The most impressive array of food and drink in November is found at the Gourmet Food & Wine Expo with over 1,500 bites, beers and boozes to taste and try. There’s everything from local favourites like Little Fin to international wines and craft brewers. Up the ante with tasting sessions led by industry experts and celebs like The Thirsty Traveler’s Kevin Brauch who has his favourite beverages from around the globe in tow. There are also sessions that focus on wines from specific locations like California, Burgundy and Tuscany so you can become an expert on your favourite wine regions.
Regardless of your background, anyone can dig into Toronto’s best Jewish eats at the inaugural NoshFest happening at Artscape Wychwood Barns. Nibble on bites from the city’s trendiest Jewish spots like bagels from Schmaltz Appetizing, lemon mint tea from Limonana and corned beef from Saul’s. Live music from Klezmer band Rock the Shtetl provides apt entertainment for the festivities with cultural crafts to pick up in between. It’s an excellent event to bring the kids to as those 12 and under enter for free while a portion of the $10 adult’s admission goes to grassroots Jewish environmental organization Shoresh.
Since 1922, farmers, breeders and food enthusiasts have been competing at The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair for esteemed prizes and bragging rights. After you’ve had your fill of adorable animals at the petting farm and admiring Olympic-calibre riders at the horse show, check out championship cheeses, fine wines and culinary competitions throughout the fair. Don’t miss Toronto’s own Manning Canning, who nabbed both first and third place in this year’s Jams, Jellies & Pickles Competition with their Pickled Silverskin Onions and Seville Orange Marmalade.
Ben Radvanyi
Known for their pop-up food experiences, the Group of 7 Chefs have partnered with Tabasco for a one-night-only fest celebrating spicy selections. Chefs like Dustin Gallagher of 416 Snack Bar and Anthony Walsh of Oliver & Bonacini have crafted hawker market-style eats highlighted with the iconic hot sauce. Nick Liu from DaiLo will be preparing a Banana Leaf Grilled Skate Sambal while Citizen Catering’s Chris Brown hosts a Ssam bar where you can assemble your own Korean lettuce wraps. Events attendees can also tempt their tongue’s fate with a taste of a pepper mash that measures a fiery 35,000 on the Scoville scale.
Practise your best Mayor Quimby accent in between spoonfuls of comforting soup at the Chowder Chowdown. A dozen top chefs, from Kendall Collingridge at Hooked to Rodney's Rodrigo de Romana, go head-to-head with chowder recipes that feature quahog clams, Pacific salted cod, side-stripe shrimp and smoked oysters. A panel of judges will crown a Chowdown Champion but attendees will also get to vote for a People’s Choice winner. Ceílí Cottage’s Patrick McMurray, last year’s Champion, will be shucking oysters throughout the evening while craft brews, Whitehaven wine and Walter Caesars keep you refreshed.
Shane Oosterhoff
Reach new levels of gentlemanly greatness at this expo featuring new trends in fashion, technology, health and wellness. Catch an Iron Chef-style cook-off at the Underground Chef Co. Battle and sample an array of beers, wines and harder-to-find spirits like Ron Diplomatico rum and Highland Park whisky. Fanboys will fawn over the expo’s celebrity guests like Doug Gilmour, Georges St-Pierre and Blue Rodeo’s Jim Cuddy. Don’t miss the Openly On-Stage Discussion where industry experts like chefs, bakers and editors (including a member of yours truly, Foodism Toronto) hash out the latest in the F&B industry.
