On November 20, I was fortunate to attend the food lover’s dream event – Air Canada‘s enRoute magazine‘s announcement of Canada’s best new restaurants for 2014. This gala brought together restaurants from coast to coast to the Gardiner Museum, where guests met the chefs and sampled some of their restaurant’s signature dishes.
Following the success of Schnitzel HUB‘s first location in Thornhill, owners Yan and Rita Khalfon opened their second location right in the heart of Midtown, at Yonge St. and St. Clair Ave. On November 19, we braved the snow and cold to sample some of Schnitel HUB’s signature eats and drinks, and we’re sure glad we did.
Saint Lucia. A tropical country found in the Caribbean waters, nestled between Martinique and St. Vincent. You’ve probably heard of Saint Lucia, but truthfully, how much do you really know about it? This was the purpose of a moonlight dinner – hosted by the culinary ambassador of Saint Lucia, and Top Chef Season 11 runner-up, Chef Nina Compton at the St. James Cathedral’s Deanery – to promote tourism for this island gem. And what better way…
Just before TIFF, America Restaurant opened in the heart of Toronto’s financial district, halfway up the Trump Hotel Toronto on the 31st floor. Formerly Stock Restaurant, it was reborn through the partnership of INK Entertainment and Oliver & Bonancini Restaurants, undergoing a complete transformation in less than two weeks. On Thursday, November 6th, we were invited to discover the tastes that America had to offer.
On October 29th, we were fortunate to attend an intimate bourbon tasting, featuring a selection of Jim Beam bourbons. And what better place to have this tasting than at Aft Kitchen & Bar, a neighbourhood restaurant in Queen East specializing in classic comfort food.
The 19th edition of Eat to the Beat – held on October 21st at Roy Thompson Hall – had extra significance this year, as Willow Breast & Hereditary Cancer Support was also celebrating its 20th birthday. Eat to the Beat is an important fundraising and awareness event for Willow, having raised more than $3.5 million in the past twenty years.