Navigating a Good Time at the Gourmet Food and Wine Expo

The Gourmet Food and Wine Expo marks the end of the season on most Toronto food-lover's calendars. After months of picnics, charity events and restaurant openings, the local food and drink industry prepares for what is hopefully an onslaught of holiday parties, but for most food writers, it's usually the last big hurrah of the year. Which is why we tend to always have a good time at this event.

This isn't the case for many people and over the years the Expo has gotten a lot of flack - for a lack of gourmet food, for focusing on wine more than food, for not admitting kids (an issue beyond their control and which many of us are actually thankful for), and for not offering value for money. I don't know that I agree with those assessments necessarily, and I usually have a great time, discovering new wines, restaurants and products.

This year, the event runs from November 19th to 22nd. Having attended for a number of years now, here are my tips on making the most of the event.

Beforehand:

• Order your tickets in advance to bypass the ticket line when you arrive.
• Check out the event website and sign up for some of the Tutored Tastings - they're informative tasting events with some of Toronto's top sommeliers and they get you free admission to the expo floor.
• Make note of the 19+ policy - kids, even infants, are not permitted. This is not the decision of Expo organizers but is a rule established by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario. And besides, this really isn't a fun event for kids, especially when it's packed. And the rest of us will really appreciate not having to climb over a stroller to get to the wine.
• Plan what to wear - I joke that one day I'm going to invent a food writer's event toolbelt that will hold my camera, notebook, wineglass, and a plate, with pockets or pouches for both clean and used napkins and another for information sheets and business cards. In the meantime, a messenger bag purse and jackets with pockets will have to do. But the juggling act is something for other guests to keep in mind as well - places to put cards, drink tickets, etc, means less fumbling.

When you get there:

• Check your coat - unless you need it for the roomy pockets, the event is easier to navigate when you're not too hot and bulky.
• Grab one of the event tote bags if you think you'll need a place to stash stuff, but I actually prefer to get mine on the way out, since it becomes one more thing to carry.
• Look over the event guidebook to suss out areas of interest - or areas to avoid (like cocktail alley).

At the Expo:

• First, eat something - okay, many of the participating restaurants are not upper-tier gourmet (there's no booth for Splendido or Langdon Hall), but there's usually lots of choices, and with food options such as Acqua, EDO, Magic Oven, LOIC Gourmet, and Rodney's Oyster House, there's some good grub to be had. Plus, eating makes the booze settle better.
• Try, and buy, something new - food shops at the expo include Kozlik's Gourmet Mustard, Leslieville Cheese Market, XOCAI Healthy Chocolates, A Taste of Quebec and many more. Last year we bought some outstanding truffle mustard.
• Sample some wine - there are so many choices, but the featured country (this year is all about Portugal) is usually a good place to start.
• Talk to the exhibitors - these are the merchants and importers who bring in the products you're trying - let them recommend other products, or ask about availability.
• Try something new - if you usually drink wine, why not spend an evening drinking beer like we did last year? Okay, yeah, we normally drink more beer than wine, but it's also great to support the many brewers who participate in the expo - this year look for Black Oak Brewing, Creemore Springs, McAuslan Brewing, Nickelbrook Beer and Mill Street among others.
• Check out the events and demos at the expo. There's always something going on at the Food Network Stage, and this is where you'll get the "gourmet" vibe of the event with demos from the nominated "Nine of Dine" chefs, including Doug Neigel - l’unita; Marc Breton - Gladstone Hotel; Grant van Gameren - The Black Hoof; Dustin Gallagher - Grace Restaurant; Eran Marom - Marron Bistro Moderne; Rocco Agostino - Silver Spoon; Nick Liu - Niagara Street Café; Tyler Cunningham - Temple Kitchen; and Nuit Regular - SukhoTHAI. (You can help choose the winner on the event website!)
• Don't miss the fine wines tasting lounge - yes, samples are usually more expensive, but if you're an oenophile, this is the place to try the rare stuff. And if you attend on the Thursday VIP night, there's also a VIP area where samples are complimentary.

And finally:

• Don't drink and drive. There are always plenty of cabs at the Bremner Street exit of the convention centre - use one, or take TTC.

The Gourmet Food and Wine Expo runs from Thursday, November 19th to Sunday November 22nd at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. Tickets are $35 per person for the Thursday, or $15 per person Fri - Sun. This event is 19+.