Torontonians above a certain age might remember an annual event called Caravan. Started in 1969 when Toronto's different ethnic communities were much more segregated than today, the event featured cultural pavilions at venues all over the city, each of them offering food and entertainment from a different country.
As people began to discover the city's various ethnic enclaves, and all of the great restaurants they encompass, Caravan started to die a slow death, finally folding a couple of years ago. But out in the 'burbs, the spirit of Caravan lives on in similar festivals that are still going strong.
One of these is Carassauga, an annual happening that takes place at various venues in Mississauga. Marking its 24th year in 2009, this year's edition takes place this weekend, and features 40 different cultures represented at pavilions throughout the city. And to make it even better, the festival passport includes free unlimited access to Mississauga Transit routes that service the pavilions.
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.
photo from Carassauga website
Sat, May 16, 2009 -- Mon, Oct 12, 2009
Food!: Sink Your Teeth Into Science
Ontario Science Centre, 770 Don Mills Road
10:00 AM to 5:00 PM
various admission prices
Explore the relationship between food and science in a wide variety of mini-experiments and demonstrations throughout the Centre. Learn how we digest food; how worms digest food - vermicomposting; the misconceptions around eating insects; how butter is made from cream; test your lunch box for it’s cooling effectiveness; learn about rotting foods; understand what your food labels are really saying; test real vs. fake flavours; and much more.
[more info]
Fri, May 22, 2009
5th Annual Spring Festival Of Craft Breweries
C'est What, 67 Front Street East
5:00 PM to 10:00 PM
free admission - $1 per sample
C'est What presents their annual Spring Festival Of Craft Breweries, featuring 40 different craft brews to sip and sample from breweries including Amsterdam, Black Oak, Durham, F&M, Great Lakes, Mill Street, Nickel Brook and more.
[more info]
Fri, May 22, 2009 -- Sun, May 24, 2009
Carassauga Festival 2009
various locations in Mississauga
various times
$10.00 available at Winners, HomeSense and shopping malls throughout the GTA
Carassauga is one of Ontario's largest multi-cultural festivals and has been recognized as one of the Top 100 Festival & Events in Ontario by FEO (Festival and Events in Ontario). Over three fun filled days, guests can view pavilions that represent different countries around the world. Each pavilion depicts the culture of their country of origin through food, music, art, dance, fashion, historical displays, games and vendors.
[more info]
Fri, May 22, 2009
Green Gastronomy with Chef Donna Dooher
c5 Restaurant, Royal Ontario Museum, 100 Queen’s Park
$95 - call 416.586.7928 to reserve
The Green Gastronomy dinner series pairs celebrity chefs with local farmers and wineries to spotlight sustainable food and wine production. This month, c5 Executive Chef Ted Corrado partners with Donna Dooher (Mildred's Temple Kitchen). Donna is an accomplished chef, author and culinary advocate with an approachable style to cooking.
[more info]
Sat, May 23, 2009
Laura Calder
The Cookbook Store, 850 Yonge Street
2:00 PM
free admission
French classics, with some Asian twists from this popular personality of TV's French Food at Home. Who can resist delicacies from Laura Calder's new book, France Taste.
[more info]
Sat, May 23, 2009 -- Sun, May 24, 2009
Niagara-on-the-Lake Wine & Herb Festival
various wineries in Niagara-on-the-Lake
various times
touring passes are $30 until April 24 - $35 after
The Wine & Herb Festival is back again this May, bringing together the Wineries of Niagara-on-the-Lake for a casual celebration of great wine and fresh herbs. Spend a weekend touring the 21 Wineries of Niagara-on-the-Lake where each stop will feature a different herb-themed food pairing matched to a premium VQA wine selected to highlight the flavour and aroma of the herb.
[more info]
Sat, May 23, 2009 -- Sun, May 24, 2009
Festival of Chefs 2009
Cheese Boutique, 45 Ripley Avenue
free admission
Cheese Boutique's Festival of Chefs features 10 of Toronto’s finest chefs giving cooking demonstrations each Saturday and Sunday in May, cooking with ingredients from the store, and pairing their complimentary dishes with local wineries wine for festival patrons. By taking these celebrated chefs out of their kitchen and into the public, foodies are able to interact with the chef, and the chef is eager to hear the input of the consumer. Schedule: May 2 - Anthony Walsh (Canoe); May 3 - Patrick McMurray (Starfish); May 9 - Massimo Capra (Mistura/Sopra); May 10 - Anne Yarymowich (Frank); May 16 - John Higgins (George Brown); May 17 - Ryan Gustafson (EPIC); May 23 - Robert Bartley (MLSE); May 24 - Donna Dooher (Mildred's Temple Kitchen); May 30 - Mike Steh (reds bistro); May 31 - Jonathan Gushue (Langdon Hall).
