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First Annual AwesTRUCK Food Truck Awards

  • September 23, 2012
  • food
  • Comments Off on First Annual AwesTRUCK Food Truck Awards

The first annual food truck awards event, AwesTRUCK 2012, brought 1,800 foodies to Evergreen Brick Works for a sold-out event to dine on delicious street food from pop-up shops and food trucks. We were looking forward to this format since we had been to a few of the similar Toronto Underground Market monthly events, but this was more interesting because there were different phases of the evening including a VIP phase from 2-4pm followed by a general admission phase. This VIP phase is especially appealing because it allowed access to all food vendors with complimentary food for 2 hours including 3 drink tickets.  It’s a fantastic event format for food enthusiasts who want to sample everything and avoid long lines.  It’s like being a kid in a candy store for foodies!

Barbequed oyster delicacies from Tide & Vine

The Awestruck 2012 event opened with James Cunningham, host of Food Network Canada’s Eat St making the introductions.

Then hosts Pay Chen and Michelle Jobin then handed out the first of the annual AwesTRUCK awards:

People’s Choice – Gorilla Cheese (winner); El Gastronomo Vagabundo, Cupcake Diner, Blue Donkey Streatery, Buster’s Sea Cove, Dobro Jesti, Rome’n Chariot, Southern Smoke

Gorilla Cheese accepting the People’s Choice award

Best New Truck – Dobro Jesti (winner); Buster’s Sea Cove, Rome’n Chariot

Dobro Jesti accepting the award for Best New Truck

Road Warrior – El Gastronomo Vagabundo (winner)

Best Menu Item – El Gastronomo Vagabundo (winner, Fish Tacos); Gorilla Cheese (Sarducci); Cupcake Diner (Caramel Apple Pie); Rome’n Chariot (Meatball Sliders); Dobro Jesti (Deep Fried Rice Balls); Southern Smoke (Smoked Brisket with Smoked Mac & Daddy Cheese)

Best Concept – El Gastronomo Vagabundo (winner); Gorilla Cheese, Buster’s Sea Cove

Best Pop-Up – Fidel Gastro (winner); Babi & Co.; Big E’s Grinds

Fidel Gastro accepting the award for Best Pop-up

Best Graphics – Blue Donkey Streatery (winner); Buster’s Sea Cove, Rome’n Chariot

We love Tequila Tromba’s enthusiasm, flair and especially their margaritas from a few previous events we’ve been to (Food Dudes Food truck launch party, Boys Night Out and various Toronto Underground Market events) so it was no surprise to see them here in this familiar street food setting, But on this special occasion they treated guests with “Tromba AWESTRUCK Punch” which includes Tequila Tromba Blanco, Ceres Whispers of summer juice, Hibiscus-Rooibos syrup, fresh lime juice all topped with angostura bitters.  The fog floating above the punch made it more intriguing thanks to the addition of dry ice.

Tequila Tromba

Judging for each category were selected on public vote on the AwesTRUCK 2012 website and the winners were determined by a panel of judges

  • Alison Fryer, manager of The Cookbook Store
  • Matthew Blackett, publisher of Spacing magazine
  • Amy Rosen, food and travel writer

The People’s Choice Award was awarded to the truck receiving the most public votes.

We look forward to celebrating the food truck scene at next year’s AwesTRUCK 2013! …. with hopefully better by-laws for more delicious food trucks by then.

For more information visit www.foodtruckeats.ca/awestruck2012

Suresh Doss, Food Truck Eats, @spotlightcity

Tequila Tromba

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The Brazilian Carnival Gala celebrates “Live, Love and Laugh”

Each year the Brazilian Carnival Ball attracts over 1,800 guests and raises more than $2 million making it one of the largest fundraising galas in Canada and reaching international reputation (in September 2002, the Ball was held at the Château de Versailles in France).  More than $55 million net has been donated to important causes in healthcare, research , education and culture in Canada since Anna Maria de Souza started it in a small Toronto church basement in 1966.  The beneficiaries this year included the de Souza Institute Foundation (for highly-trained oncology nurses named in memory of Anna Maria) and the Canadian Association of Psychosocial Oncology (CAPO) for psychosocial care for people with cancer and their families.

