Here’s a few shows that should be on your radar!

1. Green Living Show

March 27 – 29, 2015 at the Metro Convention Centre. (255 Front St W)

Love this incentive: FREE ADMISSION WITH E-WASTE, courtesy of Solve For Tomorrow & Samsung.

2. One of a Kind Spring Show and Sale:
 This show features over 450 artisans and is truly one of my favourite shows.

Dates:  March 25 – 29, 2015 (5 days) Place:  Direct Energy Centre, Exhibition Place, 100 Princes’ Blvd., Hours:  Weekdays & Saturdays: 10am – 9pm; Sundays: 10am – 6pm;  Late Night Shopping: March 26, 9am – 11pm.

If you are a foodie like me, then you will want to read this blog post by Yum Yum Factor called: What’s Cooking at This Year’s Spring One of a Kind Show- My Ten Favourite Food Treats.

3. Toronto Food + Drink Market …April 10 -12, Direct Energy Centre, Exhibition Place.

As always, no shortage of fun activities to do in Toronto.

Share this:

Sometimes I’m so busy going to food events that I forget that there’s a whole other world out there! For example, I finally went to The Artist Project, which a Contemporary Art Fair and allows you to meet and buy directly from over 250 contemporary artists.

This spectacular event is now celebrating it’s 8th year and is taking place From Feb. 19- 22 at the Better Living Centre, Exhibition Place.

In my opinion this is a great INDOOR activity seeing as the weather is not ideal to really be enjoying any outdoor activities.

The show is really well laid out – and in a bright open space. I really appreciated the location that was chosen for this event.

I wandered thru each aisle and snapped a few (just a few) photos. Here’s some art that caught attention. This particular piece of art made laugh as I’m notorious for buying cheap shoes and then paying the price afterwards.

This piece of art also inspired me. I loved the use of wood and the simple “typical” Canadiana scene of a game of pick up hockey.

Take a peek at this piece of art which is made entirely out of corks! How genius. How intricate! (www.nachocartagena.com)

This artist used glass…

I even bumped into a fine art photographer that I haven’t seen since I was 16. How cool is that? (www.kevinviner.com)

This piece of colourful art caught my attention too.

Now all I need is wall space so I can purchase a piece of art!! Plus I would need to make a decision. LOL

For more information:

The Artist Project – www.artistproject.com, Better Living Centre, Exhibiton Place

Hours: Friday Feb 21, 11 am to 8 pm, Saturday Feb 22, 11 am to 8 pm and Sunday Feb 22, 11 am to 6 pm

Admission: $15 Adults, Seniors and Youth $10, Children under 12 are free

Twitter: @artistprojectto

Hashtag: #theartistproject

Share this:

I went to check out the Delicious Food Show on Friday. I thought my visit would be brief but I ended up staying for hours. There were many more vendors than I had anticipated and no shortage of foodie friends for me to bump into!!

The show is taking place Oct 25-27th at the Better Living Centre, Exhibition Place and is a well layed out, and a beautiful looking show.

I’m in love with this display that is at the front and would really like two smaller versions for my apartment!!

I walked thru the aisles and discovered new product – like this Organic Chocolate with Mustard Seeds fromKozlik’s. How unique. Don’t you think?

Those small dots are the mustard seeds!!

I also bumped into some restaurant owners that I hadn’t seen in many years who are just to open a new restaurant (Pai Toronto). While talking to Nuit and Jeff, we discovered that we have known each other since 2008, when I visited their first restaurant (Sudkho Thai) on Parliament.

My food adventures continued and I must say that I had a lot of fun at the View the Vibe booth. They had a great set up – including a Lounge.

The highlight of the day was really Martha Stewart! She attracted a HUGE crowd. Please note that the Delicious Show has a variety of  high profile chefs appearing throughout the weekend. Take a peek at the schedule here.

Hope you get a chance to visit this DELICIOUS show over the weekend. You won’t be disappointed.

Show Hours: Oct 25-27

Friday: 11am-10pm
Saturday: 10am-7pm
Sunday: 10am-6pm

Better Living Centre, Exhibition Place, Toronto

Share this:

I’ve been going to the Toronto Festival Beer for many years and it keeps getting bigger and better.  I remember back in the day when it was held at Fort York  when there were just a few food vendors and it was so much smaller.   Things have clearly changed!! Now the food scene at the Festival is just as much of a highlight as the beer scene!!

As you can see from this photo….I was prepared!!

I went last night and as always enjoyed eating and drinking my way thru the festival. I wish I drank more but for some reason can never manage to have more than a few beers. Sad but true!!

Here’s a few highlights:

1. Beer and Bacon: Why haven’t I had this combo before?  Rashers is the only bacon sandwich shop in North America and I was thrilled to see them at the Festival. I devoured my British Style Bacon Strips with a few ounces of Black Guinness and was  a happy camper.

2. Foundry Cider had an apple smashing cage that looked like so much fun!! I love stuff like this…

3. The International Centre Crafting Fuzion. I had never heard of them till this week. All I know is that I will be making a special trip to the International Centre to try more!!  The two dishes I had a the Festival were nothing but outstanding. Huge thanks to @LuiSays for reaching out to me prior to the festival. (twitter works. #justsayin’)

Seoul Bandido Nacho Libre

This dish also rocked: Bruce Lee’s Tijuana Ssam Mash Up – Anchor steamed marinated Bulgogi in an iceberg wrap with spicy kimchi and American Style chop suey topped off with cilantro and mexican scented rice pops. Served in a mini bamboo boat. MORE. PLEASE.

