Comments Off on Opera Atelier Gala: Memories of Versailles
The 2012 Memories of Versailles Gala, Mirage, was set in the uniquely beautiful Evergreen Brick Works hosted by Jeanne Beker. The elegant evening began with a cocktail reception with hors d’oeurves, a high-end silent auction as well as a live auction and a stunning $22,000 raffle piece from Tiffany & Co. Dinner was hosted by Chef Neal Noble of Noble Culinary fame featuring Moroccan seared beef tenderloin accompanied by a multitude of mouth-watering delights.
The dining experience was enhanced by performances from the stars of Armide, Colin Ainsworth and Peggy Kriha Dye.
About Evergreen Brick Works
Evergreen Brick Works was named by National Geographic as one of the world’s top 10 geotourism destinations in 2010. This heritage destination, where nature meets cultural hot-spot, features long tunnel kilns that at one point produced over 25 million bricks per year during peak production.
About Opera Atelier
Opera Atelier is a theatre community producing opera, ballet and drama from the 17th and 18th centuries with attention to period-performance detail in drawing up the aesthetics and ideals of the periods, elaborate stage decor and exquisite costumes.
At the Toronto harbour, Epic Cruises had a launch party for their newly-renovated River Gambler ship with special guest Kelly Gruber, of former Toronto Blue Jays fame. The lower level “Silver Lounge” seats up to 160 guests in one room, but the main feature is the Skyline Deck which Epic Cruises boasts is the largest open deck dance floor in the Toronto harbour.
Appetizers that night included tomato with cheese, beef and red pepper skewers, shrimp skewers, chicken breast curry skewers. Dinner included the following choices:
Paella – Spanish rice with chicken, mussels, shrimp & calamari
Bouillabaisse – Salmon, shrimp, calamari, clams, and mussels simmered in a tomato broth.
Beet & Pineapple salad with raspberry vinaigrette
Roasted pork shoulder marinated with rosemary, thyme, garlic and paprika served over roasted potatoes.
Oven roasted Mediterranean chicken marinated with white wine, fresh rosemary and paprika served on roasted vegetables.
The River Gambler party boat is a great idea for those party-goers who literally want a change of scenery from the usual party venues. The food is good, the upcoming themed-events are varied and interesting (watch for the Burlesque Cruise on August 10th!).
Check out the schedule for more information about Epic Cruises www.epiccruises.ca
Comments Off on The Drinks Show is on today and tomorrow
The Drinks Show is here! The world’s only interactive cocktail event is set to showcase unique handcrafted cocktails with hot new recipes and Toronto’s most innovative and popular bartenders serving it all up. The Drinks Show is returning to the trendy 99 Sudbury venue in the heart of Toronto’s sizzling Gallery District on Friday, June 8th and Saturday June 9th from 6 p.m. to 1 a.m.
This year, The Drinks Show will be partnering with Toronto’s top bartenders from the city’s trendiest restos, pubs and bars. Here’s a little about them:
Oliver Stern is the bar manager at the Toronto Temperance Society. With more than 10 years of bartending experience, he has found ways to experiment with cocktails while showing the classics the respect they deserve.
Robin Kaufman from TTS is a lover of the classic cocktails, American whisky and great food. Throw a glass of wine or pint of beer in there and he won’t complain.
Jordan Stacey is the bar manager and resident mixologist for the King Street West hotspot Brassaii. His passion for classic cocktails fuels him to hone his skills by learning some of the world’s forgotten cocktails while pushing the envelope of creativity.
Matthew Larochelle has been making people drinks for 10 years in Toronto. He and his two partners opened Cold Tea in Kensington Market late last year.
Robin Wayne is a food-inspired bartender who likes to make cocktails inspired from the kitchen. He is passionate about bartending with a creative edge to challenge the palate like molecular cocktails driven with a focus on food-based ingredients.
Michelle Tham is a director of the Canadian Professional Bartenders Association. She brings to the craft a combination of culinary-driven technique with an avant-garde approach to flavour profiles and taste perception. Having lived a previous life as a traveled cook, she approaches the bar as a kitchen. Michelle has an appreciation for traditional and classical methods.