On Sept 15, 2012, the 46th annual (and sadly the final) Brazilian Carnival Ball was held at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre.

The evening started with a VIP reception where we spotted Canadian fashion icon, Jeanne Beker, among others, followed by the main cocktail reception.

Jeanne Beker

Cocktail reception


Then we were all gathered into the banquet hall into our assigned tables where it was time to be greeted.  The most touching moment came when Ivan X. de Souza, the widower of the honoured founder of the Brazilian Carnival Ball, Anna Maria, gave his speech and mentioned his beloved wife, who fought a nine month battle with cancer without complaint.  It’s only fitting that on the 5th anniversary of her passing, this year’s  Brazilian Carnival Ball proceeds go towards cancer and bereavement charities.

Then there were heart-wrenching but important video diving into personal stories of those affected by cancer.

Ivan X. de Souza, widower of Anna Marie de Souza

On that purposefully somber note we headed into a 3 course gourmet dinner.

Dinner was followed by song and dance.

Then finally the main event!  The fabulous and glamorous Brazilian Carnival Parade full of sequins, feathers!  The costumes are flown in from the one and only world-renowned Carnival in Rio de Janeiro.

After the fantastic and fun parade it was time for naturally the best time for samba dancing and celebration of Anna Maria’s theme of “live, love and laugh”.

Miss Brazil Canada 2012 Daniela Correia

For more information visit

www.brazilianball.com

About Anna Maria de Souza

To read about Anna Maria de Souza’s biography, please visit

www.brazilianball.com/about/anna_maria_de_souza

ABOUT THE DE SOUZA INSTITUTE

The mission of the de Souza Institute is to provide Ontarians with the best cancer care in the world by focusing on developing highly trained, specialized cancer nurses utilizing the latest evidence and approaches to cancer care. The Institute’s rapid success in Ontario has created significant interest elsewhere in Canada with collaborations not only being discussed nationally, but internationally in such countries as Kuwait, Brazil, and the United States. The de Souza Institute, named in memory of Anna Maria, was founded in partnership with Princess Margaret Hospital and Cancer Care Ontario.

In just over three years the Institute’s courses have:

  • resulted in a 40% increase in oncology nurses in Ontario who achieved specialty certification in oncology – many of them are on route to becoming a “de Souza Nurse” –an official recognition of advanced oncology nursing knowledge and skills and
  • over 4000 nurses have participated in the de Souza Institute’s educational programs. As front line practitioners, in regional cancer centres they help ensure that all individuals and families impacted by cancer receive the best support and follow up care.The funds raised will be directed towards supporting innovative research on new clinically-relevant approaches designed to bring the latest world-class cancer treatments to front line care.Programs developed will include:
  • Methods of latest chemotherapy delivery
  • Enhanced nursing support through radiation, prevention and health promotion counseling
  • Strategies to improve communication and the provision of emotional support to individuals and families receiving cancer treatments, follow up and palliative care.For more information please visit www.desouzanurse.ca

ABOUT CAPO/ACOP

  • The Canadian Association of Psychosocial Oncology (CAPO) promotes excellence in psychosocial care for people with cancer and their families throughout the cancer experience—from diagnosis to treatment to survivorship or death. While the physical symptoms of cancer are addressed with medical treatment, the emotional impact of the disease is often overlooked. Psychosocial oncology is a specialty in cancer care that is concerned with the whole person. It focuses on the social, psychological, emotional and spiritual aspects of cancer through the entire cancer journey. CAPO works to transform cancer care wherever it is delivered—in hospital, in the community and in hospices. CAPO is a recognized international leader in the development of standards and guidelines for supportive quality of life care.Funding CAPO will improve the course of cancer for millions of Canadians living with cancer:
  • Facilitate equal access to psychosocial support services regardless of where a person lives, their age, income or ethnicity.
  • Standardized evidence based patient care models focused on reducing emotional and psychological distress.
  • Improved psychosocial interventions and programs for individuals with high quality research.
  • Implementation of standardized screening for distress throughout the cancer trajectory regardless of where cancer patients receive care
  • Education and training for all health care professionals to increase capacity for psychosocial care.
  • Raise awareness and expectations for quality psychosocial care.For more imformation please visit www.capo.ca
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MAC Viva Glam Fashion Cares 25 with Elton John

