If St. Patrick's Day is the day when everyone is Irish, I guess this weekend, we'll all be Scottish, as there are a kilt-load of events happening around town marking the 250th birthday of Robbie Burns.
Bars, restaurants and other venues hopping on the Burns bandwagon include The Granite Brewery, Cowbell, Mackenzie House, the ROM, Allen's, Fionn MacCool's, and the full chain of Duke pubs. And those are just the ones we know about.
If whisky and/or haggis ain't your thing, there's plenty of other stuff to do over the next seven days, including events dedicated to wine, cupcakes, chocolate, potatoes and more. The full list of happenings for the next week follows below, and as always, our Events page has more information on these and many other upcoming events in Toronto and area.
Mon, Jan 12, 2009 -- Sun, Jan 25, 2009
Great Scot! Robbie Burns Festival
Duke of Westminster, First Canadian Place, 77 Adelaide Street West
Duke of Somerset, 655 Bay Street
Duke of Devon, Toronto Dominion Centre, 66 Wellington Street West
Duke of York, 39 Prince Arthur Avenue
Duke of Richmond, Toronto Eaton Centre, 20 Queen Street West
Duke of Kent, 2315 Yonge Street
free admission - various prices for food & drink
It’s the 250th anniversary of the bard’s birthday! Come celebrate Scotland’s great son, Robbie Burns, by savouring Scottish menu specials with a wee dram of scotch. On Friday January 23rd, we'll have a traditional Pipe Band playing throughout the pubs as well as the Addressing of the Haggis.
[more info]
Fri, Jan 16, 2009 -- Sun, Jan 25, 2009
Niagara Icewine Festival
various locations in the Niagara Region
various times
various prices
For ten days in January the Niagara region is transformed into a wintry wonderland, celebrating one of Canada's most cherished products, Ontario Icewine. From Gala evenings, ornate ice bars and Icewine Dinners, to roasting chestnuts, decadent dessert pairings and educational winery tours along Niagara's famed wine route, the 14th edition of the Niagara Icewine Festival offers plenty for every taste.
[more info]
Thu, Jan 22, 2009 -- Sun, Jan 25, 2009
Guelph Organic Conference
Guelph University Centre
various times
free admission to trade show/expo - various prices for lectures, seminars and workshops - see link below for details
The 28th Guelph Organic Conference, with the theme "O is for Opportunity", includes a free-admission Trade Show and Organic Food Expo, a keynote address by Wayne Roberts of the Toronto Food Policy Council, and a free open forum on "The New Face of Farmers’ Markets" hosted by the Toronto Farmers’ Market Network. There will also be a wide variety of seminars and workshops on organic growing topics, and an Organic Food and Wine Dinner.
[more info]
Fri, Jan 23, 2009
Global Wine Tour: Exploring The Wines Of Argentina
Fine Wine Reserve, King Street West and Spadina
7:00 PM to 10:00 PM
SOLD OUT
Join one of Canada's foremost wine experts, Steve Thurlow, on a one evening tour of Argentina's most important wine regions. This interactive evening will have you tasting 8 different wines and learning about the different wine producing regions of this very celebrated wine producing nation. Over the course of the evening, you will learn about the unique wine making styles and grape varieties that makes it one of the world's most important wine producing nations. You will also learn about how to match food to the types of wines coming from there. A small sampling of dainty morsels will be provided to assist in the learning of matching food with wine.
[more info]
Fri, Jan 23, 2009 -- Sat, Jan 24, 2009
Robbie Burns Banquet
The Granite Brewery, 245 Eglinton Avenue East
7:00 PM
$50 - call 416-322-0723 or email ron@granitebrewery.ca to reserve
A traditional Burns Supper featuring pipers, great food & drink, and lots of haggis!
[more info]
Sat, Jan 24, 2009
Robbie Burns Night at Cowbell
Cowbell Restaurant, 1564 Queen Street West
5:00 PM to 11:00 PM
call (416) 849-1095 to reserve
It’s time to dust off your tartan, as Cowbell will be celebrating the 250th anniversary of Robbie Burns Night, offering haggis, tatties and neeps along with its regular menu. The haggis will be piped in, and the address to the haggis will be given by Tyler Stewart of the Barenaked Ladies. Cowbell also invites diners to bring their favourite poems written by Burns to share with the room.