Clint Pattemore is the Caesar Mixing Officer (CMO) for Mott’s Clamato Caesar. His favourite garnish is his Mom’s pickled celery. Clint travels the country teaching people about the Mott’s Clamato Caesar. Oh Canada!
Brad Gubbins is the head bartender and bar manager at SpiritHouse, Toronto’s newest hotbed for all things spirits and cocktails. Brad loves drinks that are spirit forward and offers his patrons not just a great drink, but a great night as well.
Sarah Parniak is a bartender, freelance writer and flavour enthusiast who teaches and consults at the Toronto Institute of Bartending. You can find her behind the stick at Kensington Market’s Cold Tea on weekends, where she cracks a mean tallboy and likes to experiment.
Highlights of the ninth edition of The Drinks Show include an onsite whiskey taste test challenge and a whisky cocktail competition. Other contests, challenges, prizes, swag, photo ops and more will take place throughout the course of both nights.
Comments Off on Bluebird 3rd Annual Food and Art Thing at The Burroughes
Bluebird held their 3rd annual “Food and Art Thing” at The Burroughes on Queen West on June 2, 2012. It’s an event showing that food can be edible art and vice-versa. All the art exhibits at each booth had a food-themed element.
The Food Dudes did a great job of catering the event and using their food-driven entertainment to continue the theme and also keep the guests well-fed with many visually appealing pieces of edible hors-d’oeurves art. When we first experienced the Food Dudes at BMW Downtown Toronto for the new 3-series launch event, it was delightful. So what we’ve learned is that wherever Food Dudes are, we must be there as well!
The event was well-attended and entertainment was found in many forms. It was our first time at Bluebird and we look forward to seeing Bluebird again next year!
About Bluebird:
Founded by Devan Rajkumar in 2009, the event showcases unique & interesting expressions that vividly showcase and demonstrate the interrelationship between food & art, while supporting local artists and giving back to those in need.
Comments Off on SPARK Children’s Aid Foundation Gala at The Carlu
Co-host Anne Mroczkowski, with Spark Gala Chair, Andrea Weissman-Daniels and Co-host Leslie Roberts. Photo courtesy of Children’s Aid Foundation
On May 6, 2012, the Children’s Aid Foundation hosted the SPARK gala at the Carlu. Proceeds from for the fundraiser went to support the Ignite the Spark Fund which provides life-changing opportunities for disadvantaged children and youth living in the child welfare system. These opportunities allow them to explore their interests in sports, arts and cultural activities which are crucial to their personal growth and development.
The event successfully raised $400,000 and allows for a life-changing three-year commitment to support each youth in their chosen field. It was well-attended with Anne Mroczkowski and Leslie Roberts as co-hosts as well as Randy Bachman, Lisa Ray, Patrick Chan, Bernadette Morra and Jackie Richardson. Martin Lim was also a featured fashion designer in attendance.
ABOUT THE IGNITE THE SPARK FUND
One out of every 25 children in Canada are at risk and need our help. Many have suffered in poverty and are victims of abuse or neglect. As a result, 300,000 of these children and youth have a social worker, while a staggering 76,000 are Crown wards who live in foster care or residential programs.
For these vulnerable children and youth, there are often significant gaps in funding that prevent them from enrolling in hockey, taking dance or learning to play a musical instrument. However, these very experiences can be the catalyst to restoring self-esteem, developing interpersonal and coping skills and finding the inner strength to build successful lives.
Inspired by their adopted daughter, Mark Daniels and Andrea Weissman-Daniels
founded the Ignite the Spark Fund – a unique initiative to fund “enrichment” programs. Spark is unlike any other fund because it helps children who have no access to, or can’t afford to have new experiences in sports, arts and recreation.
The Fund is also unique because it allows children to enrol in any program of their choice within their own communities and provides a commitment over multiple years. It also covers the costs of related clothing and equipment and gives them a level playing field with their peers. The Ignite the Spark fund not only supports children and youth involved with child welfare organizations in Toronto, (such as: Jewish Family and Child; Native Child and Family Services of Toronto; and Catholic Children’s Aid Society of Toronto) it also supports children under the watch of child welfare services across Canada.
