#TIFF26: MR. WILL’S OFFICIAL 2026 TORONTO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL PARTNERS

It’s our time! We’re thrilled to ring-in the 2026 Toronto International Film Festival, by introducing you to our official supporting partners for this year, the 51st edition of the Festival, running September 10 to 20, 2026! We absolutely live for this, the world’s greatest Film Festival and our team can’t wait to share with you our reviews, our sightings, our thoughts and exciting giveaways!

For now, see our esteemed Team weigh-in on their most notable films of the Festival here:

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Reviews and sightings to be updated daily here. Please bookmark and check often!

On that note, we’re thrilled to name our generous official partners for the 2026 Toronto International Film Festival! We couldn’t do it without their generosity and support.

CP24 – This is our 17th year contributing to CP24‘s ongoing tiff coverage. Throughout the Festival, you will be seeing our candid captures of stars out in the wild, and we will be highlighting for you the best spots to see the stars and the Films you need to be paying attention to at the Festival. Stay tuned! We will be on for sure September 9th (in the PM) and 10th (in the AM) to start.

SoHo Hotel Toronto – There is so much history at this Hotel and Residence, situated right in the thick of all the tiff excitement, between Metro Toronto Convention Centre and the bustle of King Street. Since opening in 2003, many A-Listers have chosen this quietly luxurious establishment as their place to stay including the likes of Rihanna, Taylor Swift, Deepika Padukone, Lady Gaga, Shania Twain, Will Smith and several more. And did we mention that red-hot Hudson Williams even filmed scenes in Heated Rivalry here? 23 years of star-studded history. beanie and I look forward to our stay, enjoying the amenities including Moretti Caffe and Pizzeria Moretti, bringing you or daily updates from our luxurious suite.

ACURA Canada – Our ride of choice for tiff will be the 2026 ADX Platinum Elite A-Spec, a top-tier, luxury-packed trim from Acura’s subcompact SUV lineup, operating at 190 horsepower, a 360 camera system, Bang & Olufsen sound system, moonroof and several luxurious flourishes. We’re thrilled to see where it takes us!

SHEIN Canada – We get so many compliments about our styling and we thank SHEIN Canada for that. Their fun, versatile, comfortable selection are highlighted by value and affordability, but most of all comfort. When we feel comfortable, we feel our most confident. We can’t wait to show you our tiff looks!

Starbucks Canada – Our favourite coffee always and preferred way to stay alert during these long Festival days. Did you know PSL Season is officially here? New this year are offerings like  Iced Pumpkin Cream Shaken Espresso, Iced Pumpkin Cream Matcha, Pumpkin Spice Chai, Banana Bread Latte,  Iced Banana Bread Chai, and Iced Chaider. And let’s not forget those irresistible new Canadian-made Mini Pumpkin, Pecan and Apple Crumble pies! 

RILEYS & BLACK + BLUE: Located right in the heart of Entertainment District, these sister restaurants hailing from Vancouver, have made a huge splash in Toronto. Offering a consistent and elevated experience, these steakhouses offer a refinement, accessibility and sophistication. Black + Blue not only serves phenomenal steaks, their sushi and Beef Wellington are superb. Rileys offers also excellent seafood and unique tableside experiences (Martinis, anyone?) as well. Rileys currently has a Pre-Theatre three-course $65 menu, perfect for tiff, and both offer Happy Hours as well.

PAI & KIIN: Toronto’s premier quintessential Thai restaurants are a perfect option to dine at during tiff and are almost guaranteed to be bustling! It’s little wonder why stars like Oscar Isaac, Dominic Monaghan, Guillermo del Toro, and essentially any major actor or athlete passing through, frequent them. And even more impressively, both under Chef Nuit Regular’s vision, have achieved Michelin recognitions. PAI is offering a free bag of their Tom Yum Popcorn for those who show their same-day tiff ticket – one bag per table – and KIIN is offering a $99 three-course prix fixe with a glass of Prosecco!

HELLO NORI: Fast, efficient and satisfying, Hello Nori‘s four-to-six hand roll sets are the easiest and quickest lunch, made fresh before your eyes. Its location on York Street is walking distance from all the tiff excitement, and there also is location to serve you at King x Bathurst, with a location in Yorkville coming soon! Toronto is loving this sensation from Vancouver! During tiff, they will have a $55 six-course prix fixe menu! For now, you can get a $10 Gift Card right here to enjoy Hello Nori! Here for more.

MINAMI: Situated right between Princess of Wales Theatre and Roy Thomson Hall, we don’t deserve the convenience of this elevated Japanese establishment, which will be hosting the VISA Infinite Studio during tiff, and offering special curated dishes Wagyu x Tartare and Aosa Lobster Tempura and special cocktails during the Festival.

