each other well. The sauce on the arancini and raviolis was to die for. Nonna’s tomato sauce recipe drizzled over the freshly made arancini and raviolis made it feel like I was really in Italy.  For years guests have flocked to Café Dip for their infamous barbecued spiducci skewers during the festival. Since the very beginning of this traditional event, the Dip has sold nearly 250,000 spiducci and are looking to reach that record milestone this year.

The stories shared by the owners of Café Diplomatico added to the evening and brought some old-time Italian culture to light. When Café Diplomatico first opened, there was no kitchen and only hot plates. The owners at the time would make the food at home and bring it down to Café Dip to serve. In the end, Café Dip has held true to their Italian roots and continues to serve the community – which includes some high profile names like Sophia Loren and Nelly Furtado!

We finished off on a high note with a massive gelato dessert from Sicilian Café. It consisted of four flavours of gelato, strawberries and freshly made waffles. Sicilian Café, the oldest gelato shop in Toronto, was the first to develop tartufo and has many gelato flavours to choose from, which made it so difficult to decide which dessert to have. I will definitely be going back to try some more! As Maria Galipo says – “a lot can happen over a bowl of ice cream.”

There really was a little bit of everything from the sights, to the sounds, to the tastes. This was a festival to remember!

For some of our photos visit: https://www.flickr.com/photos/cityeventstoronto/albums/72157682259269674

There are three large high-end studios, editing suites, office space and equipment available for rent. The largest studio is 4300 sq ft with 17ft ceilings. In addition each studio has hard cycloramas, which can be painted upon request. These rooms can be available for either half day or full day either for filming, photography or an event. Perfect for event space by being only a ten-minute from downtown Toronto. In addition it is conveniently reachable by TTC and both highways Don Valley Parkway and Gardiner Express Way. If driving there is street parking available.

For convenient setup and teardown there is indoor loading bays with storage space. Studio spaces also include:

• Lighting grid on the ceiling with mounted studio lights and space for additional lights
• A client area
• Kitchenette
• Hair and makeup areas
• Change-rooms and showers
• Internet and phone lines
• Craft area
• Washrooms
• Lockers for crew

Hangloose Media also offers a roster of industry professionals available to help create your vision or execute productions in a variety of fields, (DPs, PAs, Writers, Producers, Directors, Post Production Experts, AC’s, Grips, Gaffers, and Production Designers). Additionally they have all the rental equipment needed. Plus needed office space available for any task or job. Whether it’s studios, rentals and/or services you name it they’ve have it.

Studio 1
Features
– 4300 sq ft Studio with Large cove Cyclorama measuring 35ft x18ft
– 17ft ceilling
– Dedicated Loading dock
– Craft area and kitchenette
– Dedicated washrooms
– Lockers for crew members
– Hair and makeup room with three stations and a shower
– Private entrance
Dedicated HVA

Studio 2
Features
– 1050 sq ft Studio with 25ft long Cyclorama
– Kitchenette
– HVAC
Roll down seamless back drops in many different colours

Studio 3
Features
– 1050 sq ft Studio with 25ft long Cyclorama
– Kitchenette
– HVAC
Roll down seamless back drops in many different colours

28 Logan Ave
Toronto, Ontario
M4M 2M8

Phone: 416-244-2369
Bookings: 416-900-0869
Email: bookings@hangloosemedia.com

Website: hangloosemedia.com