It’s an East vs. West showdown this weekend, as Cabbagetown and The Junction both host their annual community street festivals. And sitting roughly in the middle, you’ll find the ever-popular Vegetarian Food Fair down at Harbourfront, where even carnivores are welcome. Watch for a full preview of the VFF here on Taste T.O. later today.

Also this weekend is the second annual Black Creek Brews Fest at Black Creek Pioneer Village. Earlier this week, we gave away some regular tickets to the event, and now we have a special bonus giveaway: a pair of tickets for Saturday which not only include admission to the Brews Fest (and the rest of the Village), but also two seats at a special 3-course lunch with beer pairing being hosted by beer writer Stephen Beaumont at the Half Way House Restaurant at 1:30pm.

The contest is now closed. Thanks to all who entered.

To enter, send an email to brewsfest@tasteto.com before 11am today with “BLACK CREEK - BEAUMONT” in the Subject line and your full name in the body of the email. The winner will be chosen at random and notified via email, and their name will be on the guest list with a ‘+1′ at the Black Creek box office on Saturday.

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.

Continue reading T.O. Events for September 5th-11th »

Just a friendly reminder that we are giving away six pairs of passes to this weekend’s Black Creek Brews Fest at Black Creek Pioneer Village. For more details on the event, see our post from a few days ago.

The contest is now CLOSED. Thanks to all who entered.

To enter, send us an email at brewsfest@tasteto.com with “BREWS FEST TICKET GIVEAWAY” in the Subject line and your full name in the body of the email. Winners will be chosen at random at 3pm today and notified via email. Winners’ names will be on the guest list with a ‘+1′ at the Black Creek box office. Good luck!

One of the highlight craft beer events of 2007 was the inaugural Black Creek Brews Fest up at Black Creek Pioneer Village, so it’s great to see that it’s coming back this year even bigger and better. Taking place this coming weekend - Saturday, September 6th and Sunday, September 7th - from 11:00 AM to 4:30 PM each day, the Brews Fest will once again feature some of the best craft breweries in Ontario today, while also celebrating the province’s rich brewing history.

One of the few complaints that many people had about last year’s event was the small number of breweries on hand, so this year, the number has been doubled from five to ten, including Black Oak, Steam Whistle, Mill Street, Neustadt and more. In addition to sampling beer, you’ll also be able to learn about it, with beer and food experts including Mirella Amato, Roger Mittag, Julia Rogers and Dorothy Duncan presenting talks and workshops throughout the weekend. On Saturday, beer writer Stephen Beaumont will be hosting a lunch with beer pairings at the Half Way House Restaurant, and there will be other special demonstrations and presentations happening throughout the Village, plus live music and other entertainment for the whole family.

The contest is now CLOSED. Thanks to all who entered.

The folks at Black Creek have kindly provided us with six pairs of tickets that are good for admission on either day of Brews Fest. For your chance to win, simply send an email with brewsfest@tasteto.com with “BREWS FEST TICKET GIVEAWAY” in the Subject line, and your full name in the body of the email. Winners will be chosen at random on Thursday, September 4th and notified via email. Winners’ names will be on the guest list with a ‘+1′ at the Black Creek box office. Good luck!

While there are officially still three weeks to go, most people consider Labour Day to be the last weekend of summer, and it’s definitely going out with a bang - quite literally if you’re unlucky enough to live in Parkdale, where we’ll be spending the weekend listening to low-flying jets from the stupid fucking International Air Show at the Ex.

If you’re looking to avoid the smell and taste of jet fuel exhaust, your options this weekend include the Ashkenaz Festival of Jewish Culture at Harbourfront, the Hispanic Fiesta at Mel Lastman Square, the Fiera Street Festival in Little Italy, and the monthly Pedestrian Sundays event in Kensington Market.

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.

Photo from Little Italy in Toronto website.

Continue reading T.O. Events for August 29th-September 4th »

When: Sunday, September 14th, 12pm - 4pm
Where: Evergreen Brick Works, 550 Bayview Avenue

Slow Food Toronto and Evergreen are hosting the second annual Picnic at Evergreen Brick Works. The picnic is a festival celebrating local food producers teaming up with award-winning chefs as they work side-by-side to offer the best locally sourced produce and artisanal products, as well as wine and beer.

Organizers need over 100 volunteers to ensure the success of this event.

They are currently looking for individuals to assist with the following responsibilities:

• Volunteer Coordinators to assist with managing other volunteers – (some event management experience required)
• Welcome hosts and registration attendants to help welcome in guests.
• Silent Auction Coordinators.
• Food and beverage personal to assist with chef stations.
• Individuals to assist with the set up and tear down of the event venue.
• Individuals with CPR and/or First Aid training to assist as emergency coordinators.
• Security attendants to assist with crowd management.
• Talent coordinators and individuals with audio visual experience.
• Traffic attendants and parking sales coordinators.

All volunteers will receive a free t-shirt as well as be able to enjoy cuisine provided by farmers and chefs during the event.

If you are interested in assisting with this event, please contact Arlene Stein (Arlene.stein@utoronto.ca) by Friday, August 29th.

The last week of August is always bittersweet. The smell of fall is in the air, the kids are getting ready to go back to school and Ontario produce is at its peak, with the abundance of the season available in farmers markets across the province.

For anyone who finds themselves at the Gladstone Hotel on a Wednesday night, the abundance of the season is also to be had in the ballroom café where Chef Marc Breton and his staff continue to serve up a seasonal 4-course prix fixe dinner featuring the best locally grown products that Ontario has to offer.