RADICI PROJECT: Known for their Italian-Japanese seasonal immersive tasting menus, this beautiful and intimate establishment in Little Italy celebrates each occasion and season with honour and beauty.

LAI WAH HEEN: This institution located inside DoubleTree by Hilton has been a force since 1995, known for their luxury Cantonese cuisine. After extensive renovations and a relaunch, they are entering a new era under Chef Heyden Sin, with a re-imagine Cocktail program by Oliver Leung. In celebration of tiff, they’ve introduced an auspicious and sumptuous $8888 Roasted Goose Dish called The Treasure of Fortune, which has gone viral!

ZOVEL SPA – Inspired by nature, perfected by artistry. Where time-honored Eastern rituals and advanced skincare innovation create harmony, radiance, and renewal. They offer the very best, including offers medical-grade SkinCeuticals Treatments. We look forward to a fresh face!

Check-out our Top Five spots to eat at in the heart of the tiff bustle!

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Throughout tiff, we will be giving away gift cards to dine with our amazing partners, with seven days of giveaways to come on our IG and Facebook:

Giveaway Schedule:

RILEYS x BLACK + BLUE $200 Gift Card – September 10, 2026

MINAMI $100 Gift Card – September 11, 2026

STARBUCKS CANADA $25 Gift Card – September 12, 2026

PAI $100 Gift Card – September 12, 2026

KIIN$100 Gift Card – September 13, 2026

HELLO NORI $100 Gift Card – September 14, 2026

LAI WAH HEEN $100 Gift Card – September 15, 2026

RADICI PROJECT $100 Gift Card – September 16, 2026

You must be following to qualify. Stay tuned for the official contest posts!

Happy tiff! We can’t wait to see what the Festival brings us!

Thank you for all your continued support and loyalty!

Mr. Will

#FOOD: PAI AND KIIN TIFF SPECIAL MENUS AND OFFERS

With TIFF just around the corner, PAI and Kiin have some fun things planned!

Here are their TIFF specials:

PAI Downtown:
Dine at PAI Downtown during TIFF (Sep. 10-20) and receive a complimentary bag of Tom Yum Popcorn when you show your ticket to a same-day TIFF screening. Available for dine-in guests only; limit 1 popcorn per table, while supplies last.

Kiin:
Celebrate TIFF with a 3-course, Royal Thai-inspired prix-fixe menu at Kiin for $99 per person, including a glass of Prosecco. Available during TIFF festival dates (Sep. 10-20); reservations highly recommended. [Reservation link: https://www.opentable.ca/r/kiin-toronto]

TIFF Prix-Fixe
Available Sep. 10-20
$99 pp
Includes glass of Prosecco

Starter:
Roy Thai Dumpling Platter
chor muang, thoong thong, tawd mung kung, poh pia

Main – choice of 1:
Khao Soi Pad Haeng
OR
Boombai Short Rib
OR
Green Curry Cornish Hen
OR
Vegan Chuchee Tofu Curry

Dessert – choice of 1:
Mango Sticky Rice
OR
Tamarind Toffee Sorbet

Visit Pai and Kiin for more.

#FOOD: MICHELIN-RECOMMENDED PAI EXPANDS TO MISSISSAUGA

PAI, the celebrated Northern Thai restaurant founded by Chef Nuit Regular and Jeff Regular, is expanding with its first Mississauga location, set to open in fall 2026 at Square One Shopping Centre. Responding to years of requests from guests eager to experience PAI closer to home, the new restaurant marks the brand’s continued growth across the Greater Toronto Area.

Located in Unit FM07 within Square One’s Food District, the restaurant will feature 88 indoor seats and a 30-seat semi-enclosed patio, offering guests the same warm hospitality and authentic flavours that have made PAI a destination across the Greater Toronto Area. The space will draw inspiration from existing PAI locations while incorporating its own distinctive design.

For Chef Nuit, the opening represents a meaningful homecoming. After immigrating to Canada, she and Jeff first lived in Mississauga before building PAI into one of Canada’s most celebrated Thai restaurant brands, making this location a true full-circle moment. The new location will welcome both longtime guests and new diners from Mississauga and across the Peel Region, bringing PAI’s celebrated Northern Thai cuisine to a vibrant and diverse community.

“Mississauga holds a special place in my heart because it’s where my life in Canada began. Bringing PAI here feels like coming home, and we’re excited to welcome both new and longtime guests to experience the flavours, traditions, and warm hospitality of Northern Thailand,” said Chef Nuit Regular, Executive Chef and Co-Founder of PAI.

Jeff Regular & Chef Nuit Regular (credit Nicole De Khors)

The Square One location will feature PAI’s signature menu, including guest favourites such as Pad Thai, Khao Soi, Grabong, and other authentic Northern Thai dishes, alongside several new menu items. Additional details on these new offerings will be announced closer to opening.

