Sugar cookie from Lindsey Bakes at The Stop Night Market in 2012
Lovely weather we’re having, no? I should probably get back to writing real posts, but, ehn, it’s round-up time! So many events. Almost too many – and this is my short-list!
Market 707’s Public Patio Fundraising (to June 2)
Scadding court’s ever-evolving shipping-container food fest is fundraising for a new patio. Not an event, I know, but I’m going to plug it here because I think it’s worthwhile. Since it’s a la Kickstarter, certain levels of donations net you some goodies. You can check out the tiers down the left-hand side and all donations include a tax receipt.
https://projexity.com/projects/view/Market-707%E2s-New-Public-Patio/2
ROM’s Friday Night Live (May 3)
ROM FNL kicks off their Spring 2013 season. The expanded food line-up looks good. Advance tickets are sold out, but they’ll have limited tickets at the door. Be prepared to wait though.
http://rom.on.ca/en/activities-programs/events-calendar/rom-friday-night-live-junos-after-dark
So You Think You Can Cook Fiddlehead Culinary Competition (May 3)
A fundraiser for SickKids with names like Massimo Capra and Rob Rainford attached to this. I don’t usually include 99% of the fundraisers out there, but felt that this one was special – ’tis the season for fiddleheads.
http://www.norcliff.com/cooking-contest/2013-culinary-competition/
Scottish Whisky Tasting at The Caledonian (May 4)
Perhaps not unique, but with the rise of cocktails and whatnot, this might appeal to some of you. Scotch whisky has many different notes and flavours depending on where it’s from – and this is a great way to explore and contrast those flavours.
http://experiences.joylister.com/experiences/scotch-tasting-caledonian/
Good Vs Evil Prix Fixe Dinner (May 5)
Bourdain and Ripert come to the Sony Centre and the Tempered Beast duo of Bertrand Alépée and Scott Vivian dish out a 4-course dinner before the show.
http://www.sonycentre.ca/Food-And-Drink/Good-vs-Evil.aspx
Flavours Of The City (May 10)
More Scadding Court love. This is the kick off to this event series taking place every 2nd Friday of the month. Not only the regular Market 707 vendors, but food trucks too, will be in attendance.
http://www.scaddingcourt.org/market_707_pop_ups_and_events/
Victorinox Swiss Army’s How To Host A Dinner Party with Corey Mintz (May 11)
Local author and Toronto Star columnist Corey Mintz celebrates the launch of his book with this seminar. With 115 dinner parties under his belt for his “Fed” column, you can be sure that he’s got some learning to share. Part of an interesting series being hosted by Victorinox Swiss Army. All of them free.
https://www.facebook.com/events/451638011588153/
Patagonia Toronto’s Local Food Spring Celebration and Pop Up Market (May 11)
An interesting little local food movement market set up by the people at Patagonia. This is where you might want to dip your toe in for discovering your urban landscape around you and on your plate.
https://www.facebook.com/events/531592823557852/
Food Truck Eats at Peller Estates (May 18)
Went last year and had a really lovely time. The space is so perfect for this – lots of room for everyone to mill about and sit and eat. Bring a picnic blanket and umbrella for shade. And, of course, food event tips still apply!
http://www.peller.com/cms/peller/visit-our-winery/upcoming-events.html
Though it’s still cold outside, it’s spring! Lots of food things happening. This is a curated list, so I don’t include everything I hear about, but if you want to let me know about an event, email me!
Kampai Toronto (May 30)
Get your sake on at this event at The Distillery. I couldn’t go last year, sadly. Lots of restaurant partners on the list too – Hapa, momofuku, kingyo, and guu, amongst others.
The Stop’s Night Market (June 18 & 19, Tickets: May 22)
Why is this in the middle of my May round up? Because on the tickets go on sale May 22 at noon. Last year’s inaugural event was the highlight of my event eating – and for a great cause to boot. Don’t miss out – I know I’ve already market these dates off in my calendar!
http://nightmarket.thestop.org/
Crave TO (May 24)
Craft beer & street food & DJs is how these newcomers bill themselves. Reminiscent of Toronto Underground Market, but skewed, perhaps, to the younger set. I like that food is all $5 and under and entry is set just shy of $20.
https://www.facebook.com/events/247618192048658/
DOS (July 19, Tickets: June 1)
Behind the screens at UNO
I loved watching these guys evolve from an exercise in marketing to their own bricks & mortar and event juggernaut. Joining them in their 2nd celebration: the Big Star kids from Chicago. That’s pretty exciting. Last year’s event was great in many aspects (food, music, art), but the crowd management was simply awful. Lines to get in, lines to buy tickets, lines to get food (which ran out). All of them long waits. I’m not sure I can get over that to buy into this year’s event, but Big Star’s a big lure for me. We’ll see.
http://lacarnita.com/the-latest/dos/
Victorinox Swiss Army’s Home Butchery Demo (June 8)
There’s been pork. There’s been fish (I missed that one!). Now Peter Sanagan, of Sanagan’s Meat Locker in Kensington Market, will demo how to break down a chicken. Not useful for everyone, but interesting nonetheless.
https://www.facebook.com/events/447389212019127/?ref=22
Oyster Fest Niagara (June 9)
Not in Toronto! But The picturesque wineries of Niagara as a back drop to scarfing down (elegantly!) our bivalvian friends is a lovely mental image. In addition to oysters from Tide & Vine, there’s El Gastronomo Vagabundo, Avella’s Wood Fired Oven, and Hometown Ice Cream. Drinks from Dillon’s and Silversmith Brewing. It’s a good line up.
http://oysterfestniagara.eventbrite.ca/
Earth Day Gala (June 12)
Fancy pants time! This green gala is Earth Day Canada’s 10 year anniversary taking place at the Fifth… with celeb chef Michael Stadtländer helming a bounty of local sustainable food for the tasting! It’s a big ticket, but if Stadtländer wasn’t inducement enough, it’s also open bar. A worthy event to include on this list, despite the very fact that by including it, I’m entering a contest.
Victorinox Swiss Army’s Knife Skills & Cutting Techniques (June 22)
Of all the demos that Victorinox is sponsoring, this is the one I was most interested in. I’ve been pondering taking a knife-skills course for a while, AND at George Brown, so this is a nice toe-dip. It’s also free.
https://www.facebook.com/events/137422053108782/?ref=22
Night It Up! (July 12-14)
For all you downtowners, these guys have been setting up various incarnations of this event in Markham since 2002. Run by a non-profit youth empowerment group, they’ve been serving up a slice of night markets popular in Asia. Look for the murtabak from Pondicherry and well, you can’t miss the aroma of stinky tofu. Also, it’s busy. They topped 100,000 attendees over two days in 2011.
Victorinox Swiss Army’s Summer Entertaining (July 15)
I’ve now listed pretty much all of Victorinox’s demos. The one that wasn’t (and would have been) included, Fishmongering 101, has already passed. Whomever curated these events has a really good fix on a food-lover’s radar. Well, on my radar, certainly. This demo (poorly named, I think), were it solely on authentic Italian cuisine, doesn’t pique my interest at all. But the secrets to salumi-making? That certainly does! How about you?
https://www.facebook.com/events/145894788926830/
So many events already in May! Hope to see you all at some of these.
May 17, 2013 at 12:57 pm
Be sure to check out Bittersweet: A Celebration of Beer, Honey and Hops, the sister event at neighboring Kurtz Orchards: http://www.kurtzorchards.com/bittersweet