TASTE MRKT at Scarborough Town Centre
Name: TASTE MRKT at Scarborough Town Centre
Address: 300 Borough Drive, Scarborough, Ontario M1P 4P5 , Canada
Website: Website
Wifi: Yes
Instagram: @shopSTC
Twitter: @shopSTC
Tender: Debit, Credit, Cash
Neighbourhood: Scarborough, Toronto
Type: International
Last week I was invited to visit the newly opened Phase 1 of TASTE MRKT at Scarborough Town Centre, which is located just a 20 minute drive Northeast of the Toronto core. After a massive renovation undertaking the previous food court has been replaced by the new TASTE MRKT which features cuisines from all over the world and is a culturally diverse as Toronto is.
Truthfully, I was super curious as to what exactly $37 million dollars in renovations scores you. When I first arrive the first thing I notice is the skylight. It’s massive, which is good to me considering it’s an architectural vision. Gone are the fluorescent lights that cast those harsh shadows on your lunch and your carefully selected outfits for a day of power shopping. The sklyight completely floods the TASTE MRKT with natural light making it an inviting and beautiful space to dine in.
One of the things I love most about Toronto is just how culturally diverse it is, and that is definitely reflected in our food scene as people from all over the world choose to settle here and bring the flavors of their culture with them. The new TASTE MRKT definitely celebrates Toronto’s diversity with a wide variety of food vendors from all different cultures. It was nice to be able to have easy access to food from all different parts of the world in one place and in a sense was the perfect way to see Toronto – all different cultures, all one place, coming together as one.
Phase 1 of TASTE MRKT features 22 quick service food brands including classic favorites like McDonald’s, Subway, Villa Madina, and Cultures to name just a few. In addition they also have some new international tastes available, everything from Thai, to Greek, to French Bistro and Pastry with Brioche Dorée.
After doing a quick run around the space I finally decide to try out MII Sandwich Co., a Vietnamese quick service vendor that serves traditional Vietnamese street food with a modern twist. Quite honestly, I’ve never seen this type of cuisine offered in a food court before and I’m excited to try it out after reading the menu. Baos, Banh Mi, and mango smoothies? I’m definitely down. Bao down.
I start out with their new Rice Paper Fresh rolls. Braised pork, fresh lettuce, and vermicelli noodles are enveloped in a thin sheet of rice paper and served with a side of hot chilli sauce. It’s fresh and light, but full of flavor. Especially when dipped in the chilli sauce. It’s the perfect snack or appetizer to any meal.
Next, I try out their baos in the Grilled Five Spice Tofu and Oyster Mushroom and the Grilled Korean Bulgolgi Beef. The steamed white bao bread is warm and fluffy. Just as it should be, and it does a great job of encasing the fresh vegetables, sauces, beef, mushrooms, and tofu.
Lastly, I try the Caramelized Tiger Shrimp Sandwich which consists of Tiger shrimp, caramelized onions, parsley are sandwiched in between a French baguette. This ends up being my favorite dish as the shrimps are cooked perfectly and all the flavors complement each other well.
Before I head out I have to make a stop at the floor art installation done by the ridiculously talented mastermind Dani Roche of Kastor and Pollux. In honor of the cultural diversity of the 2016 Rio Olympic games and TASTE MKRT, original floor designs were created representing the different cultures that are featured in the TASTE MKRT food providers. Inspiration for the art installation was taken from the cuisine of that country and their language with each decal featuring a word in the country’s language describing cuisine.
Overall I really enjoyed my experience at the new TASTE MKRT at Scaroborough Town Centre. The skylight, natural light, and sleek new décor make the space feel open and modern. The variety and diversity of the food options offered also elevated the dining options and experience. It definitely did not feel like a typical food court anymore, it felt more like a sleek, modern eatery in a trendy neighborhood. After seeing what Phase 1 of the Taste MRKT had to offer I’m pretty excited to see what Phase 2 looks like with plans to have more upscale, interior patio-style seating underneath the existing skylight, more upscale licensed restaurants, retail stores featuring high-quality fashion and lifestyle brands, and expanded access control parenting and family rooms.
In addition, to celebrate the opening of the TASTE MKRT, Scarborough Town Centre will be giving away $500 shopping gift card. All you have to do is:
- Follow @shopSTC on Instagram or Twitter
- Take a photo with your favorite Kastor and Pollux TASTE MKRT floor art decal and upload it to social media with the hashtag #TASTEMKRT
- Contest ends Aug 21, 2106, see website here for complete details
Personally, I could definitely use a $500 gift card to use at the Zara there, which is the largest location on the East side. Yup, some serious damage could be done by me there.
Disclaimer: This post was done in collaboration with Scarborough Town Centre. All opinions expressed are my own. All menu offerings and prices are accurate as of time of posting. Please refer to restaurant/shop for most up to date information.
*All images are copyrighted Allons.Y Styling & Photography. Please do not use or re-post without written consent and provide credit where applicable