[more info]
Sat, Jan 24, 2009
Robert Burns Celebration
Fionn MacCool’s, 70 The Esplanade
6:00 PM to 1:00 PM
free admission
Guests will be treated to a host of traditional Robbie Burns celebratory fare, entertainment and drink. The evening will include exclusive Scotch Whisky Master classes with Dewar's Ambassadors, whisky toasts and Robbie Burns readings, complimentary Haggis and Dewar's Whiskey sampling with traditional finger foods, giveaways and live music.
[more info]
Sat, Jan 24, 2009
Queen Charlotte's Birthday Ball
Fort York National Historic Site, 100 Garrison Road
7:00 PM to 9:00 PM
$95.23 (+GST) for all events - various prices for single events - call 416-392-6907 to reserve or for more details
A day-long celebration of music, food and dance. Entertaining in the Canadas in the late 18th and early 19th centuries always included a ball in January to celebrate the Queen's birthday. Our event echoes this tradition with an afternoon dance workshop and presentation, a sherry tasting and elegant Georgian-style buffet supper, and an evening ball with live music. Costumes welcome.
[more info]
Sun, Jan 25, 2009
Celebrating Scottish Heritage: Robert Burns Day 250th Anniversary
Royal Ontario Museum, 100 Queen's Park
2:00 PM noon to 4:30 PM
various prices - see link below for details
Banish the winter blahs with the ROM’s Robert Burns celebration. It’s entertaining, dynamic, colourful, musical, ceremonial, historic... and delicious! Whether you are very Scottish, somewhat Scottish, or not Scottish at all, this event is not to be missed! Robert Burns will be celebrated with Scottish country dancing, and a live performance of music from the R.S. Williams Collection held in Rare Book Collections of the Museum’s Library. Watch the ceremonial arrival of the haggis, and try some, too.
[more info]
Sun, Jan 25, 2009
Robbie Burns Day
Mackenzie House, 82 Bond Street
12:00 noon to 4:30 PM
various prices - see link below for details
Celebrate the 250th birthday of the famous Scottish Poet with toe-tapping live music, shortbread and a smiling haggis! Hear some comical stories about the oft misunderstood haggis.
[more info]
Sun, Jan 25, 2009
Chinese Lunar New Year 10-Course Banquet
venue t.b.a.
6:00 PM
$45 before Jan 12th - $50 after - contact info@torontowalksbikes.com or 416-923-6813 to reserve
Shirley Lum of A Taste of the World Walking & Bike Tours presents a hosted Chinese New Year Eve feast. Over the years, so many repeat walking tour guests wistfully requested for the opportunity to experience an authentic and exciting menu set by Shirley that will tantalize all the senses. Now, banquet attendees will love the tips on how to pace themselves through 10-courses, the legends and lore behind certain dishes chosen. All guests will love cracking open the new Chinese horoscope book to get advice for their animal signs during the Year of the Ox.
[more info]
Sun, Jan 25, 2009
Children's Chocolate Workshop
Stubbe Chocolates, 653 Dupont Street
1:00 to 2:30 PM
$70 - call 416-923-0956 to reserve
An hour-and-a-half class for children age eight and up that gives students a hands-on experience working with chocolate to make their own fun treats to take home.
[more info]
Sun, Jan 25, 2009
Burns Night at Allen's
Allen's, 143 Danforth Avenue
$55 - call 416-463-3086 to reserve
An informal, spirited, and artistic celebration of the great poet Robbie Burns' birthday, featuring a three course traditional menu, music by the Blackwater Pipe Band, songs by Andy Webster and highland dance performances. The esteemed Burnsian Jimmy Hunter addresses the haggis at 6:30. Music immediately thereafter.
[more info]
Sun, Jan 25, 2009
Humble & Delicious: The Potato
George Brown College, Hospitality & Tourism Building, Room 112, 300 Adelaide Street East
2:00 PM to 4:00 PM
$15 for Slow Food Toronto members - $25 for non-members - advance tickets at UofTtix.ca or (416) 978-8849
Chef/Farmer/Entrepreneur David Cohlmeyer (Cookstown Greens) will lead a guided tasting of a dozen different potatoes. We will explore the history, culture, and varying organoleptic characteristics of the different potatoes, and how these differences inform their culinary applications.
[more info]
Sun, Jan 25, 2009
Cupcake Camp Toronto
Labspace Studio, 2A Pape Avenue
2:00 PM to 5:00 PM
$5 at the door - $2 for bakers
Sample cupcakes and marvel at the creative and tasty designs, network with fellow bakers, get recipe ideas and suggestions (from both bakers and tasters), and get advice on how to take your cupcake hobby to that next level from others who have made the successful leap to a small baking business. If you’re a bride-to-be or just planning a special event, find that talented someone to provide your festivities with that sweet special something. Whatever your reason, we hope you’ll join us in celebrating these miniature confectionery classics!
