Hope Made Delicious on April 24th, 2013 – a wonderful sentiment that will be echoed throughout Toronto as over 50 restaurants and thousands of diners participate in A Taste for Life. Supporting the Fife House, and people and families living with HIV/AIDS, each Taste restaurant will donate a percentage of their gross profits to fund this worthy cause. In 2012, more than 5,000 people dined at nearly 50 local restaurants, amassing $90,000 for Fife House. Since its inception 13 years ago, A Taste for Life has raised well over $700,000 to support their programs and services.

A Taste for Life outlines how you can participate…
1. Choose where you and your group will dine and make your reservation for April 24th. Remember to book early to avoid missing out!
2. Go out for dinner with your friends, family and business associates and have a great evening knowing you are supporting a great cause. Plus, everyone who dines out will have a chance to win great prizes!
3. The restaurant will donate 25% of the cost of your meal to Fife House.

If you’re unable to attend the event and would like to support Fife House, you can submit a donation online through CanHelps.

In Christine Channer’s opinion, one of the most magical elements of eating is the way that good food brings people together. Sticking with such spirit, food has undoubtedly brought Christine together with us at View the Vibe. Sharing her passion for fine edibles through her blog, Fellowship of Food, she is on a non-stop quest for the most delicious of delights. Check out what dazzles, entrances and disappoints her around the Toronto restaurant scene on this week’s edition of Friday’s Foodie…

Christine with Pâtissier Eyal Liebman (Harbour Sixty Steak House, L is For…)

Feed us an appetizer. Who are you and what do you do?
I am a fabulous foodie who shares the things I love with others. In my day job I work with food distribution channels and the rest of my time is spent planning my fab wedding, enjoying amazing foodie experiences and chronicling many of these experiences on my blog Fellowship of Food, which just turned 1 year old on April 11th!

What do you love most about food?
I love how food literally brings people from all different backgrounds together and that every meal has a story. Like my blog name suggests, there always seems to be a “fellowship” when we share a meal. Some of my closets friendships started around a delicious dinner table.

What do you love most about the food scene in Toronto?
I love the variety that the Toronto food scene offers. Variety of cultures, variety of how we can access food (food trucks, restaurants, at pop up events, etc.), and the variety of different stories each plate has.

What type of cuisine would you say is lacking in the city?
Toronto is great because there truly are so many different options to choose from that can appease almost every palate, but I would say the cuisine we lack is good ole fashioned, soul food cooking — deep south, Southern cuisine. Any time I travel to the southern part of the US for work, I make sure that I stop at a restaurant where I can get my southern fix. Most times, it’s a heart attack on a plate, but so are French fries covered in delicious cheese curds and rich gravy. I know there are restaurants that put in the effort to provide southern options, but I have yet to find a spot that is dedicated to Soul Food and cooking it the right way. There are endless options in TO, why not add some southern comfort, y’all?

What’s your favourite type of food(s) and where do you go to get it?
Well, my first answer is automatically anything that the Viv (my mom) makes. It’s in her kitchen where I learned to appreciate great, quality food, made with a ton of love and with real ingredients. Outside of my mom’s house, there are just too many to pick just one. I love experiencing foods from all over the globe. I get to travel a bit more now with my job and have recently experienced amazing meals in the most random places around this country and abroad.

What’s your hidden gem/go-to restaurant?
One of the many hidden gems in Toronto for me is Corks Beer & Wine Bar at Longo’s in Maple Leaf Square. It’s a great little spot to go for great wine, beer and other delish snacks at an affordable price! Perfect if you just need to unwind after work or chill before a game at the ACC. Thursdays are my favourite because with every glass of wine or beer purchased, you receive three free oysters that are brought in fresh from Glacier Bay – I don’t know anywhere else in the city where you can get such an awesome deal. The staff are super friendly and many of them are certified sommeliers – double bonus!

