Toronto’s street food scene is reduced to hot dogs and sausages — it seems the most variety you’ll find here is bacon bits at one vendor versus diced onions at another. The Toronto Star had an article yesterday on how provincial regulations limit street food vending, and the growing interest in changing these regulations. There are a number of people who have ideas about how Toronto’s street food scene could be changed in order to allow for healthier and more diverse food choices. The article suggests that if they were allowed more flexibility in what they could sell, street vendors could provide affordable, nutritious meals to under-serviced, low-income areas.
Photo courtesy of Kevin Steele
4 comments
Hear hear! I’m always really disappointed that it’s just hotdogs and sausages across the city and almost always the same ones at that (regular, veggie, german, italian and polish). The food safety herring is just one thrown out since people don’t want to take time to create new and viable solutions for other types of food.
I would enjoy a chance to have some variety in my choices. Taco trucks like in SoCal, noodles (like mentioned in the article), or a good high quality donair (the joys of the Turkish fast food cooking in Germany).
Wait a minute, what about all the grilled corn in Little India as well as all the ‘Tastes of…’ festivals that take place all summer long in various parts of the city and its parks? Are they regulated by the same rules? Personally, I never noticed the dearth of street food variety but that’s because I’m not a fan of eating while walking down the street. For about the same price, or sometimes cheaper, you can find delicious sit- down or fast food of all gastronomies all over town. Why get street meat for $2.50 when I can pay $3.00 and get a falafel and a place to sit?
the thing i always miss about new york is the “nuts 4 nuts” stands. they always smell delicious and have peanuts, almonds, cashews or a mix covered with cinnamon sugar. mmm!
Leonard – I forgot about that – but I think they get away with grilling the corn since it’s attached to a permanent building where they can take stuff to wash.