It's the first official weekend of the summer, and festival season is kicking into high gear, with big events happening all across the city.
Veteran festivals include the Taste of Little Italy, the International Dragon Boat Race Festival, and Franco-Fête de Toronto, marking their 11th, 21st and 27th years respectively. Somewhat younger are the 6th annual Cooking Fire Theatre Festival, 2nd annual EcoSavvy Festival, and 2nd annual BIG On Bloor. And the baby of the bunch is the Toronto Wine and Spirit Festival, taking place for the first time this year in the Distillery District. Throw in the usual assortment of wine tastings, dinners and such, and we're looking at a very busy next seven days.
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.
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]
Sun, Jun 14, 2009 -- Sat, Jun 20, 2009
sip & Savour Ontario Restaurant Promotion
various restaurants
various times
various prices
During Ontario Wine Week, sip & Savour Ontario teams up with local restaurants to feature Ontario VQA wines and outstanding seasonal cuisine. Participating restaurants will be offering unique Ontario VQA wines by the glass along with featured selections of locally sourced culinary creations. For a list of participating restaurants and other information, see the link below.
[more info]
Wed, Jun 17, 2009 -- Sun, Jun 21, 2009
The Cooking Fire Theatre Festival
Dufferin Grove Park, 875 Dufferin St
6:00 PM
$6 for dinner - PWYC for performances ($10 suggested)
The Sixth Annual Cooking Fire Theatre Festival is a week-long performance extravaganza celebrating theatre, food and public space in Toronto’s Dufferin Grove Park. Local, national and international theatre companies will present original work that promises to delight, entice, and inspire. Delicious organic meals will be served to the audience over cooking fires and from Dufferin Grove Park’s two wood-fired outdoor community bake ovens. Building on the success of the last five years, this year’s Cooking Fire Theatre Festival will offer the experience of enchanting and challenging theatre, wonderful food and the beginning of summer.
[more info]
Fri, Jun 19, 2009 -- Sat, Jun 20, 2009
The Toronto Wine and Spirit Festival
Distillery District
Friday: 6:00 PM to 11:00 PM
Saturday: 12:00 noon to 5:00 PM & 6:00 PM to 11:00 PM
$25 advance - $30 at the gate
Toronto’s first outdoor wine and spirit festival is here! From tastings in the original Fermenting Cellar of the former Gooderham and Worts distillery and gourmet fair in the Boiler House, to seminars in tented pavilions on the brick lined paths, this truly is a unique setting for this kick off to summer. There will be approximately 40-50 vendors offering a variety of libations from wine and spirits to ready to drink cocktails and beer. There will be something for everyone's palate, so come prepared to sample and find your new favourite.
[more info]
Fri, Jun 19, 2009 -- Sat, Jun 20, 2009
Eco Savvy Festival
Mel Lastman Square, 5100 Yonge Street
4:00 PM to 10:00 PM
free admission
The EcoSavvy Festival is an exciting free event for the public, focused on helping consumers to make informed choices while promoting local and sustainable businesses and organizations. Guests will be introduced to green and responsibly made products & services, including sustainable fashion wear, non-toxic cleaning products, chemical free & organic make-up, safe organic kids products, and delicious local organic food. Topping off this enlightening experience will be live entertainment, an eco-fashion show, organic food sampling, and fun interactive activities for all ages.
[more info]
Fri, Jun 19, 2009 -- Sun, Jun 28, 2009
Pride Week 2009
various locations
various times
some free events - various prices for other events
Pride Week in Toronto is one of Canada's premier arts and cultural festivals and one of the largest Pride celebrations in the world. Together with the thousands of individuals, community groups, businesses and participating sponsors, we are proud to celebrate the lives and stories of Toronto's Queer Communities. Pride Week features 10 days of world class arts and cultural programming, community activities, one of the world’s largest street festivals, Pride Parade, Dyke March, Family programming, Blackness Yes and Youth and much more.
[more info]
Fri, Jun 19, 2009
Green Gastronomy with Chef Anthony Walsh
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 award winning culinary star Anthony Walsh, who creates inspired regional Canadian cuisine at Toronto's #1 restaurant, Canoe.
[more info]
Fri, Jun 19, 2009 -- Sun, Jun 21, 2009
Taste of Little Italy
College Street between Bathurst and Shaw
various times - see website for details
free admission
One of Toronto's original neighbourhood food festival, Taste of Little Italy lets you sample food and drink from dozens of restaurants in Little Italy, ranging from Italian favourites to cuisines from around the world. You can also enjoy live music and other entertainment for the whole family.
[more info]
Fri, Jun 19, 2009 -- Sun, Jun 21, 2009
Franco-Fête de Toronto
Harbourfront Centre, 235 Queens Quay West
various times
free admission
Lovers of French culture come from all over the GTA to this event par excellence. The 27th edition of Franco-Fête showcases Francophone Ontario, and Toronto's cultural vitality. Over the three days, French-speaking communities will be highlighted through a rich assortment of activities.
[more info]
Sat, Jun 20, 2009
FoodShare's Open House and AGM
Foodshare, 90 Croatia Street
10:00 AM to 4:00 PM (Open House)
free
Please join Foodshare, in our 25th year, as we celebrate our work and look to the future with the launch of our Strategic Plan. The day's events will include Foodshare's Annual General Meeting (10:00 to 11:00) followed by an Open House with a fresh salad bar lunch at 12:15 PM; panel discussion at 2:00 PM with Margaret Webb, Robert Albritton, Wayne Roberts, Judy Rebick and Debbie Field; bee-keeping and garden demonstrations; children’s activities; fresh produce market; tours and so much more.