Hosted by Linda Evangelista and Dean & Dan Caten of DSQUARED2, notable celebrities gathered for an upscale, fashionable and glamourous evening for the final MAC Viva Glam Fashion Cares fundraising event in support of men, women and youth living with HIV.  The event then continued inside for music performances by the Scissor Sisters and Janelle Monae.  Sir Elton John himself performed Tiny Dancer, Your Song, renditions of Rocket Man and Crocodile Rock.  The finale, I’m Still Standing, with over 20 acts participating included Jully Black, Kesha Chante and Chantal Kreviazuk.

Celebrities in attendance included:  Scissor Sisters, Janelle Monae, Sky Ferreira, Chantal Kreviazuk, Raine Maida,  Jully Black, Billy Newton Davis, Carole Pope, Jarvis Church, Kreesha Turner, Elise Legrow, Anjulie, Shawn Desman, Divine Brown, Nikki Yanofsky and Jian Ghomeshi.  We spotted Kardinal Offishall running in after the red carpet ended.

The final Fashion Cares philanthropy event benefited Canadian HIV/AIDS foundations nationwide as distributed through the AIDS Committee of Toronto as well as the Elton John AIDS Foundation (EJAF).

It was nice to see that #FashionCares25 and #FC25 were trending on Twitter and we can see why!

D Squared

Kreesha Turner

Linda Evangelista being interviewed by Jeanne Beker

Linda Evangelista

Jeanne Beker

Petra Nemcova

Elton John and David Furnish

Yasmin Warsame’s spine back dress

Yasmin Warsame with D Squared

Scissor Sisters

Sky Ferreira

Chantal Kreviazuk and Raine Maida

Shawn Desman

About AIDS Committee of Toronto (ACT)
Since 1983 ACT has developed programs and services that respond to the changing needs of
the communities it serves.
ACT provides support services that empower men, women and youth living with HIV to achieve
self-determination, informed decision-making, independence, and overall well-being. We do this
through programs such as counselling, information provision, social support activities and
programs that help people with HIV return to work.

About Fashion Cares
A critical, artistic and financial success since it’s inception in 1987, Fashion Cares builds
awareness of HIV/AIDS while raising funds for the AIDS Committee of Toronto (ACT). Combining
local and international fashion talent with the design and business communities, this always sold
out, media and celebrity studded evening caps elegant cocktails and cuisine with a rousing
auction, a theatrical runway event, and an entertainment spectacle. With a 22-year attendance
record of over 50 thousand guests and volunteers, Fashion Cares has netted profits of nearly $12
million dollars to date. For Fashion Cares 25 updates, see www.fashioncares.com or
www.facebook.com/FashionCares25

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Photos from the event

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Diesel Ducati Collaboration launches in Toronto

  • September 13, 2012
  • fashion
  • Comments Off on Diesel Ducati Collaboration launches in Toronto

The highly anticipated Monster Diesel and Ducati Diesel Collection has launched for the first time in Canada on September 6, 2012 and the premiere took place at the Diesel store right here in Yorkville. The collection is edgy, raw and sexy—a true reflection of a biker bad boy attitude. Pieces are inspired by the collaboration, with clean technical details and bold Diesel graphics in the t-shirts, leather jackets, jeans, sweaters, and more.

A selection from the Diesel Ducati Collection in Toronto

Polo shirt and jeans from the Diesel Ducati collection

Diesel is an international fashion industry legend in denim and casual wear. The clothing here does not deter from their brand, but rather epitomizes it alongside Ducati’s rugged military vehicle experience. These trusted Italian names are dedicated to men whose lives are measured in the fast lane.

