Drake One Fifty's Twilight Tuesdays Night Market

By: Shelby Morrison

The after work rush hour can be a pretty hectic scene in downtown Toronto. Instead of hopping on the busy, stuffy subway right after work, why not consider grabbing some delicious food and drinks? In the heart of the Financial District, you will find Twilight Tuesdays, presented by Drake One Fifty. The York Street Parkette, directly next door to Drake One Fifty is transformed into a small night market with plenty of food, drinks, art and live music. For the third year in a row, this event takes place every Tuesday in August and benefits the charity, Out of the Cold. I attend the first Twilight Tuesday of the year and sample delicious eats.

Every Tuesday night, Drake One Fifty will be on site showcasing some of their delicious food, while different restaurants will join each week. The restaurants featured throughout August are Pizzeria Libretto, Momofuku, Tundra, The Gabardine, Richmond Station, Smoke Signals BBQ and Thoroughbred Food and Drink. 

I start off with some grub from Drake One Fifty and have the chicken wings, as well as dumplings. The wings are crispy, yet remain juicy and tender on the inside. The pork and shrimp dumplings have generous amounts of stuffing, which is always a welcome treat. I thoroughly enjoy the dishes from Drake One Fifty and find them quite satisfying.

Also on offer is a pork bifana sandwich, as well as pulled pork sandwich, and sweet and sticky ribs. The latter dish is very popular! 

My favourite dish of the night is from Tundra, the restaurant at the Hilton Hotel. The smoked brisket sandwich is topped with maple BBQ sauce, coleslaw, micro greens, and is stuffed between pretzel bread. The meat is juicy, and the bread is perfectly soft with a nice bite. The sweet sauce also helps bring the whole thing together and balances out the richness. For a more refreshing dish, I choose the lobster and shrimp salad with buttermilk dressing. There is a significant amount of seafood, as well as fresh cucumber and tomato for freshness. 

If you’re looking to quench your thirst, Ace Hill Brewery, as well as Havana Club, Altos Tequila and Jacob’s Creek Moscato are on site.

As for dessert, Drake One Fifty serves up vanilla soft serve at a “make-your-own-sundae station”. I get quite excited at the sight of ice cream and candy, so this creamy treat is the perfect ending to a delicious evening out. 

Relax and unwind after work at Twilight Tuesdays to take in some good eats, music, art and an all around fabulous time!

Food + Drink tickets: $5 each.
Time: Every Tuesday in August from 5:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Venue: Drake One Fifty Parkette

Shelby Morrison is a Toronto-based food blogger and freelance writer. She has a passion for food and living the most delicious life, while enjoying every step of the way. She eats her way through Toronto, yet loves to travel the world for unique and tasty finds.