This past Saturday Collette and I went down to Harbourfront for the Hot n Spicy food festival. Like any (largely) outdoor festival in Toronto the crowds were crazy. We didn't get to sample all the food we may have liked, but we did get to try a kind of empanada from south america, the exact name eludes me but it was folded grilled tortilla stuffed with beef, beans and a ton of veggies .. and it came with two very fiery dipping sauces. Can you say Yum?
There was the International Marketplace which is set up at Harbourfront on the summer weekends. We didn't make a purchase but it's always cool to stroll through the tents and browse a little
And it's always nice to be down at the Inner Harbour on a summer evening. A nice breeze was coming off the lake, people were strolling along the quay and there were a lot of boats in the water. The number of harbour cruise boats was a bit startling, to be honest. At any given time you could see at least six of them prowling around out there
There were free concerts as well. The little amphitheatre at Harbourfront is one of favorite venues in the city. Although covered, it is outside, it is small and intimate and it's right on the water. Though the performers on stage, gazing out over the audience at the harbour, have the best views
The opening act was a Latin band, which we expected for this festival. The food in the tents was mostly a combination of Latin American and West Indian vendors.
But we also had one of those pleasant little surprises you are occasionally awarded in life. Walking back down the quay, later in the evening, we heard this strange and compelling sound coming from the amphitheatre. It turns out it was a sitar, but not played in any way I've before heard. There was also a guy wearing a large East Indian drum around his torso, and a DJ mixing dance tracks.
"Oh" says Vic to Victor, "it's like an Indian dance band ..."
And at that moment this little red headed female fiddle playing dervish comes whirling across the stage, rocking out some Celtic grooves that would make Ashley MacIssaac proud. Well, that got both Collette and I entranced and we moved in to get a better look
The band is called Deli 2 Dublin. As the name implies, it's a fusion of Indian and Irish music with a lot more going on: Dance tracks, a little rap, songs in both English and Hindi, pop sounds .. a whole musical kitchen sink. It all worked. Collette and I are both fans of Celtic music and I've been a fan of Middle Eastern sounds mixed with European style rock or electro. These guys were taking it a whole new level. The energy level onstage was truly infectious. This is a live band, apparently formed for one-off show in Vancouver and kept together by their festival appearances
Unfortunately you won't get to see any of Deli 2 Dublin in the video. My venerable little Samsung palmcorder, which was bought second hand and which has served me well over the last 3 years, seems to be on his last legs
A moment of silence please
So, wonky video notwithstanding, here's just a little sample of our evening. At one point we got a table at the little patio right beside the amphitheatre, where we could hear this exciting young band while gazing out over the water. We finished the evening off by indulging in some totally messy but totally delicious gourmet ice cream
Hot food, fiery music, a cool breeze wafting in over the Island, cold beer, frosty ice cream .... what more needs to be said
Hot n Spicy Food Fest from Victor Kellar on Vimeo.
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