[more info]
Sat, May 23, 2009
Great Lakes Summer Kickoff BBQ
Great Lakes Brewery, 30 Queen Elizabeth Blvd
12:00 noon to 6:00 PM
free
Great Lakes Brewery, Toronto’s oldest craft brewery, hosts their sixth annual Summer Kickoff BBQ. Friends, neighbours and beer-lovers are invited to visit the brewery to enjoy Great Lakes beer, free food and soft drinks and live music. 100 per cent of profits from Great Lakes beer sales made on Saturday May 23 at the brewery as well as the LCBO and Beer Stores throughout Ontario will be donated to the Gatehouse, an organisation that addresses the needs of children and their families, youth and adults whose lives have been affected by childhood abuse.
[more info]
Sun, May 24, 2009
Maple Syrup & Wild Leek Festival
Eigensinn Farm, 10th Concession of Grey Highlands, House Number 449357
1:00 PM
$160 - call 519-922-3128 for tickets
Enjoy a multi-course menu celebrating maple syrup and the wild leek, prepared by chefs including Michael Stadtländer, Paul Böehmer, Adam Colquhoun, Andrea Greyerbiehl, John Higgins, Daisuke Izutsu, Jamie Kennedy, Andrew Laliberte, Chris McDonald, Kevin McKenna, Robin Pradhan, Anthony Rose, Anthony Walsh and Hiro Yoshida. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to local food banks.
[more info]
Mon, May 25, 2009
Bertani Tasting & Dinner
Mistura Restaurant, 265 Davenport Road
6:15 PM tasting and reception - 8:00 PM dinner
$195 - call 416-365-5767 or 1-800-266-4764 to reserve
Vintages is proud to present a unique and remarkable opportunity to taste-travel across nearly 50 years of exquisite winemaking. This special retrospective tasting event features iconic Veneto wine styles from the masters at Bertani, including classic vintages of Amarone and Recioto dating back to 1962. The structured tasting will be led by Lorenzo Boscaini, who will provide insights into the evolution of the wines and answer any questions.
[more info]
Mon, May 25, 2009 -- Sun, May 31, 2009
Paella Festival
Embrujo Flamenco Tapas Restaurant, 97 Danforth Avenue
6:30 PM
$49 - call 416 778 0007 to reserve
From the pan of pans, paella is a famous saffron-flavoured dish made using unique ingredients like bomba rice, found only in Spain. Embrujo Flamenco's Paella Festival is featuring a range of paella dishes like Arroz Negro (black rice), truly one of the most exotic paella flavours, served with seafood and cooked in squid ink; and Paella Primavera (spring produce paella), a blend of seasonal, fresh produce signature dish for Valencia. Diners will enjoy a gazpacho starter, followed by a selection of 4 paellas featured daily and dessert - either the famous Flan dish, or Peras al Horno, poached pears, served in sweet marsala wine - plus live entertainment (Wed–Sun only).
[more info]
Mon, May 25, 2009
Viva Italia: Dinner with Chef Marco Canora
The Chefs' House, George Brown College, 215 King Street East
6:00 PM
$195
Enjoy a gourmet Italian meal prepared by Chef Marco Canora of award-winning NYC restaurants Hearth and Insieme, appearing with co-owner and Master Sommelier Paul Grieco. Ticket price includes food, wine and all taxes and gratuities. Proceeds to The Ontario Hostelry Institute Culinary Foundation for Chefs.
[more info]
Mon, May 25, 2009
Merlot in May
Faculty Club, University of Toronto, 41 Wilcocks Street
6:30 PM to 9:30 PM
$50 for SAW mmbers - $60 guests
California Merlot is one of the leading red varietal wines purchased today. Merlot consumption has grown dramatically in the last 15 years. The Society for American Wines are fortunate to have some of the best California selections in our cellar. Our new Cellar Master, Chris Bee, has selected some great wines for this event and will be speaking about them during the tasting.
[more info]
Tue, May 26, 2009
1999 Brunellos
Toronto Board of Trade, First Canadian Place
6:00 PM to 8:00 PM
$68 for TVC members - $88 for guests
Brunello is considered to be one of the richest and most prestigious wines produced in Italy, largely due to its exclusivity. Declared a ‘great vintage’ by Jancis Robinson, 1999 Brunello ranks second only to the 1997 vintage (a "classic") and Toronto Vintners Club is fortunate to present 8 wines from a highly rated year.
[more info]
Tue, May 26, 2009
Ricardo
The Cookbook Store, 850 Yonge Street
5:00 PM
free admission
Come and meet Quebec superstar and TV cooking chef Ricardo. His energy and enthusiasm for food and cooking will leave you feeling inspired as will his new book Ricardo: Meals for Every Occasion. And of course there will be samples to tastes from the new book.
