#FOOD: TORONTO COUNTRY FEST AT THE DISTILLERY

For 18 days this August, Toronto Country Fest transforms The Distillery Historic District into a downtown country fair where smoky barbecue, comfort food classics, refreshing summer drinks and indulgent sweet treats come together with live music, line dancing and western-inspired fun.

Festival guests can explore exclusive menus from local restaurants, bakeries and cafés alongside outdoor barbecue stations, specialty drinks and fair-inspired favourites while wandering The Distillery District’s iconic cobblestone streets.

Menu highlights include:

Cluny Bistro – A spectacular 50 oz Dry-Aged Black Angus Cowboy Tomahawk Ribeye served with grilled corn, roasted pepper salad and rich red-eye gravy.

Pure Spirits Oyster House & Grill – Traditional Crawfish Gumbo served over steamed rice, delivering authentic Cajun comfort.

El Catrin Destileria – The Montado Chihuas, featuring Chihuahua cheese, carne asada, bone marrow, smoky chorizo beans and salsa tatemada wrapped in a flour tortilla.

The Distillery District Courtyard Saloon (BBQ & Smoker) serves up festival favourites including:

Slow-Smoked Brisket Sandwich

Carolina Pulled Pork Sammy

Nashville Hot Chicken Sandwich

Southern Fried Chicken Basket

Chili Dogs

Fire-Grilled Corn on the Cob

Deep-Fried Pickles

Giant Pretzel “Lasso” with queso and honey mustard

Fresh Hub Market & Sweetie Pie bring serious fairground comfort food with Cowboy Burgers, Brisket & Beans Poutine, Cowboy Salad, Maple Whisky Butter Tarts, Dirty Sodas (including a root beer favourite) and more.

BOKU Distillery adds Japanese-inspired flavours with crispy Japanese Karaage, colourful Chirashi Don and handcrafted fruit teas and lemonades.

Balzac’s Coffee Roasters goes country with a Funnel Cake Latte, Pecan Pie Iced Coffee, Bluegrass Sparkling Lemonade and Southern Hibiscus Sweet Tea.

The Sweet Escape Patisserie satisfies every sweet tooth with Red Velvet Cheesecake and Banana Pudding Jars, Fresh Peach, Red Velvet and Sweet Corn Ice Cream, plus Peach Custard Bars.

Pepper Palace turns up the heat on weekends with hot sauce tastings, giving adventurous guests the chance to sample everything from mild favourites to extreme heat before taking home their favourite flavours.

IZUMI, Ontario’s first sake brewery, brings a unique taste of Japan to Toronto Country Fest with its barrel-aged sake in a keepsake barrel cup. Aged in rye whisky barrels from fellow Distillery District tenant Spirit of York, this limited-edition sake is served in a mini barrel cup that’s yours to keep while quantities last.

While the culinary experience takes centre stage, Toronto Country Fest also features:

FREE Live country music every day from 1-4pm and 5-8pm

FREE Outdoor line dancing lessons Wednesdays and Fridays from 6-8pm

FREE Mechanical bull riding

FREE Nashville Nights DJ sets every Friday and Saturday 8:30-10:30

A Ferris wheel beginning August 11

FREE Family-friendly games and activities

FREE Weekend tequila and beer tastings

Western-inspired photo opportunities, including sunflower displays, oversized guitars and the “Fill Yer Boots” installation

Covered wagon artisan vendors and local makers

Whether visitors come hungry for barbecue, craving something sweet or searching for the perfect summer patio drink, Toronto Country Fest offers a flavour-packed way to experience one of Toronto’s most distinctive neighbourhoods this August. For a full rundown on programming, please visit www.thedistillerydistrict.com/toronto-country-fest-2026

Admission: Free – bull riding, carnival games, calf roping, photo ops, live music, DJs.

Some activities will require payment – Ferris wheel, face painting, food & beverage, vendor items.

#FOOD: THE DISTILLERY WINTER VILLAGE UNVEIL 2025 FOOD PROGRAM

Food is at the heart of The Distillery Winter Village experience. Visitors return year after year to stroll the cobblestone lanes with a warm dish or hot chocolate in hand, making culinary memories along the way.

This year’s event features 40 food vendors and nine themed outdoor bars, offering everything from classic winter comfort food to imaginative new creations you won’t find anywhere else. Expect a mouthwatering mix of sweet and savoury favourites, returning viral sensations, and exciting new additions.

Back by popular (viral) demand:

-Cluny Bistro’s S’mores Hot Chocolate (with new flavours!)
-Japan Taco
-Spirit of York’s “Yorkie Burrito”
-Naughty or Nice Bar
-Poutine, pretzels, handmade dumplings, empanadas, pierogies, mini donuts, mini pancakes, fresh strawberries with chocolate, classic Swiss Raclette and other cozy classics

NEW & EXCLUSIVE: CHEF’S LANE

The biggest culinary addition this year is Chef’s Lane, an elevated food experience exclusive to The Distillery Winter Village. Featuring four cabins, four chefs, and four one-of-a-kind holiday-inspired dishes created just for this event – it’s a celebration of creativity, comfort, and Canadian culinary talent.

