Estrella Damm is giving Toronto beer and food lovers yet another reason (or 31 reasons) to support a beloved local restaurant this spring. The celebrated “beer of Barcelona” has teamed up with some of Toronto’s best restaurants to kick off the summer with delicious, speciality-priced signature dishes for the entire month of May, with the return of the Estrella Damm Culinary Journey.
A foodie’s dream: Support Local, Enjoy great food, paired with amazing beer!
The Estrella Damm Culinary is BACK for the month of May in the Greater Toronto Area–and here’s how it works:
The Estrella Damm Culinary Journey will showcase how natural many diverse food pairings can be when complemented by a cold Estrella Damm beer. The beer is brewed with 100% natural ingredients – only barley malt, rice, and hops – and made following the 1876 original recipe.
From comforting long-time city staples to see-and-be-seen spots, 31 Toronto restaurants will take part in the program – with a geography that spans everywhere from the downtown core, to the surrounding suburbs:
- Entertainment District
- Financial District
- Distillery District
- Little Italy
- Queen West
- Dundas West & the Junction
- Leslieville
- Yorkville
- Midtown
- North York
- Danforth
- GTA
Here’s a full list of all the Estrella Damm Culinary Journey participating restaurants:
Entertainment District
Harriet’s Rooftop
Bustling rooftop hotspot, Harriet’s – the new view-filled restaurant in 1 Hotel, which opened its doors in September – will offer its Beef Tsukune ($25); a spicy beef meatball wrapped in bacon.
Mira
Stylish Entertainment District Peruvian restaurant Mira will offer its beloved Pollo a la Brassa ($35 for half chicken; $65 for a full chicken). The signature rotisserie dish features aji panca, roasted potato, green goddess, rocoto hot sauce, and seasonal pickles.
Patria
King West go-to Patria is known for its authentic Spanish tapas, making it a natural fit for Estrella Damm. For this year’s Culinary Journey, Patria will serve its Iberico Secreto ($55); grilled scallion, almond romesco, salsa verde.
Shook
The plant-based set (and even those who aren’t) appreciate Shook’s features vegetarian, wood-fired Israeli food. As part of the Estrella Damm Culinary Journey, the restaurant is featuring its Kreplach ($25); with Hawaji cream, ricotta, snap peas, and date molasses.
Ricarda’s
Ricarda’s features French inspired cuisine with an emphasis on approachability and local seasonal ingredients. The restaurant will feature its fried chicken and potato waffle ($27); made with mash avocado, bacon, jalapeno, spicy aioli, and maple syrup.
Chica
Barcelona meets Toronto at Chica, the newest venture from hospitality visionaries Hanif Harji and Charles Khabouth. As part of the Culinary Journey, the star of the show at Chica is the Truffle Jamon Croquettes ($20), featuring black truffle and manchego.
Financial District
Trattoria Mercatto
Bustling downtown Italian eatery Trattoria Mercatto will serve up its Short Rib and Brisket Burger ($33). The crowd-pleasing dish is served with oregano crema, spicy bomba, and smoked scamorza fries.
Leña
Leña offers a South American-style escape in the heart of Financial District. For the Culinary Journey, the restaurant will feature Lala’s Spanish Tortilla ($24); made with potato, egg, marinated olives, Albacore tuna tartare, milk mayonnaise, golden raisins, and taro chips.
Distillery District
Madrina
Distillery District Spanish tapas spot Madrina marries innovation and fun with Barcelona classics. Here, guests can enjoy discounted Tuna Tartare Cones ($25); featuring Mojo Rojo dressing, salmon roe, and plankton aioli.
Little Italy
Mrs. Robinson
As part of the Culinary Journey, Mrs. Robinson is offering up its Plan B Boerie Burger – a South African comfort food staple ($20). The dish features a house-made, grilled all-beef sausage spiral, lettuce, tomato, ketchup, mustard, and PB sauce. Complete it with cheese for $1.
Café Dip
Pizza is the name of the game at College Street institution Café Dip. Guests can enjoy either one small Mediterranean-inspired margarita pizza (thin crust, Morzano tomato, fresh mozzarella, and basil) with a pint of Estrella Damm or one large margarita pizza with two pints ($29/$47).
Bar Isabel
Little Italy hot spot serves contemporary Spanish dishes using fresh local ingredients and the finest European imports. The restaurant will offer Pork Secreto with Chorizo Spice ($26) to complement a refreshing Estrella Damm beer.
DaiLo
Well-known Toronto chef Nick Liu serves up new Asian cuisine at College Street spot DaiLo. The restaurant will offer its late night diners its famous Bao, with its Bao and Estrella Damm late-night special ($16) on Friday and Saturday nights after 11pm.
Queen West
The Good Son Queen West
The Good Son is a go-to for quality and variety of cuisines. Here, guests can enjoy a quality cheeseburger and an Estrella Damm for $30. Made with American cheese, tomato, pickled onion, and optional bacon (+ $4), this comforting burger hits the spot.
iSLAS
At iSLAS, a popular Filipino restaurant in the heart of Parkdale, will offer its Seafood Bicol Express ($30). The stew is made from long chilies, coconut milk, shrimp paste, union, seafood, and garlic.
