This first-ever fest puts the city’s best makers of sweet and doughy goodness all in one place. Expect crullers, doughnuts and pillowy rotundities from Glory Hole Doughnuts, Von Doughnuts and White Lily Diner along with gluten-free, vegan rounds from Sorelle and Co. Your ticket price includes a six-pack of doughnuts upon exit so you can continue the sugar rush and carb kick well after the event concludes.
Dufferin Mall, $15
Toronto has the proud honour of hosting North America’s largest Mac and Cheese Festival with over 40,000 expected to attend over three days. There will be over 50 varieties of this comfortingly gooey dish on offer from great eateries across the city: Junked Food Co., SOCO Kitchen and Bar and Bacon Nation, to name a few. To prove that this dish goes way beyond that iconic blue box, there will be a competition for chefs, cooks and food entrepreneurs to create the best mac and cheese with a nice $5,000 cash prize as the reward.
Ontario Place, free
Comfort food knows no geographic boundaries and there are plenty of delicious Asian eats that hit the spot. At Taste of Asia, an array of mouthwatering treats will be prepared before your eyes, from the crunchy and Instagrammable twist potatoes to whole grilled squid and that infamous stinky tofu that definitely lives up to its name. Midway games keep little ones (and those young at heart) entertained while bubble teas make for a sweet addition to the festivities.
Kennedy Road and Steeles Avenue, Markham, free
We’re a city infatuated with tacos so a festival dedicated to these hand-held eats is most appropriate. Back for its second year, Taco Fest will showcase over a hundred different tacos from 25 vendors. Try the Food Dudes’ Cap'n Crunch Fish Taco, the Shrimp Ceviche Taco from Little Fin or the Carolina Fried Chicken Taco from Fidel Gastro's, the latter of which won last year’s best taco competition as voted by attendees. Entertainment comes courtesy of a live mariachi band while a hot sauce bar featuring over 80 spicy sauces will keep things flavourful and fiery.
Ontario Place, $9.95-$14.95
There’s something so simple yet utterly satisfying about frying up some cheese between two slices of bread. For the Underground Chef Co.’s latest competition, teams made up of a chef and a blogger (Penthouse Catering's Russell Auckbaraullee and Danielle Finestone of ToFoodies among them) will compete for the title of grilled cheese champ. To make things more interesting, teams are presented with secret ingredients immediately before the event begins to keep participants on their toes.
Boehmer, $15
There’s no quicker way to our hearts (or stomachs) than food grilled over an open flame with just the right amount of char. At the BBQ Eats Fest, all types of flavourful barbecue will be on offer, from classic renditions such as ribs and wings to worldly varieties made by eateries like Soi Thai, Chubby’s Jamaican Kitchen and Greek Grill. Craft beer will be flowing as a fitting accompaniment to the grilled eats while fire eaters, carnival rides and fire pits for roasting marshmallows round out the entertainment offerings.
Ontario Place, free