Continue reading Harvest Wednesdays - Have You Been Yet? »

One of the hi-lights of last year’s summer festival season for me was the AfriVillage Fest, held on Bloor Street West between Crawford Street and Ossington Avenue. At last year’s festival, local businesses from this predominantly Ethiopian neighbourhood lined the street to demonstrate bits of African culture including food, music and even fashion.

Taking place this weekend, AfriVillage Fest promises to outdo its inaugural season last year.

Continue reading The Tastes of Africa »

The summer might be winding down, but there are still a lot of festivals happening all over the city, with this weekend’s selection including TAIWANfest at Harbourfront, AfriVillage Fest on Bloor West (watch for our full preview later today), Festival of South Asia in Little India, and Muslim Days at Ontario Place.

Beer lovers are also in for a treat this weekend, as the 6th annual Golden Tap Awards will be taking place on Saturday at beerbistro. This event honours the best in Ontario’s craft brewing scene, with awards being given based on votes cast over the past couple of months on the Golden Taps website, and beers from many of the nominated breweries will be available to sample alongside lots of tasty treats from the beerbistro kitchen.

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.

Continue reading T.O. Events for August 22nd-28th »

It has been many, many years since I last visited the CNE. I’ve been meaning to go almost every summer for the past 15 years, but I just never made it. This year, however, I was determined to make the trip.

A number of other food writers, bloggers, and journalists had already covered the food beat on the Ex prior to my visit and a lot of what I’d read wasn’t particularly encouraging. But gee whiz, it’s the Ex. Nobody goes there with high expectations in the food department, do they? We all know the Food Building certainly isn’t what it once was, and hasn’t been what it once was for quite some time. But surely some of the carnival treats have managed to hold up over the years, right?

Continue reading Not So Exquisite Ex Cuisine »

Things heat up at Harbourfront this weekend with the 11th annual Hot and Spicy Food Festival.

This year the event expands beyond hot and spicy on the palate to include hot performances, films and dance.

A mainstay of the festival is the Red Hot Marketplace, featuring purveyors of hot and spicy products such as hot sauces and chutneys. Look for Chetty’s Hot Sauce, Himalaya Gourmet, Hot Mama’s Food Inc and Edna’s Pickles to name just a few.

The World Café is always a great place to check out local restaurants serving up food with a kick, and visitors can enjoy lunch or dinner from Thai Bangkok Restaurant, Jerk Vibe, La Fiesta Catering, Viv’s Catering Company or Simmos Original Smoke Grill among others.

Continue reading That’s Hot! »

It’s the weekend where Torontonians start to accept that the summer is almost over, as the Canadian National Exhibition kicks off today for the 129th time. Food is a big part of this annual event, from the tasty (and not-so-tasty) treats in the Food Building and midway concessions, including the ubiquitous Tiny Tom Donuts, to the 2nd annual CNE Ribfest. Plus - pizza on a stick!

Also this weekend, the Hot & Spicy Food Festival takes over Harbourfront (watch for our full preview later today), and if that’s not quite hot enough for you, there’s also Samba on Dundas, a Brazilian street festival on Dundas West this Sunday afternoon.

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.

Continue reading T.O. Events for August 15th-21st »

It’s another busy weekend of international festivals in Toronto, with options including Ecuadorian Day at Nathan Philips Square, Azores Day (Portuguese festival) at Ontario Place, the inaugural South Asia Calling festival at Harbourfront, Chinatown Festival on Spadina, Incredible India at Yonge-Dundas Square, Hindu Heritage Day at Black Creek Pioneer Village, and of course, the ubiquitous Taste of the Danforth (pictured).

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.

Continue reading T.O. Events for August 8th-14th »

This year’s edition of the ever-popular Toronto’s Festival of Beer takes place next weekend at Historic Fort York, and as with last year’s fest, the fun will be starting with the Bowman’s Ball on Thursday, August 7th from 4pm to 10pm. The evening will feature plenty of beer and food, a poker run with a grand prize of a trip for 2 to Oktoberfest in Germany, and a live performance by ska legends Dave Wakeling and The English Beat.

Thanks to the fine folks at the Ontario Craft Brewers, we’ve got a pair of VIP tickets - an $80 value - to give away for this opening night celebration. NOTE - The contest is now closed. Thanks and good luck to all who entered. The winner will be notified by email.

It’s the August long weekend, and in Toronto, that means it’s Caribana time! Between the official festival happenings (including the parade on Saturday and De Island Lime on Sunday) and all of the other Carribbean-themed events taking place this weekend (including Irie Fest and Island Soul), it’s gonna feel like de islands have come to the city all weekend long.

For those without a taste for roti and reggae, there are a few alternatives as well, including the Turkish Festival at Yonge-Dundas Square and the Scarborough Rotary Ribfest way out east. And next Thursday night is the kick-off for the ever popular Toronto’s Festival of Beer at Fort York.

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.

(Photo from official Caribana website)

Continue reading T.O. Events for August 1st-7th »

One of the hi-lights of last summer’s harvest season for anyone with a love of good food was undoubtedly the Picnic at the Brickworks. A partnership between Slow Food Toronto and Evergreen, the picnic paired producers and growers with 50 local chefs and offered an afternoon of culinary delights to all who attended.

The picnic was so popular, selling out well before the actual date, that Slow Food Toronto and Evergreen are back this year to do it again, this time with even more of a focus on the food producers taking part.

Currently, tickets are still available from the Evergreen website, at a cost of $90 per person.

TasteTO has one pair of tickets available to give away. We will draw a winner from the correct answers tomorrow at 9am. NOTE - The contest is now closed - thanks and good luck to all who entered. The winner will be notified by email.

Please note that the Picnic at the Brickworks is a 19+ event.