ayyy before Fergie decided to compound her name with half of “delicious”, the organizers behind Toronto’s most famous summer dining event had already jumped on the “licious” idea. With prix fixe lunch options that range between $15.00 -$20.00, you too can lead the G-L-A-M-O-R-O-U-S life and dine like a celeb at these five star eating establishments from July 4 to 20, 2008. Don’t expect to see Fergie though.

Brassaii Bistro Lounge
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to lunch in one of those trendy lofts designed with a modern stainless-steel industrial aesthetic? Brassai’s open space features raw wood beams, black tones and a vivid, aluminum, communal breakfast bar that cuts a dramatic slash across the entire dining room. Talk about King West drama. The open kitchen gives diners a view of the frantic Summerlicious action while minimizing the usual noise and smoke. Add a glass of vino to your fusion lunch for the perfect complement and casually contemplate skipping the rest of your work afternoon.



Bymark
The woefully pathetic Bay Street grid has been livened up with Chef Mark McEwan’s much-heralded restaurant/lounge full of tittering white collars and suits. The heir of North 44 brought his multidimensional talents to this self-named gastrodrome where a high-end lunch menu fills the rooms on weekdays (so make your Summerlicious reservations pronto!). The dazzling space, located in the atrium at the TD Centre, feels more like a gallery than a restaurant – the perfect aesthetic to show off the kitchen’s culinary creations.




Canoe
You want Canadian cuisine at its finest without the beavers, hockey or Lumberjack references but are sick of Tim Hortons turkey bacon club. On the menu at Canoe: Refined Canadiana. Picture paddling on a rushing West coast river among king salmon jumping upstream, or imagine a Quebec Maple Syrup sugar shack where the sticky stuff is freshly poured onto snow banks to make sweet winter treats, or perhaps your vision of Canada is an East coast trip on the Cabot trail where you can peruse tiny fishing villages and get a healthy dose of the salty sea air. Bonacini’s tribute to our wonderful country capitalizes on Canada’s marvelous coast to coast culinary resources.



Courtyard Café
Lawyers, jet setters and Alpha types buy into the Windsor Arms mystique thanks to (their overflowing wallets) the see-and-be-seen reputation of the CC. Now you too can take advantage of the Summerlicious lunch deals to hobnob with the wealthy within the historic hotel’s café. You'll find the great hall drama of bulked-up columns and high, high ceilings and, just off the main grandeur, little roomlets for side-table service. Spark a rowdy, politically charged conversation to add some excitement to the noontime hour but refrain from asking for legal counsel.




Doku 15
We all knew that Emperor Dooku was kinda nutty, but multiply him by 15, remove an “o” and add some sake to the mix to reach crazy new culinary heights! While hotel bars aren’t the typical noontime haunts, you can take a walk on the wild side with some signature sake liquids to accompany your Asian tapas lunch. Caution – attempting the subway-ride Sudoku after a saketini just might lead to an early onset of dementia. Both Dokus (and even the dementia) will make life more interesting.





The Drake Hotel
What was to be an 'urban crash pad,’ has taken a left turn and has been unleashed as a boutique with a wildly original look and feel. Artists cum hipsters cum scenesters cum posers all haunt the Drake for inspiration or in hopes of absorbing some artsy vibes from the plethora of cultured individuals within. Lunch is a great time to escape the post-9-to-5 dining crew, sushi barflies and party kids, especially if you don’t have the right wardrobe to fit in.





Lobby
Dripping with flamboyance and fanfare, Lobby has managed to transcend its contemporary, white-washed, South Beach-inspired décor that plagues many a trendy resto by adopting a more sophisticated, decidedly urban design. Drawing inspiration for the refurbished ambiance from the '40s, with a tip of the hat to swank supper clubs like New York's Stork Club (thanks to the help of the Designer Guys), the usual throng of stilettos and eye-blinding bling makes a presence at Lobby. If you get down with the affluent, pompous, and celebrated, or just want to see where they dine, make a lunch date at Lobby.



Monsoon Restaurant and Lounge
Fortunately, Monsoon brings all the exotic, rich, and sensual features of India to this venue and takes a pass on the damp, wet and rainy aspects of the Monsoons. The sunburnt amber glow of the space is enhanced with natural woods, mammoth pillars and iridescent candle lighting. Moonsoon’s take on Asian fusion cuisine has been tailored for the North American palate yet patrons are guaranteed a truly inspiring gastronomic experience. If you can’t afford the flight to Asia or want an aromatic reminder of a recent trip, head to Monsoon for a delectable lunch.




Rosewater Supper Club
Reignite the romance with your partner during a secret lunch tryst at the Rosewater Supper Club. The quaint little patio lends itself to a beautiful view of the stunning exterior architecture and a rosy glow on the cheeks from the sun. If the delicious flavors and sensual gourmet experience doesn’t spark a fire, meeting your mate in their pressed power suit certainly will.






Thuet Bistro
What could be better than dining on a gourmet lunch crafted by the kitchen of Marc Thuet - a fourth-generation chef from Alsace, France? The vast 90-seat dining room redefines the space as pure restaurant with a sea of leather-bound chairs and pockets of semi-circular booths and dark wood accents that outline the long bar, open kitchen and service areas. All the creature comforts a fine French foodie could want.
-E.J.