What’s the most memorable meal you’ve ever had?
I have so many amazing stories and memories that have happened around a great meal, but if I must just choose one right now, I would say my 16th birthday. When I turned 16, I asked my mom if I could host a formal dinner party for six of my best friends. We created a multiple course menu that was served on formal China and silver platters by servers in bowties. I referenced Emily Post’s Etiquette, had place cards, formal table settings, sparkling mock wine — the works! I pretty much felt like a super star. I relished every moment and will never forget the day I officially fell in love with the dinner party.

What’s the one restaurant you have to try before you die?
The French Laundry in California.

What’s your biggest restaurant pet peeve? (Play nice.)
Oh lord, I could go on for hours about this… If I had to pick one, it’s when people feel the need to talk with their mouth full of food and then proceed to lick each finger in the most audible way possible. I would personally like to slap these people when I see them doing this in public. Generally, any bad table manners drive me berserk!

Let’s get social for a mo’. How can readers stay up-to-date on your foodie foraging?
They can check out my blog Fellowship of Food, follow me on Twitter or like my Facebook page.

The Beer Hall, a new extension of the Mill Street Brewery and Mill Street Brew Pub in the Distillery District, will be serving its first steins today during their soft opening. With a menu that incorporates beer into nearly every one of their dishes (including desserts) and a  sophisticated draft beer delivery system, The Beer Hall is on tap to breathe new life into the historic neighbourhood.

Aside from pumping their suds direct from the brewery to The Beer Hall through copper encased beer lines, Mill Street will be bringing a brewing tradition back to the Distillery District for the first time in 70 years, with the creation of their Mill Street Bierschnapps (should be available next week according Twitter). According to brewmaster, and now distiller Joel Manning, this traditional German style dry spirit will be distilled onsite using three types of Mill Street beer — Tankhouse Ale, Coffee Porter, and Frambozen — directly pumped from the brewery into imported copper stills from Germany.

With the craft beer scene in Toronto continuing to grow in popularity, could this spark a new renaissance in the Distillery District?  The Beer Hall will have its grand opening on May 30th.

The Green Living Show was back at the Direct Energy Centre last weekend for its 7th year. My fourth year going, I went with the intention of staying for one hour and left nearly four hours later. As in previous years, there was lots to see and buy, with exhibits and activities for families, foodies, tree huggers, yogis and others. I was famished upon arrival and swiped a sample of smoked organic chicken salad (smoked paprika, celery, green onion, mayonnaise) from the Yorkshire Valley Farms booth on my way to the Ontario Culinary Adventure Pavilion.

Chicken Salad from Yorkshire Valley Farms

Thanks to the Ontario Culinary Adventure Pavilion, my lunch and dinner needs were covered. Lunch included a vegetarian samosa from Magic Oven (Toronto), pulled pork from JP’s Barbeque and Catering (Otterville, Ontario), and for dessert, a bacon butter tart by Madelyn’s Diner (Stratford). This was accompanied by Rosewood’s Mead (Niagara). Walking around works up an appetite, so I returned to the Pavillion where I ordered some Big Bruce Beef “still breathing” (the result was perfectly medium rare, as I’d hoped) and a fish taco from Hooked. $10 in food and drink vouchers went far!

Samosas from Magic Oven

Big Bruce Beef

I’ve attend so many public consumer shows they begin to all meld together, but the Green Living Show maintains its distinct feel. There was an element of The Yoga Conference & Show with Sweat Equity magazine sponsoring the Yoga and Fitness Pavilion with yoga classes and products for sale. The Whole Life Expo and Vitality Magazine co-sponsored the Health and Wellness Pavilion, with experts on stage and health and wellness brands including Canadian personal care brand Green Beaver (my toothpaste of choice). After testing out a back support from Blissful Back and feeling the difference, I bought one.

Green Beaver products

Even this non-makeup wearing girl couldn’t resist the Fashion & Beauty Boutique with its natural deodorants and pretty products. After a makeover from Sappho Organic Cosmetics I sort of wished that I had social plans for the evening rather than couch time and PVR.

There were organic cosmetics, organic food, organic clothing and building materials – organic everywhere!

