#FNLROM is a highly anticipated social event that has been very popular with Torontonians since its introduction in 2012. Every Friday starting at 7 pm during the spring, and fall seasons; the ROM transforms itself into a lively event. The event offers young adults, and professionals with a venue where they are able to enjoy live music, dance the night away, eat delicious food, and gain late-night access to the museum. I was once again kindly invited to attend a special food tasting of Cycle 1 and Cycle 2 of Season 8 of Friday Night Live (FNL) last week.
This fall season is slightly different from the earlier ones, as they have a total of 18 different vendors this time around. Additionally, the event is split into two cycles of vendors to ensure that every one of the 18 total food vendors participates. Since I am a food enthusiast, this blog post focuses mainly on the food aspect of the event. However, there are plenty of things to do during #FNLROM such as walk around the exhibits, take in the entertainment, and enjoy the special activities designed to fit into that particular week's theme. You can read my take on #FNLROM Spring 2015 here.
This fall season is slightly different from the earlier ones, as they have a total of 18 different vendors this time around. Additionally, the event is split into two cycles of vendors to ensure that every one of the 18 total food vendors participates. Since I am a food enthusiast, this blog post focuses mainly on the food aspect of the event. However, there are plenty of things to do during #FNLROM such as walk around the exhibits, take in the entertainment, and enjoy the special activities designed to fit into that particular week's theme. You can read my take on #FNLROM Spring 2015 here.
Tickets available for ALL #FNLROM dates:
Tickets: Early-bird tickets are available online prior to all the events, but sometimes they do run out. So, the next step is to buy them at the door starting at 7 pm ($15 adults, $13 students/seniors, $5 members) on the night off the event.
* The fine print: ROM general admission tickets are not valid for FNL. FNL is a specially ticketed event for adults 19+ only
and you will be asked for valid ID (government-issued, not yet expired,
with photo and date of birth). For those who prefer a close
relationship with their bag, please note that bags are subject to
inspection and you may be requested to check them - the good news is,
it's free.
ROMBucks: There
are a handful of well-known food vendors (pop-ups and food trucks) on
both the main floor, and second floor of the museum this season. To
purchase
any food or alcohol, you need to use the ROM's currency called "ROM
Bucks". Basically, each food item and alcoholic drink cost 1 ROM Buck
($6). Additionally, there are plenty of booths throughout the museum where you can
buy the currency.
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Cycle 1:
Curbside Bliss (@curbsidebliss) - Curbside Bliss is Canada's first mobile gourmet bakery, and have catered several local events in the city. I decided to start my night off with some dessert, and grabbed two cupcakes before heading upstairs (1 ticket for 2 cupcakes). I really enjoyed their s'mores cupcake; it was moist with a nice graham cracker crust, light yet fluffy marshmallow fluff, and topped off with more marshmallow frosting.
Edo (@EDO_Toronto) - The
concept of a SushiRito is pretty interesting to me. It revolutionizes the way sushi can also be eaten, as Edo offers it as a burrito-sized sushi roll filled with kanikama,
cucumber, avocado, masago, salmon crabstick, romain, and spicy mayo. It's easy to eat, and tasty too!
Mnandi Pies (@mnandipies) - They offer Zimbabwean Style Meat Pies right here in Toronto, and there is also a veggie option as well.
Me.n.u (@meNuFoodTruck) - Me.n.u is a food truck serving Asian fusion food curbside on the streets of Toronto. Through social media, they have amass a loyal following for their rice balls, which have been a featured item at many local food events. For #FNLROM, they offered three variations of tacos. I opted for the Kimchi Pulled Pork Roti Taco - gochujang pulled pork, kimchi, pickled carrot, sweet chili slaw, crispy onions, and garlic mayo, which is nicely spiced with tender pulled pork.
My Crème Caramel (@GourmetFrench) - My Crème Caramel offers a wide range of French traditional desserts at selected fairs, and markets in Toronto.
Born2Eat
Abokichi (@Abokichi ) - Abokichi is a restaurant on Dupont St offering healthy traditional Japanese rice ball, the onigiri. I got their Yaki-onigri Japanese Grilled Cheese - served with 5 1/2 generation coleslaw, half milled rice stuffed with aged cheddar, chili OKAZU, burdock root, and carrot, which was basically an onigri stuffed with cheese.
