Sunfest: Five unusual foods to sample at world music party

Article content

Running through Sunday at London’s Victoria Park, Sunfest is both a celebration of international music and of foods from far and wide. Reporter Beatriz Baleeiro sampled some of the offerings for festival-goers and suggests trying these dishes and treats.

AKARA
A soft fritter made with black-eyed peas, served with a sauce or a blend of spices, akara is a specialty of Yaya’s Kitchen, a west African restaurant at 630 Dundas St. in London and one of the food vendors at the festival. To accompany the dish, chef Maryam Wright recommends Zobo, a sweet hibiscus drink made with spices and cane sugar.

Article content

TANG HU LU
If you’re looking for a sweet treat, why not try one that’s gone viral on social media? Tang Hu Lu is a Chinese street snack made of fresh fruit on a stick dipped in sugar. More than just a tasty snack, it’s also a beautiful treat, says Super Smash Juice’s Gary Wu. He expects to sell more than 2,000 of the desserts this weekend, he says.

SUPER-SIZED CHICKEN SKEWER
For the truly hungry, there are plenty of options on the menu at the Thaifoon booth in the park. One, a feature at the restaurant’s Masonville location, is a  super-sized chicken skewer that can easily be shared between two or more people. The chicken is seasoned with a sweet barbecue sauce and honey flavour. More than 2,000 skewers and chicken pad thai servings are expected to be sold over the festival’s run.

CHANCHO CON YUCA
The centrepiece of Comida Nicaragua, which usually operates from a London church at 111 Clemens St., chancho con yuca is a marinated pork dish served with cassava, rice and beans and cabbage salad. Owners Herbert and Esther Lopez, married and working together for almost 50 years, proudly say their restaurant is “100 per cent Nica” and has options for all taste buds.

Article content

PALETA
This Latin American dessert with a twist should cool anyone down on a hot summer day. Think popsicle with gelato and sorbet bases. The frozen creations are made with ingredients including milk, cream, kosher and halal bases. “It’s more than a popsicle, it’s unique,” said PalettAmérica owner Armando Ramirez, who’s operated the business for eight years and brought it to London a year ago. More than 10 flavours are available, but the go-to ones are strawberry cheesecake and passion fruit with condensed milk.

bbaleeiro@postmedia.com

Share this article in your social network