Meet the 2025 Chef’s Lane chefs:

-Chef Claudio Aprile – The Aprile Holiday Feast
Roast turkey, smoked brisket, sweet potato, smoked provolone, fresh sage and cranberry chutney.
-Chef Nuit Regular – Tom Yum Soup
Aromatic Thai hot & sour soup with poached shrimp, lemongrass, makrut lime leaves, and sawtooth coriander.
-Chef Bruno Feldeisen – Candy Cane Cheesecake Lollipop
A festive cheesecake dipped in chocolate and served on a popsicle stick.
-Chef Eric Chong – Spicy Mala Poutine
Pork & cabbage dumplings, mozzarella, Szechuan gravy, and fries.

NEW & EXCLUSIVE: A CRAIG’S COOKIES POP-UP

A special Craig’s Cookies pop-up is serving their festival-exclusive Holiday Hot Chocolate (a rich, ethically sourced Soul Chocolate blend with organic milk) with toasted marshmallow and topped with a mini White Chocolate Candy Cane Cookie. It’s a cup of pure festive joy from Toronto’s cookie entrepreneur, Craig Pike. Running the entire duration of the event, the 2025 Holiday Mix of cookies will also be available at the pop-up, along with festive sugar cookies (perfect for gifting) and other favourite year-round flavours. Find Craig’s Cookies on Gristmill Lane near the Big Heart.

One of the newest year-round additions to The Distillery District is Demetres, the award-winning Canadian craft ice cream and artisanal dessert restaurant. This marks their first-ever Winter Village, and they’re serving up something extra sweet for festival-goers. Stop by Demetres to enjoy their indulgent Dubai Hot Chocolate and Crème Brûlée Crêpes, then head over to the festival cabin at Scooped by Demetres, for a taste of their warm and gooey Apple Pie Monkey Bread. Can’t decide which one to try? Not to worry – all their offerings are as delicious (and photogenic) as you’d expect.

OTHER NEW, FESTIVE FOOD AND DRINK:

Escape to the land of pura vida (“the good life”) and the warmth of Costa Rica – The Archeo patio transforms into a tropical chocolate paradise, where guests can sip hot chocolate served in fresh coconuts topped with whipped cream, try the decadent “mochanut” (a blend of coffee and hot chocolate, also served in a real coconut), dip into tropical fruit fondue, and sample premium chocolate. Enjoy your drink at vibrant surfboard tables, then unwind in bird-nest loungers beneath a symbolic ceiba tree, surrounded by rainforest scenery where sloths, parrots, and tree frogs make an appearance. For kids, there’s a creative colouring station inspired by Costa Rica’s iconic hand-painted oxcarts.

Ugly Sweater Patio Bar – The Cluny Bistro patio invites you to flaunt your best (or worst) holiday sweater. An 8-foot ball of yarn sets the stage for a quirky, can’t-miss holiday hangout.

Peppermint Patio – Follow the 10’ Candy Cane Wreath into a red-and-white striped wonderland. From arches to columns, this Madrina Bar y Tapas patio is sugar-cane sweet and brimming with holiday cheer. Order a candy-cane inspired cocktail and raise a glass to the season.

We had the joy of previewing the 2025 Food Program. Highlights here:

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by William Wong (@mrwillwong)

Some highlights from opening night of the 2025 Distillery Winter Village, including Tree Lighting presented by L’Oreal, the JellyCat pop-up, vendors, and appearance by amazing The Tenors!

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by William Wong (@mrwillwong)

CHRISTMAS WITH THE TENORS is now available to stream here.

(Photo/video credit: Mr. Will Wong)

#FOOD: EL CATRIN DESTILERIA LAUNCH NEW $95 TASTING MENU BY CHEF JOSÉ MATAMOROS

Wow! El Catrin Destileria welcome Executive Chef José Matamoros, who brings a singular vision to elevate the dining experience at this Toronto fan favourite! Originally from Chihuahua, Mexico, Chef José brings over a decade of international culinary experience, including honing his skills at the two-Michelin-star La Grenouillère in France, and leadership roles at 1Hotel Copenhagen, 1Hotel Central Park, 1Kitchen Toronto, Casa Madera, Baro Toronto, and The Ostrich Club in Halifax. Known for his modern Mexican cuisine with global influences, Chef José is recognized for bold flavours, refined techniques, and creative yet approachable menus.

A $95 family-style Tasting Menu is available Sunday to Thursday, with cocktail pairing option. Highlights:

• Guacamole & Heirloom Corn Tostadas – creamy avocado with lime and spice on house-made tortillas
• Adobo Crab Sopes – Dungeness crab with epazote, serrano, yuzu kosho, beans
• Trio of Ceviches – tuna-watermelon, coconut-shrimp, and mahi mahi-pico
• Octopus & Chorizo – tender grilled octopus, smoky chorizo, and creamy black bean purée
• Pato a la Jamaica – duck glazed with tangy hibiscus mole
• Pescado Veracruzano – seabass with tomato, olives, capers, and herbs
• Campechana Cake – layered coastal-inspired dessert from Campeche

Book now through OpenTable as an Experience.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by William Wong (@mrwillwong)