[more info]
Sat, Jun 20, 2009
Magic Oven Solstice Party
Magic Oven, 360 Queen Street East
7:00 PM to 1:00 AM
$20 - email tony@magicoven.com to RSVP
Art, wine, food and music come together on this unforgettable night. Art by Kyle Tonkens; the debut of Our Daily Red, Canada's first sulfite-free organic red wine; 20 kinds of pizzas; and hot tunes to make you move. Admission price includes all the pizza you can eat and a glass of the featured wine.
[more info]
Sat, Jun 20, 2009
BIG On Bloor
Bloor Street West, from Christie to Lansdowne
1:00 PM to 9:00 PM
free
Get BIG on Bloor! Bloor Street West will be "car free" from Christie Pits Park to Lansdowne Avenue. Come celebrate local community, business, arts and culture. Rent one or more tables and join the festival. Sell something, share something, teach something — use your imagination! At 6:00 pm, we will all gather around our tables for Toronto's BIG dinner party. Invite your friends and family to this one-of-a-kind experience.
[more info]
Sat, Jun 20, 2009
Strawberries and Asparagus Festival
Cedarvale Park, 551 Arlington Avenue
12:00 noon to 5:00 PM
free admission
Strawberries and Asparagus is a spring harvest celebration that incorporates renewable energy, live music and green living. The event will include free food, festival fun, live music, solar stage, solar cooking, green building and the very excellent Inorganic Market.
[more info]
Sat, Jun 20, 2009 -- Sun, Jun 21, 2009
Toronto International Dragon Boat Race Festival
Centre Island
free admission
One of the most exciting summer events in Canada, the Toronto International Dragon Boat Race Festival combines culture and sports with ethnic group performances, food stalls, and more than 180 teams competing the races.
[more info]
Sun, Jun 21, 2009
Summer Solstice Street Festival
St. Joseph Street between St. Nicholas and Yonge
12:00 noon to 7:00 PM
free
Chocosol Traders presents a Summer Solstice Street Festival, featuring community activities, delicious local food, street scrabble, salsa on the street, open mic entertainment and more. Free food tastings presented by Christopher McDonald (CAVA Restaurant), Karen Viva Haynes (Viva Tastings), Chrystal Porter (Palais Royale), John Maxwell (Allen’s), Paul DeCampo (Slow Food Toronto), Fabio Bondi, Michael Sangregorio & Therese De Grace (Local Kitchen and Winebar), and Leslie Steh (Far Niente).
[more info]
Tue, Jun 23, 2009
Tastes of Tomorrow Farm Field Trip
various stops in Grey County
6:30 AM to 7:00 PM (approx)
$15 for Tastes of Tomorrow members - $50 for non-members - contact tastes@georgebrown.ca for more details
Located where the Niagara escarpment reaches Georgian Bay, Grey County is at the northernmost stretch of Ontario's agricultural heartland. Farming is more than an industry in Grey County, it's a way of life. This day-long field trip will include stops at the Keady farmers market and livestock auction, an orchard and cidery, Grass Roots Organics specialty grain mill, the Saugeen County diary, and one of the county's 100 Mile Market stores.
[more info]
Tue, Jun 23, 2009 -- Wed, Jun 24, 2009
Wine and Jazz Matching
Campbell House Museum, 160 Queen Street West
6:00 PM to 9:30 PM
$60
The Advocates' Society & the Ontario Wine Society present an evening of wine and jazz to raise funds for Campbell House Museum. Enjoy the sounds of The Alison Young Trio, sip Ontario wines paired with local, seasonal, fresh foods prepared by Curator Liz Driver and the museum's volunteer historic cooks, and support Campbell House, the oldest remaining brick home from the original site of the Town of York.
[more info]
Wed, Jun 24, 2009
Glenfiddich Taste & Talk
Six Steps Lounge, 53-55 Colborne
6:30 PM to 8:30 PM
$30 - email glenfiddich@ddbcanada.com to reserve
This first in a series of exclusive "Taste & Talk" events featuring Glenfiddich. Guests will have a chance to meet modern-day world explorer Colin Angus and taste a range of single malt Scotch whiskies from Glenfiddich, the most awarded single malt Scotch whisky in the world.
[more info]
Wed, Jun 24, 2009
Taste & Learn: Unique Global Whites
Globe Bistro, 124 Danforth Avenue
6:30 PM
$30 - email info@globebistro.com or call 416-466-2000 to reserve
Perfect for summer, this event will feature some lesser known white grapes like Chenin Blanc and Chasselas from around the world. Tickets include tasting wines and a selection of Globe canapes featuring local ingredients.
[more info]
Thu, Jun 25, 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, Jun 25, 2009
Global Wine Tour: Exploring The Wines Of Bordeaux
Fine Wine Reserve, King Street West and Spadina
7:00 PM to 10:00 PM
$75 - call 416-909-0460 to reserve
Join one of Canada's foremost wine experts, Steve Thurlow, on a one evening tour of Bordeaux's most important wine regions. This interactive evening will have you tasting 8 different wines and learning about the different wine producing appellations of this very historic wine producing region. Over the course of the evening, you will learn how the wine making styles, grape varieties, and unique micro climates improve quality and makes both its reds and whites highly celebrated throughout the world. 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]
