Formerly the Delicious Food Show, the Toronto Food & Wine Show takes place this weekend at Brickworks, promising even more culinary goodness than ever before! The show runs Friday, September 18, 2015 through Sunday, September 20, 2015. Several of Toronto’s finest restaurants, caterers and more comprise row upon row of amazing food offerings giving you a chance to try just-right portions of their menus. Toronto loves to eat and this event whets those appetites.
I had the pleasure of attending a Media preview quickly amidst the TIFF ’15 madness and as always, I have an amazing time. I devoured Duck Confit and Curry Lamb from Reds Tavern, Octopus a la Plancha from Far Niente, refreshing Iced Teas from Cluck, Cannoli from Holy Cannoli, Sturgeon from Acadian Sturgeon and Caviar Inc., a secret Double Peanut Butter Ice Cream Bar from Magnum, Smoked Beets on Cashew Cream from Tori’s Bakeshop, a curry canape from Bombay Street Food, Poutine from Beretta Kitchen and oh so much more! You must try EVERYTHING.
And don’t forget all the opportunites to connect with some of your favourite food personalities! Curtis Stone! Daniel Boulud! Matt Basile! Tyler Florence! Mark McEwan! Chuck Hughes! Gail Simmons! They’re among the several appearing at the Show!
See some Snaps:
For more on the Toronto Food & Wine Show, click here.
Word to the wise, please cab it there as parking is limited.
(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)
One of my favourite annual Fixtures in the City is The Delicious Food Show and now in its third year, I’ve seen the Event develop from spectacular to somehow even more polished. Taking place at the Direct Energy Centre this weekend, the three-day Food Expo brings-in a star-studded list of Celebrity Chefs with countless opportunities to delight your tastebuds. Cooking Demonstrations, Autograph Signings, Food and Drink Sampling – the question is, what isn’t there to do at The Delicious Food Show?
The Chew Star, renowned Chef and Author Mario Batali headlines the Event this year delighting Fans by putting on a Demo, followed by a Signing today for his new Book AMERICA FARM TO TABLE, offering them a rare chance to get up close and personal. The new Book brought him one-on-one with Farmers across the U.S. gathering stories. He says, “We took pics of their mailboxes, their food, their chickens. Their food is even more delicious after knowing their stories”. The famous Croc-Wearer adds, “There is no gift more selfless and emotionally delightful than giving something delicious.”. Just last night, the Chef in a once-in-a-lifetime Op collaborated with BUCA‘s Rob Gentile at that Hotspot “gifting” palettes with some scintillating offerings and we hear Truffles were plentiful.
Popular Culinary Personality Tyler Florence also graced the Stage today promoting also his latest Book, INSIDE THE TEST KITCHEN. The Book is comprised of Recipes based on Twitter Fan Feedback and Photos shot entirely on his iPad. With the assistance of Technology, he was able to put together the Book at one-third the Budget which a Cookbook normally costs (approximately $130k). “I spent three hours on Twitter, thanks to in-flight Wi-Fi, crowdsourcing Recipes from the Community”, says Florence on the 125-Recipe release. “We found a way to cook a 16 lb. turkey in one-and-a-half hours and make bread rise with no yeast”.
Canadian Celebrity Chef/Hunk Chuck Hughes returns to the Event this year and as always is a Favourite. On the topic of cooking for Children, he revealed to Media that his Son absolutely is into chopped liver and he is experimenting with lots of pureeing currently. There was a consensus among Batali, Hughes and Florence at today’s Junket and that would be for Parents to stop offering their Children the “Kids’ Menu” option when dining out. As Batali says succinctly, “I hate Chicken Fingers”.
One huge announcement was made at today’s Gathering and we learned that in September 2015, the City will host the first-ever TORONTO FOOD AND WINE FESTIVAL. Although details are still yet to be confirmed, it is said that it won’t be exclusive to downtown Toronto only. That is, other parts of Greater Toronto also will be engaged. This comes hot on the heels of successful Festivals in New York, Austin, LA, Hawaii, Atlanta, Barbados, and Aspen from the respected Publication.
The Delicious Food Show runs from Friday, October 17, 2014 through Sunday, October 19, 2014. More details here.
