To most people, the world of Danish beer begins with Carlsberg and ends with Tuborg, with not much in between. But the hardcore beer nerds know that Denmark - and the rest of Scandinavia, for that matter - is currently a hotbed for adventurous craft brewing.
Unfortunately, very few beers from the region are available here in Toronto. But thanks to the efforts of import agents Roland + Russell, two of Denmark's most notable small breweries, Mikkeller and Nørrebro Bryghus, will be the focus of an 8 course beer pairing dinner next Wednesday at beerbistro. Chef Brian Morin and his team always pull out all the stops for these dinners (those who were there still talk lovingly about last year's Dogfish Head dinner), and Nørrebro brewmaster Anders Kissmeyer will be on hand to discuss his beers and the Danish brewing scene in general.
The full list of food & drink 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.
Wed, Feb 25, 2009 -- Thu, Apr 30, 2009
Carrot City
Chalmers Design Centre and Teknion Lounge, Design Exchange, 234 Bay Street
10:00 AM to 5:00 PM Mon-Fri - 12:00 noon to 5:00 PM Sat-Sun
free admission
This exhibition displays how the design of cities and buildings is enabling the production of food in the city. It explores the role that creative design professionals have in relation to the food system of cities, and the impact that agricultural issues will have on the design of urban spaces and buildings as society addresses the issues of a more sustainable pattern of living. The focus is on how the increasing interest in growing food within the city, supplying food locally, and food security in general is changing urban design and built form.
[more info]
Sat, Mar 07, 2009 -- Mon, Apr 13, 2009
TRCA Sugarbush Maple Syrup Festival
Kortright Centre for Conservation, 9550 Pine Valley Drive, Woodbridge
Bruce's Mill Conservation Park, Stouffville
9:30 AM to 4:00 PM - runs on Saturdays & Sundays, March Break (March 16-20), and Easter long weekend (April 10-13)
$8 for adults - $6 for kids and seniors - free for children
4 and under
Tap into spring at the annual TRCA Sugarbush Maple Syrup Festival! This popular event will include wagon rides, fun demonstrations, all-day pancake breakfasts with maple syrup, and much more. Visitors will learn about the history of maple syrup and how it is made today. As a tasty souvenir, delicious maple treats will be available for families to bring home.
[more info]
Sat, Apr 11, 2009
Eat The Street: Czehoski
Czehoski, 678 Queen Street West
7:00 PM
Mammalian Diving Reflex, in association with Parkdale Public School presents "Parkdale Public School vs. Queen Street West 2: Eat the Street", a critical dinner series. Get a brutally honest take on the restaurants of Queen Street West with this unique series of dinners where the only opinions that matter are those of the kids. Like luminous bolts of lightening, the Parkdale Public School Pumas have suddenly become restaurant critics. They'll be checking out the food at eleven of Queen Street's finest dining establishments and offering their brash, incisive, and audacious opinions. Come enjoy dinner with this illustrious jury of Parkdale Pumas, get a rare chance to eat with the critics, and get a sneak preview of what they love and what they hate. Loud and opinionated vocal pronouncements guaranteed!
[more info]
Sun, Apr 12, 2009
EPIC’s Easter Brunch
EPIC restaurant, Royal York Hotel, 100 Front Street West
seatings at 10:30 AM and 1:00 PM
$70 per person - $35 for children ages 5-12 - free for children under 5 - call 416-860-5050 to reserve
EPIC restaurant’s Easter Brunch is an elegant and traditional buffet that includes festive dishes and a live guitarist to set the Easter ambience. There is also a children’s area set up in the private dining room with movies, colouring and a visit from the Easter Bunny.
[more info]
Sun, Apr 12, 2009
Easter Sunday Royal Brunch
Casa Loma, 1 Austin Terrace
seatings at 11:00 AM, 12:00 noon and 1:00 PM
Adults: $43.35 + PST/GST / Children (4-12): $21.60 + PST/GST / Children (1-3) - $11.00 + PST/GST - call (416) 923-1171 to reserve
Casa Loma's Royal Brunch Buffet, served in the stately elegance of Toronto's famous castle, is an event to remember. The Library is a spectacular setting for your meal. Brunch includes Castle admission with the ability to explore the castle at your leisure. The buffet includes numerous hot and cold selections, salads and desserts.