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Cycle 2:
Fidel Gastro's (@fidelgastros) - One can consider Fidel Gastro's as one of the pioneers of #FNLROM, as he was one of the first vendors when the event started in 2012. Last Friday, they served tacos at the ROM, and I opted for the cowboy beef brisket taco. Tender beef brisket topped with onions, and cilantro was a good way to start round II of the tasting.
Hot Bunzz Street Cuizine (@HotBunzzTO) - Hot Bunzz Street Cuizine offers baked gourmet buns inspired by international cuisine. They use natural ingredients and no preservatives, so it's best to eat it immediately. I got the Sailor Jerry (1 rom buck) - our famous collaboration with Rock Lobster stuffed with East coast lobster, aged cheddar, fresh pears poached in Sailor Jerry rum, and topped with more lobster with brown butter, and Seoul City Beef Short Rub (1 rom buck for 2) - 5 hr kalbi braised beef short rib with caramilized onion, and topped with garlic aioli, kimchi puree, sesame sauce, and crispy onions.
Tita Flips (@TitaFlips) - The owner of Tita Flips has a retrofitted shipping containers at Market707 where she serves Filipino cuisine (Kanto). She offers three different dishes at #FNLROM, and I opted for the gluten-free palabok - cornstarch noodles with shrimp gravy topped chicken, tofu, shrimps, green onions, fried garlic bits, pork cracklings, and boiled egg slices, which had a nice tangy flavor to it. It's a popular Filipino noodle dish, and its name comes from the bright-colored orange shrimp sauce. Quite good!
feasTO (@FeasTOronto) - feasTO started in 2012, and they have been vendors at events such as Toronto Underground Market and the Junction Flea since then. Their menu consists of mainly dumplings, baos, and noodles. Unfortunately, the pork belly bao is too bite-sized for me, but the slaw that they serve with the dish is very well-balanced.
Ice Volcano Ice Cream (@IceCreamVolcano) - Ice Volcano Ice Cream specializes in serving the coolest, and coldest ice-cream by using -196°C liquid nitrogen. It's a great treat at the end of another fun night at #FNLROM.
Tita Flips (@TitaFlips) - The owner of Tita Flips has a retrofitted shipping containers at Market707 where she serves Filipino cuisine (Kanto). She offers three different dishes at #FNLROM, and I opted for the gluten-free palabok - cornstarch noodles with shrimp gravy topped chicken, tofu, shrimps, green onions, fried garlic bits, pork cracklings, and boiled egg slices, which had a nice tangy flavor to it. It's a popular Filipino noodle dish, and its name comes from the bright-colored orange shrimp sauce. Quite good!
feasTO (@FeasTOronto) - feasTO started in 2012, and they have been vendors at events such as Toronto Underground Market and the Junction Flea since then. Their menu consists of mainly dumplings, baos, and noodles. Unfortunately, the pork belly bao is too bite-sized for me, but the slaw that they serve with the dish is very well-balanced.
Ice Volcano Ice Cream (@IceCreamVolcano) - Ice Volcano Ice Cream specializes in serving the coolest, and coldest ice-cream by using -196°C liquid nitrogen. It's a great treat at the end of another fun night at #FNLROM.
Lastly, the ROM encourages all attendees to use social media at these
events by using the hashtag #FNLROM to document their night. Feel free
to check out all uploaded photos taken at these events on IG at https://instagram.com/explore/tags/fnlrom/.
Disclaimer: The entry and food provided in this post was complimentary. However, all of the opinions expressed in this review are of my own.
Address: 100 Queen’s Park, Toronto, ON, M5S 2C6
Instagram: https://instagram.com/romtoronto/
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Toronto-ON/Royal-Ontario-Museum
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Toronto-ON/Royal-Ontario-Museum
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/ROMtoronto
TripAdvisor: http://www.tripadvisor.ca/Attraction_Review-g155019-d155481-Reviews-Royal_Ontario_Museum-Toronto_Ontario.html
Disclaimer: The entry and food provided in this post was complimentary. However, all of the opinions expressed in this review are of my own.