(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)
It’s almost that time of the year again! We had so much fun at the Delicious Food Show last year with Martha Stewart that we thought we’d let you in one of the tastiest new traditions this City will see! Set to take place on Exhibition Grounds between October 17-19, 2014, this edition promises to be even more flavourful and star-studded than ever before!
This year we can expect:
From the same Creators as the ever-popular One of a Kind Show, comes the Delicious Food Show, now in its second year. Taking place over three days this weekend at the Better Living Centre on Canadian National Exhibition grounds, the Event features 300+ Exhibitors, Workshops and appearances from a Who’s-Who of Canadian Celebrity Chefs including Mark McEwan, Chuck Hughes, Lynn Crawford, David Rocco and Nadia G.
In Toronto today to kick-off the Show was Multimedia Mogul Martha Stewart, who in addition to demonstrating a Cake-Baking in support of her latest Cookbook, Martha Stewart’s Cakes, also met with 100 Fans who purchased the Book on-location. Gracefully, she zipped her way through the line, armed with a Sharpie and an enamouring smile, occasionally looking-up to pose for a quick Snap.
Earlier in the day, Stewart fielded questions from a mixture of Digital, Online, Print and Television Media as she reflected on her own Success Story, giving-out tips for on how to be a craftier Entertainer at home to Guests. On the influence of Online Media in this day and age, she says “There are many Bloggers imparting knowledge to a lot of people and I think that certainly is the way of now and the future.”.
I asked Stewart from her Collection of Cake Recipes, which she’d recommend for those like me who are constantly on-the-go with little time to bake. “I’d start with one of the Skillet Cakes or a simple Bundt Cake which has a total of five ingredients. It’s pretty foolproof”, she states. “As long as you have an oven and a mixer, you’re set”.
She also touches upon her influences and in addition to ensuring that her Driver always takes a different route when driving through New York City each day so that she can soak-up new inspirations, she reveals, “Great Chefs inspire me. I eat out a lot and I’m constantly visiting with great Chefs and Bakers. I appreciate the knowledge they impart.”.
On entertaining with little notice, Stewart swears by some good, strong Cocktails served to Guests on a tray. “The Caipirinha is a great Icebreaker, as is the Bourbon Sour, or even an icy Martini”, proclaims the Domestic Goddess.
Opening its doors at 11:00 AM, Patrons enjoyed some fabulous offerings at super-reasonable price points from popular Local Businesses. Delectable Oysters from Oyster Boy; scrumptious Meat Pies from Kanga, buttery Lobster Rolls from Buster’s Sea Cove Food Truck; always amazing Tacos from Gourmet Gringos’ Food Truck; Lobster Guacamole from Canyon Creek Chophouse and positively delectable Macarons, Cookies, Lemon Meringue Tarts and Cakes from Petite & Sweet, which had even Stewart raving as she cut into a Celebration Cake designed by them to ring-in the occasion.
I found myself obsessed particularly with Soda Stream, a do-it-yourself-at-home Soda Machine with an array of available Syrups ranging from Kool-Aid to Crystal Light. I even enjoyed a Killer Mojito made from the Machine and it was one of the best I’ve ever had. I will not deny that I also was a little excited to see an array of British imports available via Mrs. Bridges’ British Bakery and I do admit to stocking-up on some Marks & Spencer Cookies, while noticing a super-cool variety of Goodies including a never-seen-before Maltesers Chocolate Bar.
I had the pleasure of getting a quick Snap with Stewart who for a long time now has been an Idol to me, having religiously watched her The Martha Stewart Show when it was easily available in Canada, and also owning a few of her Books including The Martha Rules, for aspiring Entrepreneurs. Her Drivers were seen throughout the day ushering-in gifts and purchases from Vendors at the Delicious Food Show, while her Security Guards ushered her speedily into her Vehicle after another walk through the Show as the rain began to come down and the number of Onlookers grew. “Okay, we’ve gotta be quick! I don’t want to stand in the rain!”, she said after telling me earlier in the day we’d snap a Photo at some point and although in a hurry, she was amazing still to make an exception for one Photo. She is just stunning.
For more on the Delicious Food Show, click here for a list of Vendors, Tickets and the official Schedule.
Follow on Twitter here also!
(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)
For advertising opportunites please contact mrwill@mrwillwong.com