4. Rock Lobster Food Co. is at the Festival and is hugely popular. Here’s a photo of  Matt and his team  working hard! Again, what a great combo – beer and a lobster roll!!

5. Besides the beer and the food – I love the fact that everyone is having a great time!

For More Information:

Toronto Festival of Beer (July 27-29th) Bandshell Park, Exhibition Place, Toronto

Twitter: @TOBeerFestival

Share this:

SO much is going on in April, that I don’t know where to start!! I guess at the beginning…LOL. Here’s a few April events that are on my radar and of course I wanted to share them with you.

1. The Good Food Festival – April 5th to April 7th at the Direct Energy Centre, Exhibition Place. I’ve always loved this show and infact I use to sell booth space for this show- that’s how much I loved it. Grab some cash (to take advantage of the “Show Specials”), put on your flat shoes and take advantage of the many samples and live cooking demonstrations.

2. The Cookbook Store  (850 Yonge St) is celebrating 30 years in business with an Anniversary Open House on Saturday, April 6th from 11am to 4 pm. This is truly one unique store. (that also happens to have a great newsletter too).

2. The Green Living Show – April 12-14th at the Direct Energy Centre, Exhibition Place. I’ve only gone for the last two years but it’s a show I won’t miss. You will find me most likely hanging around the “Farm Fresh Share” or the Farmers Market!!

  Please note: the Green Living Show, proud sponsor Samsung Canada, and RBC challenge GTA residents to round up old and unwanted electronic waste (e-waste) gathering dust and bring them in for recycling. For each piece of e-waste recycled at the Green Living Show, or at six participating RBC branches, participants will receive a free ticket ($16 value) to the Green Living Show (April 12-14). The Passion for E-Recycling School Challenge offers up $20,000 in Samsung Hope for Children Smart School grants to GTA schools that collect the most e-waste.

Besides eating “farm fresh” food at the show, you will find me staring at Electric Cars.

3. The Toronto Jewish Film Festival – April 11 -21. I went last year for my first time (can you believe?) and saw four films. I plan on seeing at least that many this year!! I’ve already started to “study” the guide but it’s taking longer than I would like to actually make decisions. So many choices…so little time.  Tickets on sale now! 416-324-2121.

So many choices!!

4. Slurpfest – April 2oth. I didn’t make it to the first Slurpfest but maybe I will make it to round #2!! Clearly it was a successful event.

What:  SLURP Noodlefest v2
Where:  Glass Factory, 99 Sudbury (Map)
When:  Saturday April 20th, 12 pm – 4 pm
Tickets are $10 and are now available online at http://bit.ly/XXzmVe.

5. The Ontario Brewing Awards Ceremony . I’ve never gone before but April 30th is marked down in my calendar!! This event is open to brewers, consumers and the media.
This year random brewers will have their product paired with food at stations throughout the event space for consumers and media to sample during the event. (YUM).

The event will take place on Tuesday,  April 30 from 5-8pm at The Gladstone Hotel 1214 Queen Street West  Toronto, ON
Book your tickets early at https://secure1.gettickets.ca/Redeem/Regular/Default.aspx?id=93fac481-c9c5-4d4e-b701-05788fd0d2b5&locale=en-CA

I’m such a beer fan. Promise I wont be wearing these glasses at the event. Promise.

Pretty good month – don’t you think?

Share this:

As you know, I try to eat “healthy”  (see previous blog posts about Kale Chips and Peanut-y Tofu). However that doesn’t mean that I can’t dream about eating deep fried fudge or deep fried marshmallow treats. Well, all my dreams came true as I was invited to the the CNE media preview on Wednesday. Here is proof!!

Thats an AUTHENTIC smile!!

In the above photo, I am about to bite into deep fried fudge from the Northwest Fudge Factory. In fact I am so proud of this photo that I submitted it to GastroPost!

I also took a bite (or two) of these deep fried marshmallow treats by Sweet Treats.

More Deep Fried Goodness!

There is no question that food is a major attraction attraction at the CNE.  One might think that unique means “deep fried” but that’s not necessarily true.  It could be triple layer red velvet pancakes loaded with slow roasted and smoked pork, and topped with Jack Daniels infused maple syrup. Now that is unique….in a big way!!

You can find this at: PULL’D

Or what about this idea by the good people at Just Cone It.…CONES filled with Nutella bacon, or pizza or philly steak or shepherds pie!

Love the name of this vendor!

Clearly there is an abundance of “unique’ and there is those items that will always be around like candy floss, candy apples, Tiny Tims and fresh squeezed lemonade.

I am definitely attracted to “unique” food items but I certainly wouldn’t say no to a candy apple either!!

What will you be eating when you visit the Ex?

Here’s more info about the 2012 CNE:

1. 2012 CNE runs from Aug 17 to Sept 3
2. The CNE is located at the Toronto Exhibition Place
3. To learn more about the Xx and special discount prices please visit THEEX.COM or call 416 393 6300

Share this: