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5 · Friday, October 19, 2012 OAKVILLE BEAVER · www.insideHALTON.com Canadian Made Sectionals $1899 from SECTIONALS MADE TO FIT YOUR ROOM 10 STYLES ON DISPLAY ERIC RIEHL / OAKVILLE BEAVER / @halton_photog ON THE MENU: The sixth annual A Taste of Downtown Oakville was launched at the Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts. Here, Paridiso's Meredeth Reid and Nathan MacLellan show off a sample of what's to be expected downtown. By Dominik Kurek OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF A Taste of Downtown continues to Oct. 22 CANADIAN MADE TOP GRAIN LEATHER SOFA $1598 PREMIUM CONSTRUCTION A Taste of Downtown has returned. It continues to Monday, Oct. 22 and local restaurateurs are asking residents to stop in. During the course of the bi-annual event, 18 downtown area restaurants are offering their signature prix-fixe lunch and dinner menus. "This will be a better culinary experience than downtown Toronto," said Carrie Olver, an Oakville resident and The Weather Network personality who emceed a kick-off event recently. "Who wants to drive down there when you have all this food here?" asked Olver. The Downtown Oakville BIA hosted the kickoff at The Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts, and nine of the participating restaurants served up samples of their choice meals. "This gives locals an opportunity to try the tastes of different restaurants in downtown Oakville," said the owner of Coriander Green who goes only by Chef Harminder. Specializing in Indian cuisine, the restaurant is a mainstay of the Taste of Downtown event. After five years of taking part, Harminder said it has been successful for both residents and restaurants, including his own, as it has helped bring in new customers as residents find out what's available locally. Event organizer Meredith Read, general manager at Paradiso restaurant, said Taste of Downtown Oakville is a great way to high- light what's here in town. "We have such great dining establishments in the downtown area and we just want to highlight them. There are so many different types of cuisines. This gets everyone together and working together," she said. There are some newcomers to this year's dining celebration -- among them, The Works Gourmet Burger restaurant. "I hope anybody who doesn't know us will get to know we're here," said The Works kitchen manager Paul Upper. "There are nothing but fine establishments on the street," said The Works general manager Aaron Turner. "We feel that we bring something unique to Oakville that you can't find anywhere else. We are gourmet, but we're also really laid back." Another newcomer to Taste of Downtown is Suvai Classic Indian Cuisine, which specializes in healthy foods. Owner Thiru Maran has been in the restaurant industry for 35 years and has just opened the Oakville venue. Maran said he's hoping people will come and taste for themselves what he's been cooking for so many years. "I'm hoping for good exposure. I'm hoping people will come out and try our food," he said. "The culinary experience in this town is incredible. It sets the bar in other communities and not enough people know about it," said Olver. For more information, visit www. oakvilledowntown.com. LARGE SELECTION OF TV CABINETS AND BARSTOOLS Canadian Made Solid Wood bedrooms Queen bed $898 1029 SPEERS RD, OAKVILLE · 905.842.3739 www.joshuacreekfurniture.com HOURS: MONDAY TO WEDNESDAY 10-6 · THURSDAY & FRIDAY 10-8 SATURDAY 10-6 · SUNDAY CLOSED