The new location marks the continued growth of PAI through its partnership with restaurateur Janet Zuccarini and Gusto 54 Restaurant Group. Bringing the brand’s celebrated Northern Thai cuisine to Mississauga, the opening represents another milestone in PAI’s expansion across the Greater Toronto Area.

Additional opening details, including the official opening date, operating hours, and menu details, will be announced closer to opening.

Connect With PAI

Website: www.paitoronto.com

Instagram: paitoronto & chefnuitregular

About PAI

Founded by Chef Nuit Regular and Jeff Regular, PAI is a celebration of Northern Thailand’s flavours, traditions, culture, and spirit of hospitality. Inspired by the mountain town of Pai in Northern Thailand, the restaurant was created to share the authentic cuisine Chef Nuit grew up with and the warmth of gathering around a family table. Since opening in Toronto in 2014, PAI has become one of Canada’s most celebrated Thai restaurants, recognized by the MICHELIN Guide and Thai Select for its commitment to authentic Northern Thai cuisine, carefully sourced ingredients, and genuine hospitality. Through every dish and guest experience, PAI continues to share the flavours and traditions of Thailand with communities across the Greater Toronto Area.

#FOOD: CHEF NUIT REGULAR X CHEF EVA CHIN LUNAR NEW YEAR 2026 COLLABORATION

Two of Toronto’s most acclaimed chefs, Chef Nuit Regular (PAI, Kiin, Tha Phae Tavern, Chaiyo, Sukhothai, Makilala) and Chef Eva Chin (Yan Dining Room, The Soy Luck Club), are reuniting for their highly anticipated Lunar New Year collaboration dinner, returning after two consecutive sold-out years.

Celebrating the Year of the Fire Horse, the 2026 edition unfolds over two intimate evenings: February 19
at Kiin and February 20 at Yan Dining Room. Rooted in friendship and a shared philosophy around
storytelling, hospitality and flavour, the collaboration comes to life through an exclusive eight-course
chef’s tasting menu that blends Northern Thai and Northern Chinese cuisines.

Drawing from their shared culinary foundations, the menu explores common threads between both
traditions, from noodles and pork to time-honoured techniques such as stir-frying, steaming and
fermentation. These elements allow the chefs to move seamlessly between cuisines, creating dishes that
feel both comforting and unexpected.

Guests can expect handcrafted plates that balance comfort and complexity, including dumplings paired
with shellfish bisque and chilli oil, prosperity-inspired housemade tofu, and longevity noodles enriched
with slow-simmered pork bone and tomato ragout. Charcoal-grilled meats anchor the menu, while
desserts close the evening with contrast, texture and nostalgia through elements such as crispy rice,
coconut-pandan gelato, tamarind caramel and charcoal-roasted sweet potato.

“This collaboration continues to be one of the highlights of our year,” says Chef Eva Chin. “Each dinner
gives us the opportunity to honour our shared traditions while creating something new together. Lunar
New Year is about generosity, connection and starting the year with intention, and we love expressing that through this menu.”

Chef Nuit Regular adds, “Working with Chef Eva always feels natural because we share the same respect
for heritage and storytelling through food. Lunar New Year is such a meaningful moment for both of us,
and we are excited to welcome guests back to celebrate with a menu that reflects our roots and our
friendship.”

Known for its intimacy and attention to detail, this annual dinner has become a Lunar New Year ritual for
many Toronto diners. With limited seating and a history of selling out, the two-night experience invites guests to welcome the new year through food that is generous, expressive and rooted in shared
celebration.

Limited seating, reservations are strongly encouraged.

Event Details:
Kiin x Yan Dining Room Lunar New Year Collaboration Dinner
Menu: Eight course chef’s tasting menu
Price: $208 per person excluding 20 percent gratuity and tax
Dietary notes: No modifications for allergies or dietary restrictions

Thursday, February 19, 2026
Kiin Toronto, 326 Adelaide St. W.
Dinner begins at 7:00 p.m.
Reservations: HERE

Friday, February 20, 2026
Yan Dining Room, 195 Dundas St. W.
Dinner begins at 7:00 p.m.
Reservations: HERE

For more information and updates on this exciting series, follow @YanDiningRoom on Instagram or visit
the Hong Shing website for reservation details.

#FOOD: THA PHAE TAVERN SET TO OPEN APRIL 2025

Announced today, Toronto is set to welcome an exciting new addition to its vibrant downtown food and social scene—Tha Phae Tavern. It takes inspiration from the energy of the iconic Tha Phae Gate in Chiang Mai, an international meeting place where locals and travellers have come together for over a century and which has shaped an atmosphere and community that is magical and unlike any other. This convergence of cultures, people, food, and languages—curated by both visitors and the people of Thailand—has created a vibrant, unique, and ever-evolving experience. Bringing this spirit to Toronto, Tha Phae Tavern will blend traditional and modern food and beverage with an exciting environment that will channel the gate’s dynamic energy and sense of fun. Slated to open April 2025 at 221 Richmond St. W., the bar promises to be a destination where the world meets a completely different side of Thailand, right in the city’s core.