[more info]
Mon, Apr 13, 2009
Ontario Wine Fair
U of T Faculty Club, 41 Willcocks Street
6:00 PM
$37
The Ontario Wine Society invites you to participate in our wonderful Sixth Annual Ontario Wine Fair. This event offers an informal format where you can mingle with OWSers and friends while enjoying a wide selection of wines from most Ontario wineries. There will be over 300 Ontario VQA wines to taste from crisp and dry to luscious and sweet.
[more info]
Tue, Apr 14, 2009
City Bites Food + Wine Experience: Chef Anthony Walsh
The Kitchen at St. Lawrence Market, 93 Front Street East
6:00 PM to 8:00 PM
$50
Anthony Walsh is the Executive Chef at Canoe, recently named best Toronto restaurant by Toronto Life magazine. His respect for local and Canadian-sourced ingredients is long-established, and his market-fresh dishes at Canoe are always seasonally conscious and sourced from the finest artisinal producers. For this City Bites event, Walsh teams up with Purdy’s Fish Market, which has been providing Southern Ontario with the finest lake fish since 1900, and will prepare two whitefish dishes paired with wines from Norman Hardie, one of Prince Edward County’s finest producers.
[more info]
Tue, Apr 14, 2009
Recession Reds
grano restaurant, 2035 Yonge Street
6:30 PM to 11:00 PM
$25 - call 416.440.1986 to reserve
Join Billy Munnelly for a tasting of 20 red wines priced at ten dollars or less, all from the 2009 edition of Billy’s Best. The evening will feature a tasting led by Billy, followed by a pasta supper with more wine.
[more info]
Wed, Apr 15, 2009
VQA Wine Tasting with Darryl Brooker
Vineyards Estate Wines, 228 Queens Quay West
7:00 PM to 8:30 PM
$16 before April 5th - $21 after - call 416.598.8880 to reserve
Darryl Brooker was led to Canada and the Niagara Region from Australia in 2003, having been impressed with the region’s outstanding potential to produce world class wines at every level. Darryl joined Hillebrand Estates Winery in 2005, and was honoured with the Tony Aspler award of excellence (Winemaker of the Year) at the Cuvee gala held February 27, 2009. Darryl will talk about how 2007 is the best Ontario vintage ever, and will conduct a tutoured tasting of select 2007 VQA wines, answer your questions and sign bottles.
[more info]
Wed, Apr 15, 2009
Lit Lunch: Elizabeth Baird and Bonnie Stern
Toronto Reference Library, 789 Yonge Street
12:30 PM to 1:30 PM
free admission - $5 for lunch (limited quantities, first come first served)
Indulge in fun discussion with a tantalizing line-up of writers and speakers. Bring your lunch or buy one for $5. This session: Get tips for your next party from dishing divas Elizabeth Baird (The Complete Canadian Living Baking Book) and Bonnie Stern (Friday Night Dinners). Part of Keep Toronto Reading 2009.
[more info]
Wed, Apr 15, 2009
Danish Beer Dinner
beerbistro, 18 King Street East
6:00 PM
$120 (+ taxes/gratuity) - on sale March 27th - call Kathleen McGinn or Cheri Dueck at 416.861.9872 to reserve
beerbistro and beer importers Roland + Russell proudly present a great evening celebrating Danish cuisine and craft beer. Throughout the evening, Brian Morin and his team will be offering eight courses highlighting a chef’s interpretation of traditional and modern Danish cuisine. Each dish will be perfectly matched with one of eight spectacular beers from two of Denmark’s finest breweries – Nørrebro Bryghus and Mikkeller - being specially brought in for this event. Canada’s own Stephen Beaumont will provide an unbiased and passionate sketch of Denmark’s vibrant craft beer landscape, and tentatively confirmed for this evening is Anders Kissmeyer, the man behind Nørrebro Bryghus and one of Denmark’s most recognized artisanal brewers.
