By Jennifer D’Agostino
From whisky competitions, a Jane Austen dance party, Winterlicious and a historic meal at Mackenzie House, there are plenty of food and drink events to try this January. The month is filled with events that showcase Toronto’s diverse restaurant scene and culinary offerings. Here are the top food festivals and dining events happening in Toronto. [Photo courtesy of eat.live.travel.write]
Twelfth Night Supper & Dance Party
Montgomery’s Inn invites guests to a Jane Austen dance party. Learn the holiday traditions the era, with a Twelfth Night dinner featuring historically accurate dishes via candlelight. The evening continues with a traditional English dance, activities and treats. Friday night’s event is for advanced English Country dancers, while Saturday night is beginner-friendly.
86’d: Chefs Canadian Whisky Cocktail Challenge
86’d is holding a Whisky Cocktail Challenge for the whole month of January. Featuring chefs and bartenders from across the city, the event sees the best of the best battle it out for the best whisky cocktail. Participating restaurants include DaiLo, La Palma, Momofuku Daisho, Rickshaw Bar, Mercatto and Bacchanal. The final three will battle it out on the final Monday of the month and one will be crowned the best whisky cocktail in the city.
Master Class with Winemaker Darryl Brooker of Mission Hill Winery
Winemaker Darryl Brooker leads a class all about the wines of Canada. Hosted by James Pollock, Brooker will tell his story of becoming a Canadian winemaker and discuss the techniques and production methods that make his wine standout. The discussion is followed by a wine reception accompanied by a selection of cheeses.
Wines of Southwest France
Dive into the world of French wines at a wine-pairing workshop at St. Lawrence Market. The workshop will showcase the various wines of Southwest France, from Bordeaux to the dessert wines of the region. Learn how to pair these award-winning wines with a delicious feast. Neil Phillips of Vince Tera Group will lead the class with lifestyle blogger Mardi Michels.
Dinner with Chef Scott Pickett at Canoe
Canoe welcomes Chef Scott Pickett, as he creates a collaborative meal with Chef John Horne and Ron McKinlay. The six-course tasting menu will showcase the diversity of seasonal ingredients Canada has to offer. Chef Pickett hails from Australia, where he is the owner of three award-winning restaurants. There will be a cocktail reception before dinner.
Robbie Burns Supper
George Brown’s The Chef’s House hosts its annual Robbie Burns Supper. Resident Chef Kyle Deming prepares a feast to honour Robert Burns, Scotland’s national bard. The supper will include popular Scottish cuisine, as well as dancing, poetry and more!
Robbie Burns Brewmaster Dinner
The Mill St. Brew Pub is celebrating Scottish poet, Robbie Burns, with a brewmasters dinner. The evening includes a five-course meal, delicious beer pairings for each course and live entertainment. The dinner will be hosted by brewmaster Joel Manning.
Cheese & Beer Paring
Co-hosts Art of Cheese and Roschach Brewing have created a five-course cheese and beer pairing. The tasting is led by Rorschach brewer Matthew Reiner and Art of Cheese’s Bill Miller. Guests will discover the perfect pairing of specialty beer and a selection of international cheeses.
Winterlicious
Winterlicious is back! The two-week festival sees restaurants across Toronto lower their prices and offer prix-fixe menus to the masses. From vegetarian spots to steakhouses, there are plenty of delicious options to choose from. Make sure to get that reservation in as soon as they open on January 11.
Savour St. Lawrence Market
As part of Winterlicious, Toronto Food Tours hosts a four-hour evening in St. Lawrence Market. The event starts with a tour of the historic market, where guests can enjoy a glass of sparkling wine and delicious samplings from three vendors. Led by Chef Scott Savoie, the tour will discuss the history of the famous market. The evening ends with a “cooking and dine” demo in the Market Kitchen, where Chef Savoie will prepare a four-course meal using ingredients from the market.
Food & Nature – A Culinary Experience at Palais Royale
As a part of Winterlicous, Palais Royale hosts a 10-course meal that showcases the marriage of food and nature. From taste, to smell, to touch, the unique meal delights every sense. The meal starts with a glass of smoked mulled wine on the deck where there will be campfires. The ballroom will be transformed into a forest, where diners can see how much nature influences cuisine. Guests can enjoy interactive demonstrations throughout the night.
High Tea at Casa Loma
Experience an Edwardian era high tea in majestic Casa Loma. The tea includes a selection of tea sandwiches, mini pastries, scones, croissants, crumpets, and strawberries and cream. There will be live music, and guests are encouraged to explore the castle once they’ve completed the tea service.
Macarons for Everyone!
Lifestyle blogger, Mardi Michels, hosts a workshop all about macarons! The hands-on class includes a step-by-step guide on making the French cookie. From piping techniques to making foolproof batter, Michels shares all the secrets to making the perfect macaron. There will be plenty of flavour options, plus there a selection of macarons to take home.
Choux Pastry Made Easy
Mardi Michels leads a hands-on class all about making choux pastry. Learn the ins and outs of making the egg-based pastry, and creating éclairs, profiteroles, choquettes and gougeres. The workshop demonstrates the different techniques used in making both savoury and sweet treats, as well as a variety of fillings.
Indigenous Feast
Experience authentic indigenous cuisine at Ku-Kum Kitchen. Chef Joseph Shawana celebrates the cuisine of the First Nations of Canada with a three-course meal that showcases a holistic approach to dining. The meal includes items like pine needle sorbet, roasted goose, braised caribou and poached apples for dessert. The dinner will be paired with Keint—He wines produced in Prince Edward County.
The Art of Italian Breads at Cibo Wine Bar
Cibo Wine Bar’s executive chef Saverio Macri hosts an interactive cooking experience. Guests will learn how to make Italian dough and breads in a hands-on demonstration. The dough and bread made will be added to the guest’s meals.
Dinner with the Mackenzies
The Mackenzie House hosts a historic dinner that includes period food, music and more. There will be actors on hand portraying William Lyon Mackenzie and his wife Isabel who will be interacting with diners. The menu is created by award-winning chef Karen O’Conner of Daniel et Daniel Catering. A souvenir printed on the museum’s historic 1845 flatbed press is included.
