ICYMI, the popular beer giant, Estrella Damm is bringing back its much-loved food experience to Toronto. Lo and behold, 2023 Estrella Damm Culinary Journey. Yes, it’s back for its third edition.
As we informed you earlier, the 2023 Estrella Damm Culinary Journey will run for the entire month of May. During this time, you can enjoy the classic Estrella Damm beer with specifically curated menu items and special deals at top Toronto restaurants. And we now have the complete list of participating restaurants.
This list boasts an interesting motley of cuisines that has us intrigued. The best part is that almost all of these restos come with pretty patios. So, you can sip your beers and dig into your food while enjoying the beautiful May warmth.
Below is the full list of restaurants you can explore as part of this culinary adventure-
Tapas at Embrujo
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This popular resto that is known for bringing the food, art and culture of Spain to Toronto is now taking you on a “croquet tour” along with a crisp Estrella Damm beer. You can choose from 4 different croquet including, chicken, chorizo, Madrilenas, lobster, crab, spinach & blue cheese or Ox tail croquet.
Bar Raval
This happening College Street bar’s food & drinks menu has forever been to die for. And making a grand entry into this list for the Estrella Damm Culinary Journey is a flavourful sweetbread. The grilled veal sweetbreads with smoked beef fat, mojo verde, pickled pearl onions, and piquillo pepper sauce will be paired with the refreshing Estrella Damm beer.
Tapagria Spanish Tapas Restaurant
Bringing authentic Iberian flavours to Markham’s Commerce Valley, this resto is a riot of sights, smells and tastes. Each of these sensory delights will transport you to the streets of Spain. And for May, they are giving us two more delicious reasons to visit them. Enter: Salmon Tartare Pintxo and Sherry Honey Pork Ribs.
Bar Isabel
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With the setting of an old European bistro this iconic resto-bar on College Street has upgraded its culinary offerings for May. These include a caña of Estrella Damm, 2 pieces of Pan con Tomate and a small “Iberico tasting plate” of Joselito’s Jamón Ibérico de bellota and coppa. This is coupled with Estrella Damm’s refreshing flavour that “elevates the experience and grounds it in traditions.”
Madrina Bar y Tapas
This iconic restaurant in the Distillery District offers a unique blend of rustic-yet-warm vibes and a classic-meets-modern menu. And their newest offerings to pair with Estrella Damm beer include Arroz Negro with Octopus, Potatoes and Smoked Paprika Aioli.
The Pint Public House
Listen up stake and beer lovers, this one’s for you. Front Street beloved The Pint Public House will be serving a special steak to pair with your Estrella Damm beer. The steak in question: a 6oz grilled Sirloin steak with smashed fingerling potatoes, chimichurri sauce and charred hot peppers.
Campo
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Known for seamlessly aligning Italian and Spanish serves on its menu, this popular Baby Point restaurant has exciting new additions for the Estrella Damm Culinary Journey. The restaurant dropped three Montaditos – Lomo, piquillo peppers and aioli. These will be available May-long to enjoy with your Estrella Damm beer.
The Oxley
This popular English-style pub is a Yorkville mainstay, courtesy of its cozy vibe, delish bites and lip-smacking drinks. Adding to its impressive menu, the folks are now offering Harissa Spiced Lamb and Potato Croquette with a side of Salsa Verge Mayo.
Leña Restaurante
This opulent Younge Street restaurant is known as much for its vibrant South American cuisine with Italian and Spanish influences as it is for its beautiful interior. This upscale foodie paradise will now be serving Carne Apache Tostada made with oyster aïoli, green olives and crispy tortilla to pair with your pint.
Baro
This four-storey restaurant has been winning Torontonians and tourists alike, thanks to its reimagined Latin cuisine of authentic flavours and modern dishes. For the special food tour, Baro is elevating the classic beer-and-chicken pairing by giving the chicken a fun and spicy Latin twist. The main dining room menu will feature a Pollo Asado, aka a Chicken Asado.
Mrs Robinson
Known for its soul-satisfying foods and drinks, this hip Toronto resto-bar is serving an interesting new grill to enjoy with your beer. Enter: Solo Braai Platter with chips (fries). The platter includes boerewors (house-made beef sausage), lamb chop or steak (you can choose any 1). This is served with smokey and flavourful chicken breast grilled fresh on the braai and chips (golden fries).
Ruby Soho and Liberty Soho
Yes, this hip bar on King Street W, and its sister bar on Liberty Street, is also part of the grand culinary journey. And they will be featuring Braised Short Rib and Frites. This is their take on the classic steak frites. The Short Ribs are braised 12 hours overnight in a classic French cooking style. Served fork tender with crispy Frites tossed in confit garlic oil, kale, pickled onion, red chillies and parmesan cheese. Enjoy!
