Story by Sandra Williams-Herve
Vacay.ca Writer
TORONTO, ONTARIO — No question about it, Toronto is food obsessed. The city has come a long way since its days of bland British hangover food (aka meat and potatoes). Fortunately, the culinary fare has drastically turned around in the past several years, so much so that Toronto has transformed into a foodie destination.
That’s why the organizers behind the Delicious Food Show felt that Toronto was ripe for a three-day foodie extravaganza. “We wanted to create the ultimate food event in Toronto,” says Judy Merry, vice president of Informa Canada. “We wanted to create something that was interactive, educational, really fun to attend and that made cooking and entertaining ideas accessible to everyone.”
From October 17-19, the third annual Delicious Food will challenge the senses and appetites of food lovers from far and wide. For three days, the Direct Energy Centre will be the home of this mouth-watering event. Several culinary heavyweights will grace the Food Network Celebrity Stage this year. Orange Croc-wearing chef and Gwyneth Paltrow bestie, Mario Batali, will be headlining and promoting his new book “Farm to Table.”
Batali will be joined by a strong cast of culinary stars, including: Tyler Florence, Dominique Ansel, Lucinda Scala Quinn, Nadia G, Chuck Hughes, Roger Mooking, Mark McEwan and Abbey Sharp.
Since the event’s inception, the Delicious Food Show has attracted scores of international chefs and, so far, it’s only available in Toronto. “We’re always looking for opportunities to expand and we have definitely seen interest from other cities worldwide,” says Merry.
Toronto Culinary Event Brings Out the Stars
It’s a rare chance to get up close with some of the world’s most celebrated and talented chefs and culinary personalities. True, there are a plethora of food shows popping up in and around Toronto, but what makes this one stand out is the unforgettable experiences that it provides.
Visitors will have the opportunity to participate in hands-on cooking classes. Specifically, visitors can receive step-by-step instructions from a celebrity chef. One of the goals of this show is to remove the intimidation that can be associated with food and food preparation. “We want people to come and learn about the trends and products in a hands-on environment,” explains Merry.
With nearly 250 vendors, a dozen live chef demonstrations, hands-on cooking classes, and more food and drink samples than you can count, visitors can expect to leave full, happy and educated.
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MORE ABOUT THE 2014 DELICIOUS FOOD SHOW
Location: Direct Energy Centre, Hall A, 100 Princes’ Boulevard, Toronto, ON (see map below)
Dates: Friday, October 17 (10 am-9 pm), Saturday, October 18 (10 am-8 pm), Sunday, October 19 (10 am-6 pm)
After-Party: Friday: Nadia G’s Bitchin’ After Party at Gladstone Hotel, 9 pm-1 am)
Tickets:
Adult (ages 18-64), $20 (online), or $22 at the door
Youth (ages 13-17), $10
Senior (ages 65+), $15
Children (ages 12 and under), no cost
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