[more info]
Wed, Apr 15, 2009
Equality Day: A Celebration of Women
George Brown Chef School, 300 Adelaide Street East
6:30 PM to 9:30 PM
$150 - see info link below for more details
In recognition of Equality Day, when Section 15 of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms was enacted to guarantee equality rights for women and other disenfranchised groups, the Women's Legal Education and Action Fund will celebrate women that have succeeded in their personal journey to become chefs and winemakers. The culinary industry is predominately male dominated, making it a difficult career path for many women to achieve success. Partner with us to learn about the life experiences of remarkable female chefs and winemakers, share a taste of their success through inspired menus and delicious Canadian wines made by women. Featuring chefs Heather Baker, Donna Dooher, Dinah Koo, Susie Reading & Anne Yarymowich, and winemakers Deborah Paskus, Ann Sperling & Sue Ann Staff.
[more info]
Wed, Apr 15, 2009
Literary Buzz: A Trip Down Under
Lillian H. Smith Library, 239 College Street
7:00 PM to 9:00 PM
free admission for discussion - $25 for wine tasting - advance tickets available at library
Join writers for a literary discussion followed by guiding wine tastings led by author and international wine journalist Edward Finstein. This week: Chef and author Jennifer McLagan (Fat) on the food and culture of her native Australia. Then enjoy a guided tasting of the wines of Australia. Part of Keep Toronto Reading 2009.
[more info]
Thu, Apr 16, 2009
Canadian Opera Company Fine Wine Auction
Crush Wine Bar, 455 King Street West
6:00 PM to 9:00 PM
$50
Canadian Opera Company’s successful Annual Fine Wine Auction celebrates its 10th anniversary this year bringing wine lovers together as they raise their glasses and bidding paddles at the newly-renovated Crush Wine Bar and Restaurant. Returning to lead the live auction is Auctioneer Stephen Ranger of Ritchie’s Auctioneers and Appraisers. The evening’s events include wine and hors d’oeuvres and a live auction, where wine enthusiasts and ardent collectors can either add to or begin a collection of some truly notable treasures. Guests can also bid in a silent auction that offers an assortment of exclusive and exciting items including a trip for two to Quebec City, Niagara winery tours, and dinner packages for some of Toronto’s top restaurants.
[more info]
Thu, Apr 16, 2009
Lit Lunch: Warren MacKenzie and Ken Hawkins
North York Central Library, 5120 Yonge Street
12:30 PM to 1:30 PM
free admission - $5 for lunch (limited quantities, first come first served)
Indulge in fun discussion with a tantalizing line-up of writers and speakers. Bring your lunch or buy one for $5. This session: Warren MacKenzie and Ken Hawkins (New Rules of Retirement) provide a better understanding of how the economy will affect your future. Part of Keep Toronto Reading 2009.
[more info]
Thu, Apr 16, 2009
Ladies Night
Fermenting Cellar, Distillery District, 55 Mill Street
7:00 PM to 9:30 PM
$99 - call 416 440 4101 or email wineevents@liffordwine.com to reserve
Join us for a celebration of women and the special bond between female friends. Taste exclusive wines, savour gourmet food, and hobnob with HGTV's Hottest Duo, Colin McAllister and Justin Ryan, hosts of Colin and Justin’s Home Heist. Proceeds to support of lupus research at Toronto Western Hospital. Admission includes a copy of Colin and Justin’s Home Heist Style Guide.
[more info]
Thu, Apr 16, 2009
From Beer to There
various locations
7:00 PM to 9:00 PM
$150 for three-part series - to register or for more details, call 416-973-4093, email learning@harbourfrontcentre.com or visit link below
A three-part beer tasting and appreciation course for beginner beer enthusiasts, or the experienced guzzler! This course will take you through the origins and different types of beer, appropriate food pairings, and introduce you to some of the best beer bars in the city.
[more info]