This collection is exclusive to the Diesel store on 92 Yorkville Avenue for a limited time while quantities last.
For more information, visit www.diesel.com/ducati and check out the video of the making of Ducati Monster and Diesel Ducati clothing collections here http://www.diesel.com/ducati#collaboration

Diesel Ducati Collection: Photo courtesy of Diesel

Diesel Ducati Collection – Photo courtesy of Diesel

Diesel Ducati Collection – Photo courtesy of Diesel

ABOUT THE DUCATI / DIESEL COLLABORATION
This is an exciting new phase in the Diesel/Ducati partnership, which started in 2011 with the Diesel sponsorship of the Ducati Team in MotoGP. The brand new customized model is an ‘urban military chic’ interpretation of Ducati’s iconic naked motorcycle and will be unveiled alongside the new collection at the Diesel stores in Canada.
The collaboration is celebrated with a clothing collection reflecting the brands’ DNA and common roots of creativity and innovation, the key elements that enabled the two companies to become renowned icons of the “Made in Italy” tradition. The dual-branded collection is dedicated to addicts of life in the fast lane and composed of eleven different styles including essential slim-fitting biker jackets, sweats, tees, a unique five pocket in raw denim, and a set of accessories. All pieces are characterized by pure biker attitude, clean technical details and bold Diesel graphics.
Set against the black treatment of Ducati’s Trellis frame, wheels, engine covers, exhaust system and forks, the exclusive ‘Diesel Brave Green matte’ livery delivers a rugged military vehicle feel, while front brake calipers are finished in shocking yellow to make a strong reminder of the model’s performance heritage.
All pieces are characterized by pure biker attitude, clean technical details and bold Diesel graphics, such as the treated rubber prints. Colours for the collection are black, grey, white with pop up red inspired by logos from both brands, while the range of fabrics goes from treated nylon and cotton to denim and over-dyed jersey mix with leather and metal applications.

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Tundra Restaurant Reopens at Hilton Hotel

  • September 11, 2012
  • launch
  • Comments Off on Tundra Restaurant Reopens at Hilton Hotel

We were excited to be at the Tundra because our friend would be there: Tundra executive sous chef, Eraj Jayawickreme.  The award-winning Tundra restaurant in the Hilton Hotel was renovated and reopened and we had the opportunity to be part of the opening festivities to enjoy this great venue featuring designs from the Montreal-based design firm, Lemaymichaud, that allows patrons to socialize in a chic environment in the new lobby bar with a new concept focused on Canadian ingredients.

The entrance to Tundra features a large, intricate sphere carved from a single piece of Vancouver Island red cedar by west-coast artist Brent Comber.  Glass panels etched with a satellite image of Northern Quebec’s Ungava Bay.

At the entrance of Tundra you will find a sphere made from a single piece of Vancouver island red cedar

“One of our mandates was to craft different ambiences”, says lead designer, Louise Dupont. “So there’s one by the window where you can kick back. Another is around the bar and long table where people can be part of the action and see everything that’s going on. The restaurant is more about being cosseted in a fine dining environment. The Canadian elements may be subtle but they’re helping to make Tundra unique.”

The overall ambiance of Tundra is warm and inviting.

Draperies and freestanding movable walls act as dividers to provide flexibility ranging from large functions to intimate gatherings.

Bites include a foamy cloud of buffalo mozzarella topped with pine-nut brittle and a crunchy cylindrical helping of crabmeat topped with Old Bay remoulade and oven-dried tomatoes.

Buffalo mozzarella topped with pine-nut brittle

The most appealing bite of the night was the lobster mac and cheese. The seared scallop was great as well.

Seared scallop

Entertainment came from jugglers, ribbon twirlers and a fire-eating lady.

Ketel One Vodka martini

The evening then led us to the the 32nd floor penthouse for desserts to end the evening on a sweet note.

About Tundra

Tundra incorporates as many inspiring elements of the landscape as possible.  The colours and lighting are subdued and evocative of the natural features of the country we love most.  Fresh, innovative design is inspired by the untamed Canadian landscape enhancing the award-winning creative, cutting-edge cuisine.  Tundra offers seasonal menus using the freshest locally sourced ingredients making each dining experience unique throughout the year.  Reservations can be made via OpenTable.com or by emailing the restaurant directly at tundra.toronto@hilton.com.  Reservations may also be made over the phone by dialing (416) 860-6800.

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