[more info]
Tue, May 26, 2009
Viva Italia: Lunch with Chef Alessandro Tugnoli
The Chefs' House, George Brown College, 215 King Street East
11:30 AM to 1:30 PM
various prices - see below
Enjoy hand-made pasta specially prepared, as well as several other rustic dishes, but Chef Alessandro Tugnoli from La Capriata Ristorante in Bologna, Italy. Regular lunch prices apply: $18 for 2 courses, $22 for 3 courses, $25 for 4 courses (plus tax and gratuity).
[more info]
Wed, May 27, 2009
Viva Italia: Dinner with Chef Marco Soldati
The Chefs' House, George Brown College, 215 King Street East
6:00 PM
$125
Enjoy a gourmet Italian meal prepared by Chef Marco Soldati from the famed ALMA Institute in Italy, our Partner School. Tickets include food, wines, taxes and gratuity, with proceeds going to support the Post-Graduate Italian Program at The Chef School, George Brown College.
[more info]
Wed, May 27, 2009
An Organic Wine Journey Through Tuscany
Niagara Street Cafe, 169 Niagara Street
6:30 PM
$125 - call 416.703.4222 to reserve
Please come and spend an evening with Luca Tommasini, owner/winemaker of Sangervasio Wines. This leading organic Tuscan winery produces highly reviewed, superb value wines. Anton Potvin and Nick Liu will be serving a wonderfully rustic locavore menu of hors d'oeuvres, followed by four courses, using home-grown organic ingredients to match the wines of the evening.
[more info]
Wed, May 27, 2009
Seasonal Celebrations Dinner
Gilead Cafe, 4 Gilead Place
6:30 PM
$75 - call 416-362-1957 to reserve
At Jamie Kennedy Kitchens we are in tune with the changing seasons of Southern Ontario. Each season has strong inspiration that informs the creative process for Chef Kennedy. Come and celebrate the best of what each season has to offer with Chef Kennedy at Gilead Café at a series of twice-monthly Seasonal Celebrations, each featuring a six-course dinner and optional Ontario wine pairings.
[more info]
Thu, May 28, 2009
Wine Country Comes to the City
Toronto Board of Trade, First Canadian Place, 100 King Street West
5:00 PM to 9:00 PM
$48
The 21 Wineries of Niagara-on-the-Lake invite you to join us for an exciting evening of tasting, wine education and exceptional food, hosted by Angela Aiello and Paxton Allewell of iYellow Wine Club. You’ll get to meet and chat with 21 winemaking personalities and taste 42 exclusive new VQA releases from one unforgettable place - Niagara-on-the-Lake. Our culinary partners Oliver & Bonacini will present delectable offerings to complement the 42 wines.
[more info]
Thu, May 28, 2009
Summer Means Pink Wine
Globe Bistro, 124 Danforth Avenue
6:30 PM
$30 - email info@globebistro.com or call 416-466-2000 to reserve
The Globe continues our popular Taste and Learn series with roses, the favourite pink wines of summer. Join us in learning about the different expressions of pinkness from around the world. Tickets include tasting wines and a selection of Globe canapes featuring local ingredients.
[more info]
Thu, May 28, 2009
The Local Food Movement Dinner Series
Gilead Cafe, 4 Gilead Place
6:30 PM
$60 - call 416-362-1957 ext 380 to reserve
Learn more about the local food movement from the people involved, and meet artisan food producers, wine makers and cheese makers through this informative, intimate dinner series. Enjoy a three course menu prepared by Chef Jamie Kennedy, inspired by the work of our rural partners in food and wine. For a list of participating producers and wineries, see the link below.
[more info]
Thu, May 28, 2009
Viva Italia: Lunch with Chef Alessandro Tugnoli
The Chefs' House, George Brown College, 215 King Street East
11:30 AM to 1:30 PM
various prices - see below
Enjoy hand-made pasta specially prepared, as well as several other rustic dishes, but Chef Alessandro Tugnoli from La Capriata Ristorante in Bologna, Italy. Regular lunch prices apply: $18 for 2 courses, $22 for 3 courses, $25 for 4 courses (plus tax and gratuity).
[more info]
Thu, May 28, 2009
Viva Italia Tasting Reception
The Centre for Hospitality & Culinary Arts, George Brown College, 300 Adelaide Street East
6:30 PM to 9:00 PM
$125 at UofTtix.ca
Join us for the Viva Italia Tasting Reception where you will encounter leading Italian chefs from Italy and Ontario who will prepare a wide array of delectable tastings for you to savour. Admission includes all food, wine and entertainment. Proceeds will benefit student scholarships for the George Brown Chef School Italian Culinary Arts Program.
[more info]