Leaves of Trees Argan and Eucalyptus Shaving Oils

And the green! The Our Forest Zone had three different zones all dedicated to forest management, conservation and education. Ecotourism operator G Adventures brought their purple school bus, which runs on vegetable oil. The kids’ area had an Earth Friendly Elmer’s School Glue replica that was taller than me, and resources for parents of kids of all ages – from parenting groups to a kids’ nutritionist. Get them while they’re young.

I’m running over my allotted word count here, so I’ll conclude with this: If you didn’t get to The Green Living Show this year, watch for it next year. It’s always an eco good time.

Often it’s the simplest concepts that evoke the greatest impact; the fewest words that inspire the most change. Award winning writer and professional speaker Stuart Knight has been enlivening audiences for the past 15 years, and this year’s Top Ten Event (an annual consortium he’s been producing) will continue that trend. Assembling a charismatic group of ten top performers, each speaker will have ten minutes to tell audience members about the most important things to do before we all kick the can. Listen to politicians, rock stars, activists, TV personalities and innovators from all walks of life decant some of the secrets behind their success and the importance of living life to the fullest extent.

What: The Top Ten Event
Where: The Winter Garden Theatre (189 Yonge St.)
When: Thursday, May 9th (7:30pm to 10pm, including intermission)
Tickets: $45-$70 can be purchased online through Ticketmaster

As a West End gal, I’ve been hearing tons of buzz since the launch of &Co. Resto Bar in Mississauga. &Co. is a supper club with refined eats and a great party scene. However, never one to just believe the hype, I had to take my girls along with me to check it out.

We arrived at 8:30pm and our table was waiting for us, nestled in a “quiet” corner as requested. The server instantly came over to us and made sure we were comfortable and happy with our seat and brought us waters – so far I like how this is starting. They took our drink orders, and when our drinks came they were all huge but tasty. (Why not have more to enjoy?!) Though they were all super delicious, my favourite was the coconut mojito. Light and sweet, it had me daydreaming about sunshine, summertime, and sipping one of these on their patio soon!

We started with apps, which were absolutely delicious. My favourite was the mozzarella flatbread. Oh! And of course the shrimp po’boy sliders. Wow! Crunchy, melt in your mouth goodness! We then moved on to entrees. I have to admit, this is one of the first times I’ve gone out with a group of four where everything was so good and everyone was so happy! Not wanting to hold out on one another, we decided to share most of it. The sharing also allowed us to justify to ourselves that we weren’t eating as much… Yeah, right! The coconut crusted salmon… OMG! Foodgasm! I kinda kept that one to myself… notice my obsession with coconut yet? Our order worked out perfectly with Tajana and Maja sharing in their love for steak while Alex had most of the penne jambalaya and I devoured the salmon.

Of course, we couldn’t refuse the desserts, nor did we regret our indulgence! It may have been overkill on our tummies, but worth every single bite. The triple chocolate (Lindt) dessert takes the prize. I almost felt bad for eating it because it was such a beautiful presentation, but it was heaven in my mouth. We sipped on a bottle of bubbly as we took in our sweets, and after a little bit of booty shakin’ we headed off to our next party.

What a great night at &Co. Resto Bar! Amazing service and cool vibe throughout dinner, and when it turns into a club, things really start to take off. I can’t wait to go back and I know my friends agree, this will not be the last &Co. girls’ night you’ll see from this bunch!

Check out all the eats and treats from Tanja’s night in the vlog below. (Gentlemen: The food isn’t the only treat for your eyes in this vid…)

Go behind the botlle and connect on a more intimate level with the personalities behind the wines that you love. Often a treat reserved for those within the industry, Ascari Enoteca invites you to get Up Close and Personal and discover the true passion of the people making your wine. Considering it the anti “Wine Dinner”, this series will become a regular installment of dinners dedicated to sharing in our appetites for great wine, quality food and engaging conversation. Local and international winemakers of the highest calibre will sit and dine amongst you, while pouring their wines and sharing their stories. The dinners are meant to break down the stuffy airs that are often associated with winemaker dinners and connect enthusiastic connoisseurs with those that simply enjoy a good chat and a great glass of vino.