Dundas West & Junction
Atai Bistro
Atai is a French-Moroccan inspired kitchen rooted in tradition, experiences and hospitality. Atai Bistro will serve its Vegetarian Mezze; halloumi (32), za’alouk, hummus, and pita.
Campo
West end spot Campo features Spanish- & Italian-style dishes, plus cured meats & cheeses. Campo will offer its Chorizo Montadito ($15); the open-faced sandwich features fresh chorizo sausage, piquillo peppers, and aioli.
Leslieville
Barrio
Elevated Mexican spot Barrio will take part in this year’s Culinary Journey. The Queen East restaurant will offer its Carnitas Tacos ($26 for three tacos and one Estrella Damm); featuring shredded pork shoulder topped with salsa molcajete, pickled onion, onions, and cilantro.
Prohibition
Prohibition is a Leslieville mainstay for elevated pub fare. The spot will serve its Pan Seared Salmon Fillet ($26.99); a seven-ounce Salmon Fillet, wilted spinach, rosemary roasted fingerling potatoes topped with lemon beurre blanc.
Yorkville
Middle8
Yorkville’s Middle8 is a cocktail / wine bar with live music within an intimate speakeasy vibe. The spot will serve House Dry Cured Muscovy Duck Breast & Manchego with a red wine reduction ($25) to complement a cold Estrella Damm.
Midtown
Atai 36 @ Knots
Atai is a French-Moroccan inspired kitchen rooted in tradition, experiences and hospitality. The Summerhill restaurant will serve its Vegetarian Mezze ($30); halloumi, za’alouk, hummus, and pita.
Mercado Negro
Comforting Portuguese restaurant is known for its authentic, home-like vibe. For this year’s Estrella Damm Culinary Journey, the restaurant is featuring its Ninho de Alheira ($26); game meat sausage stir-fried with rapini and string fries and topped with egg.
North York
The Good Son, Shops at Don Mills
The Good Son is a go-to for quality and variety of cuisines. Here, guests can enjoy a quality cheeseburger and an Estrella Damm for $30. Made with American cheese, tomato, pickled onion, and optional bacon (+ $4), this comforting burger hits the spot.
Parcheggio
Parcheggio celebrates simple and creative Italian cooking and has become a quick North York staple. As part of the Culinary Journey, the restaurant will feature its Pork Pappardelle ($32.95); with house-made sausage, rapini, marsala, and pecorino.
Babel
Babel pays tribute to the culinary traditions of countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea – including Greece, Turkey, Israel, Morocco and Lebanon. The restaurant will feature its Beef Tartare; Syrian “kibbeh nayyeh” is a preparation of raw beef, with bulgur wheat, onions, & spices.
Danforth
Tapas at Embrujo
Tapas at Embrujo brings the tastes and sounds of Spain to Toronto. A hotbed for Flamenco, Spanish arts and cuisine. Chef Salgado’s rustic style of flavour and presentation pushes forward the idea of focusing on staying true to the authentic tapas experience, as a whole. Here, guests can enjoy a “Paella for Two” with two 16oz glasses of Estrella Damm ($70).
GTA
Beaumont Kitchen
Beaumont Kitchen is a fashionable all-day dining lounge that balances comfort and sophistication. The restaurant will serve up its classic Steak Frites ($43.50); a seven-ounce fresh beef steak with herb butter and red wine jus to bring out the crisp flavour profile of Estrella Damm.
Tapagria
Tapagria is an innovative Spanish-inspired tapas spot. For the Culinary Journey, this spot will offer its Pintxo Tasting ($40), featuring an assortment of small bites designed to “teleport you to a small neighbourhood in the Basque region of Northern Spain.
Mexitaco Bluffs
Mexitaco is inspired by communities across Mexico. Here, guests can enjoy the chain’s beloved Baja Fish Taco ($13.99); beer-battered fish, pico de gallo, chipotle mayo, and cilantro, served on a soft corn tortilla.
Mexitaco Victoria Park
Mexitaco is inspired by communities across Mexico. Here, guests can enjoy the chain’s beloved Baja Fish Taco; beer-battered fish ($13.99), pico de gallo, chipotle mayo, and cilantro, served on a soft corn tortilla.
Mexitaco Cantina
Mexitaco is inspired by communities across Mexico. Here, guests can enjoy the chain’s beloved Baja Fish Taco; beer-battered fish, pico de gallo, chipotle mayo, and cilantro, served on a soft corn tortilla.
It’s a WIN-WIN-WIN: You save, support a local restaurant or bar, and savour a beloved beer
Sounds like the perfect combo for summer. Grab some friends and/or family and design your own eatery hopping food tour, but don’t forget to share and tag us for a chance to be featured on our Instagram.