Gully
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This contemporary Indian restaurant and bar might be a new addition to Bloor’s foodscape but it sure is an epic one. And they have quite a few fusion inclusions to pair with your Estrella Damm. Expect Tandoori Chicken Wings, Avocado Chaat Dip and Chips, Estrella Damm battered Fish and Chips and Tres Leche Cake.
Cafe Diplomatico
This College Street staple has long since been known for its classic Italian fare, its mouthwatering flavours and its warm, welcoming vibe. Lucky for us, the cafe just added three irresistible delights to its May menu – Spicy Mussels (red or white wine sauce), Fried Calamari & Shrimp and Med Rocco Pizza, all paired with Estrella Damm
CC Lounge
This swanky lounge is a St. Lawrence Market hotspot for late-night drinks, comfort foods and an upscale speakeasy vibe. As part of the Estrella Damm Culinary Journey, the lounge will be serving Estrella Beer Battered Fish Tacos layered with Chipotle mayo, coleslaw and guacamole. The tacos come with grilled corn and Churros to finish.
Holts Cafe
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If there’s one place in TO that knows how to do food pretty, it has to be Holt Renfrew Centre’s beautiful Holt Cafe. So, when they say they are adding Chicken Schnitzel to their menu for Estrella Damm’s gastronomical adventure, we know that it will be just as much of a treat to our eyes as to our taste buds.
Prohibition Social House
The newly reopened and rebranded bar located in the eclectic Riverside District, is joining the scrumptious tour and offering smoked ribs. Their combo of Hickory smoked pork ribs, fries, coleslaw & cornbread with Kentucky BBQ Sauce will make for a great flavour blast with your Estrella Damm beer.
The Good Son (Don Mills & Queen Street West)
This flavour hotspot with its wood-oven baked and roasted dishes is a straight-up foodie paradise. And to give you a memorable pair with your Estrella Damm beer, they present the Shrimp Jerk. Wrapped in potatoes and served with a side of mango salad and peanuts, this is a dish that’ll have you coming back for more.
MEXITACO (Birchmount Road, Victoria Park Avenue & Kingston Road)
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This Mexican delight has been serving up no-nonsense Mexican food for over two decades now. So when they suggest pairing their Baja tacos, you bet we will do it. The cantina is offering three different versions – Baja Fish Taco, Baja Shrimp Taco and Baja Calamari Taco. Each of these beer-battered and fried tacos is topped with pico de gallo, chipotle mayo & cilantro garnish.
Islas Filipino BBQ & BAR
This Filipino food wonderland at Parkdale is known to transport your taste buds to the Philippines with its authentic flavours. And they have the perfect dish to pair with your Estrella Damm lager – Chicken Inasal. This chargrilled quarter-leg chicken is marinated with lemongrass, coconut vinegar, pepper, annatto & citrus. It is served with rice, side salad and sauce.
Mad Mexican Restaurant
This store and restaurant is one of Baby Point’s most iconic eateries. Of course, they joined the epic Estrella Damm Culinary Journey. For the tour, they are offering Tostadas de Atun con salsa Morita ( Ahi Tuna Tostadas with Morita Sauce), Tacos campechanos con salsa verde (Pork and Beef tacos with Salsa Verde) and Pastel Quemado de Queso (Mexican “Basque” cheesecake). Dig in!
Industry Snack Bar
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With a focus on international tapas, the bar has been winning hearts with quite an eclectic menu. And their special feature for the tour is a Bifana, a traditional Iberian sandwich. It is crafted with thinly sliced pork marinated in smoked paprika, hot pepper paste and Estrella Damm beer for a minimum of 24hrs. It is then topped with crushed garlic and Iberian mustard.
Mira Restaurant
This Peruvian restaurant in Wellington hardly needs an intro. And for the gastronomical tour, they are serving up Pollo a la Brassa. This slow-roasted chicken comes with aji panca, huancaína, crispy causa and seasonal pickles.
Bar Mordecai
Given its entry into just about every “best bar” list, this pink-hued bar needs no intro whatsoever. The bar known for its Wes Anderson films-inspired nostalgic vibes and Iberian-inspired tapas is paring your Estrella beer with Tortilla española de patatas con truffas. In case you’re wondering, it is a traditional Spanish omelet with potatoes, egg and onions topped with truffle chips and aioli. It’s great for sharing.
There you have it folks. The complete guide to mapping your culinary journey this May. Here’s to a palate-pleasing May!
ESTRELLA DAMM CULINARY JOURNEY
