#FOOD: FICOA TO HOST “THE MOTHER OF ALL TALKS”

On Wednesday, July 9, 2025 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., an intimate corner of Toronto’s Little Italy will come alive with conversation, cocktails, and the energy of people gathering with purpose. This month’s edition will be held at Ficoa, a Neo-Latin restaurant on College Street. The event marks the next edition of The Mother of All Talks — a free-to-attend keynote talk hosted by Valley of Mother of God Gin, in collaboration with San Pellegrino.

The theme of the evening is “Family & Food,” a pairing as natural and essential as the two elements themselves. Guests will be welcomed with a Valley of Mother of God cocktail for $5 along with complimentary small bites. After the talk, guests are invited to extend the night with an exclusive four-course prix fixe dinner for $65, where the conversation can continue over a shared meal.

Space is limited. RSVP HERE.

Mother of All Talks is like Ted Talks with cocktails–built on a monthly theme. This month, speakers will deep dive into the theme of food and family. Attendees can expect riveting talks about the relationships, rituals, and recipes that define how we eat and who we are. This month’s speakers will share their deeply personal, timely stories shaped by lived experience. If anyone knows about the intricate relationship between food and family, it’s these three powerhouse women who are revered in their respective industries.

Cristina Carpio is a prominent media personality, restaurant advocate, and editor-in-chief of Evolve Magazine. Her career spans across restaurant development, international culinary events, television hosting, and public advocacy. Having launched multiple high-end restaurants in the GTA and produced for CTV Morning Live, Carpio brings an unmatched lens to food as both cultural currency and emotional language.

Chef Martine Bauer is co-founder of the award-winning Pompette group (Vinoteca Pompette, Bar Pompette and Bakery Pompette). Born in Mauritius and trained in Paris, Bauer cooked at Matignon, the official residence of the French Prime Minister, before going on to co-lead one of Toronto’s most respected culinary teams. Her story weaves together tradition, migration, and creativity—all through the lens of French cuisine and local farming.

Patricia Toro, serial restaurateur, is the owner of Ficoa. Toro’s culinary point of view is rooted in her Ecuadorian heritage and decades of experience in food and hospitality. At Ficoa, she brings together a love of nutrition, elegance, and community. She believes food is an extension of home, and a bridge between generations.

The Mother of All Talks was created as a way to gather people—not around trends, but around truth. The series runs monthly, each session shaped by a new theme, a new trio of speakers, and a shared belief in the power of storytelling. With support from Valley of Mother of God Gin, the event also showcases the brand’s clean, Ontario-distilled spirit in custom cocktails designed for the evening.
More than a talk, this is about building community—with time set aside after the event for guests to meet the speakers, spark conversation, and carry the night forward together.

Details:
Where: Ficoa, 585 College St., Toronto
When: Wednesday, July 9 | 5:30 – 6:30 p.m.
Cost: Free to attend | $5 cocktails & complimentary small bites
Optional: Exclusive prix fixe dinner available for purchase following the event
How: Guests can RSVP through the Eventbrite HERE. Space is limited