[more info]
Mon, Jan 26, 2009
Days of Wine & Chocolate
University of Toronto Faculty Club, 41 Willcocks Street
6:00 PM to 8:30 PM
$47 for OWS members - $57 for non-members
The Ontario Wine Society presents a chocolate and wine tasting. The chocolates that we will be matching with wine come from Daniel Le Chocolate Belge, with the owner of the Toronto store, Sue DeGrandis, appearing as guest speaker. Sue will speak on the history, growing and manufacturing of cocoa, and will lead a tutored chocolate tasting. Michael Pinkus will lead us through the wine and chocolate matching.
[more info]
Mon, Jan 26, 2009
Vegetarian Main Courses to Please Carnivores
Great Cooks on Eight, 401 Bay Street (Simpson Tower), 8th Floor
6:00 PM
$110 - call 416-861-4333 for details
In her varied career as a chef, Nettie Cronish has been a health spa chef, the owner of a vegetarian frozen food company, a consultant and Chair of the Women's Culinary Network. A respected chef, teacher and cookbook author, she and her recipes have been featured in magazines, newspapers, on radio and television. The vegetarian menu taught at this class will delight all kinds of eaters, including carnivores.
[more info]
Tue, Jan 27, 2009
Calamus Estate Wines Futures Tasting
cafe Taste, 1330 Queen Street West
6:00 PM
$15 - call 416.536.7748 to register
Calamus Estate Wines in Niagara is allowing guests to pre-buy their outstanding upcoming vintage. Winemaker Arthur Harder will be in attendance to walk you through a tasting and provide insights on the vintage and why is such a special one.
[more info]
Tue, Jan 27, 2009 -- Wed, Jan 28, 2009
Regional Italian Cooking with Chef Giuliano Bugialli
Great Cooks on Eight, 401 Bay Street (Simpson Tower), 8th Floor
6:00 PM
$130 (or both classes for $240) - call 416-861-4333 for details
Mr. Bugialli reigns as the most popular Italian cooking teacher and demonstrator in the United States. He is also the author of several best selling cookbooks, the latest being "Parma, A Capital of Italian Gastronomy". The combination of his deep knowledge, remarkable techniques and passion for authenticity, consistently attract record breaking audiences to his classes. Meet this celebrated chef and enjoy a wonderful Italian meal!
[more info]
Tue, Jan 27, 2009
Knife Skills Tutorial with Chef Martin Kouprie
The Cookbook Store, 850 Yonge Street
7:00 PM
$15 - call 416.920.2665 or visit the store to reserve
Scared of knives, not sure of proper technique? No matter the skill level this hands on evening at The Cookbook Store, will leave you feeling far more sure of yourself when it comes to knife use. So bring your favourite kitchen knife and Chef Kouprie will guide you through a hands on demo of knife skills. Cutting board will be provided and all the fruits and vegetables for chopping. You will be taking home a chopping board and a Victorinox paring knife. Our neighbours from The Kitchen and Glass Place will have a variety of knives and sharpeners on display. Refreshments and nibbles will be served.
[more info]
Wed, Jan 28, 2009
Vintages Wine 101
The Arcadian Court, 8th Floor, 401 Bay Street
6:00 PM to 9:00 PM
$55 - call 416-365-5767 or 1-800-266-4764 to reserve
Vintages Wine 101 is an interactive evening to help you unravel the mysteries of the wine world in a fun environment. It's everything you wanted to know about wine, but were afraid to ask – and it's easier than you think! Join the friendly experts from Vintages who will share their knowledge about wine. Learn how to taste wine, how to read a wine label, food and wine matching tips from a restaurateur and more, and sample over 30 different wines from around the world.
[more info]
Thu, Jan 29, 2009
Cupcake Decorating Skills
Madeleines, Cherry Pie and Ice Cream, 1087 Bathurst Street
6:30 PM to 7:45 PM
$225 for 10-week course
A weekly class to learn cake decorating skills on cupcakes. Each week we will focus on different techniques from piping with different tips and icing to hand made leaves and flowers. The ten week program (Jan 22nd to Mar 26th) will give you new skills and delicious cupcakes to take home and share with family and friends. On the last class you will decorate a spring theme cake using the skills you have learned. The goal is to come together in a casual environment and share "quality time" while learning or improving on skills you already have (and may not know it!)
[more info]