So far, the April/May lineup is as follows. More updates can be found through the Ascari Enoteca Facebook and Twitter pages.

Wednesday, April 17
Giulia di Sipio — Cantina Nicola Di Sipio, Abruzzo, Italy
Website

Wednesday, April 24
Marilena Cocci — Grifoni, Tenuta Cocci Grifoni, Abruzzo, Italy
Website

Thursday, April 25 (?)
Phillip Zinck — Domaine Paul Zinck, Alsace, France
Website

Wednesday, May 1
Charles Baker and J.L. Groux — Stratus Wine, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario
Website

Wednesday, May 8
Paolo Latoracca — Cantina Madonna delle Grazie, Basilicata, Italy
Website

Wednesday, May 15 TBA

Wednesday, May 22
Jonas Newman and Vicky Samaras — Hinterland Wine Company, Prince Edward County, Ontario
Norman Hardie — Norman Hardie Wines, Prince Edward County, Ontario
Hinterland Website
Norman Hardie Website

Wednesday, May 29
Antonio Marramiero — Azienda Marramiero, Abruzzo, Italy
Website

Musical acts, food vendors and suds suppliers are starting to be announced for this year’s Toronto Festival of Beer. Taking place July 26th through 28th at Bandshell Park at Exhibition Place, tickets are already starting to go quickly. With De La Soul and The Spin Doctors headlining the event as well as Escort, a modern disco band from Brooklyn, there are two new musical acts to join the lineup of audible entertainment. Festival organizers announced today that Canadian rockers Big Sugar and reggae legend Willi Williams would also be gracing the stage. Of course, with craft beers from over 200 brands, including local brewers like Steam Whistle, Wellington Brewery and William Premium Cider, you’ll need a few bites to help you handle all that alcohol. Ted Reader will once again play the part of culinary host for the grilling tent, and vendors such as Texas Tornado, Tiny Tom Donuts, Oyster Boy and Smoke’s Poutinerie will help quash any gastronomic cravings. With tickets going quickly, if you’re looking for an exclusive VIP experience, or just to join up with the rest of the rowdy hopheads of Hogtown, you’d better get online quickly!

What: Toronto Festival of Beer
Where: Bandshell Park, Exhibition Place (200 Princes’ Blvd.)
When: Friday, July 26th through Sunday, July 28th
Tickets: GA: $39.50 (includes 5 sampling tokens, sampling cup and pocket guide); VIP: $75 (includes 10 sampling tokens, access to VIP Lounge in Gossip Restaurant, two servings of beer and one catered meal in VIP Lounge, Express Entrance access for an additional 1.5 hrs). Full list of ticket packages and to purchase tickets visit Toronto Festival of Beer online.

The Toronto Wine & Spirit Festival is back at Sugar Beach in its 5th year, from June 13th to 15th. Live music, complimentary tasting seminars and plenty of luscious libations are what your can expect at this summer festival. Given that it’s a sampling event, your admission includes an event wristband, 5 sample vouchers (worth $1) and an official sampling cup. Samples will range from 1-5 tickets. With craft beers, fine wines and some of the most exquisite spirits on offer, rain or shine, The Toronto Wine & Spirit Festival is likely to be a summer hit for those of us that love our booze.
What: The Toronto Wine & Spirit Festival
Where: Sugar Beach (corner of Jarvis St. and Queens Quay East)
When: Thursday, June 13 and Friday, June 14 (6pm-11pm), Saturday, June 15 (3pm-11pm)
Tickets: $21.50 in advance online, $30 at the event (cash only); includes 5 sampling ticket ($1 value each)
More Info: Visit them online or follow them through Facebook and Twitter

Tonight, Skin + Bones will start the evening off with #SnackTime. Of course, in Toronto we’re not allowed to use the term “Happy Hour”, however this excellent addition to the Leslieville restaurant will evoke a similar sentiment. Confirmed through a Twitter conversation, Skin+Bones’ new #SnackTime is a one-hour nightly feature where from 5-6pm patrons will be privy to free bites and half-price drinks. We likey!