Tha Phae Tavern is an immersive experience inspired by the travels of co-owners Chef Nuit and Jeff Regular, the renowned duo behind PAI, Kiin, Sukhothai, Chaiyo, and By Chef Nuit Events & Catering. Drawing from the vibrant spirit of Thailand and other global destinations, the tavern aims to recreate the magic of discovery, where food, drinks, music, and conversation bring people together. Tha Phae Tavern will ultimately aim to be more than just a bar. It will serve as an experience, a feeling, and a journey that captures the essence of backpacking, emulating the thrill of meeting strangers who become friends, and the energy of a space where cultures collide in the best way. Like Tha Phae Gate, it will be a lively hub in the heart of the neighbourhood, offering Thai-inspired bar snacks, shareable plates, and a curated selection of cocktails and mocktails. Guests will enjoy Chef Nuit’s unique blend of traditional Thai flavours with contemporary twists in a lively, welcoming atmosphere. Guests can experience a delightful blend of traditional and modern interpretations of classic Thai bar snacks, with a menu featuring a variety of flavourful options that pay homage to the foods one can find in and around Tha Phae Gate.

The venue’s interior design will reflect the rich cultural and historical significance of the Tha Phae Gate, featuring bold colours, intricate patterns, warm brick facades, and modern Thai-inspired décor. Every detail has been carefully curated to transport guests to the lively streets of Northern Thailand. This is a bar that highlights the rich diversity of food, cultures, and people that give Tha Phae Gate its unique and lively character.

Beyond its culinary offerings, Tha Phae Tavern will feature an array of engaging amenities designed to create an exciting atmosphere perfect for after work outings, celebrations, and unforgettable nights out. Guests can belt out their favourite songs in one of the two private karaoke rooms in the Songthaew Karaoke Bar, capture memories in the on-site photo booth, or try their luck at the one of the claw machines—a playful nod to the bustling markets and street corners of Tha Phae Gate.

“The Tha Phae Gate was once the entryway for the main trading route in Northern Thailand and has become a symbol of connecting different cultures,” says Chef Nuit Regular. “With Tha Phae Tavern, we’re creating a space where people can come together, enjoy incredible food and drinks, make new friends, and create memories in a vibrant and welcoming atmosphere while keeping the experience casual and approachable.”

“When I first travelled through Chiang Mai as a young backpacker, the Tha Phae Gate left an unforgettable impression on me,” adds Jeff Regular. “It was a cultural hub where diverse traditions, cuisines, and people from all over the world came together. That experience inspired us to create this bar to be a community and gathering place for stories to be shared, connections to flourish, and cultures to be celebrated—just like at Tha Phae Gate.”

Event packages will also be available, making the venue an excellent choice for larger groups looking to host larger gatherings. The spacious layout is designed to accommodate everything from corporate events to birthday parties and special celebrations. Event packages available upon request.

Tha Phae Tavern will open its doors April 2025, operating seven days a week. Hours of operation are expected to be Monday to Thursday and Sunday from 4 p.m. to midnight, and Friday to Saturday from 4 p.m. until late. Happy Hour will be offered daily from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., and weekend brunch service will be available from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Songthaew Karaoke Bar private rooms will be available to book seven days a week, from 4 p.m to late. For more information, visit thaphaetavern.com. Follow Tha Phae Tavern on Instagram @thaphaetavern.

The team is currently hiring for a variety of positions—those interested in joining the vibrant Tha Phae Tavern staff are encouraged to apply to info@thaphaetavern.com.

About Tha Phae Tavern:

Located in the heart of downtown Toronto at 221 Richmond St. W., Tha Phae Tavern is a fresh and unique concept from the acclaimed restaurateur couple Chef Nuit and Jeff Regular (PAI, Kiin, Chaiyo, Sukthothai), in partnership with Oliver Geddes (The Fifth Group, RendezViews), Ben Geddes, and Janet Zuccarini (Gusto 54 Restaurant Group). Inspired by the vibrant cultural crossroads of Northern Thailand’s traveller’s hotspot, Tha Phae Gate, we are a drink and snack bar offering thoughtfully handcrafted cocktails and beverages and modern Thai-inspired snacks and shareable small plates in a lively yet casual atmosphere. We aim to provide a welcoming community hub where guests can relax, connect, and enjoy exceptional drinks and food, creating memorable experiences through kind, genuine service and two exciting private karaoke rooms in the Songthaew Karaoke Bar space, and outstanding offerings while celebrating Thailand’s rich cultural diversity and festive nightlife. For more information, visit thaphaetavern.com.