TORONTO -- Historic Fort York will be the site of a restaurant festival next month that will see gourmands treated to a superb array of food and drink.
The inaugural Taste of Toronto, set to run July 24-27, will feature chefs from some of the city's hot establishments in tented venues who will serve a trio of small plates so attendees can sample a tasting menu.
Momofuku's chef-owner David Chang was scheduled to host a talk and book signing on the first day of the fest alongside Peter Meehan, author of Momofuku magazine Lucky Peach, while Momofuku Noodle Bar executive chef Sam Gelman offers three dishes.
The Grove is expected to serve a duck scotch egg with English accompaniments and Fabbrica a lamb bolognese crostini with minted ricotta cheese. Richmond Station will serve its signature burger and Rose & Sons was planning to offer a classic BLT. For dessert, Khao San Road planned to feature a Thai tea shake while Bosk was concocting coconut tapioca pearls with passion fruit, lime and pineapple.
Other participating restaurants include Splendido, Hudson Kitchen, Patria, Harbord Room, Byblos and Valdez, among others.
Montreal chef and TV personality Chuck Hughes and Franco Stalteri from Charlie's Burgers are expected to make an appearance.
There will be demonstrations and interactive cooking classes, including historical lessons from Fort York. As well, chef Elia Herrera of Los Colibris will instruct how to make traditional ceviche; Carl Heinrich, chef and owner of Richmond Station, will demonstrate knife skills; and David Neinstein of Barque Smokehouse will share home barbecue tips.
Some 50 food producers will be present at a vendor marketplace throughout the event.
The festival concept began 10 years ago in London, and now runs in 20 cities around the world, including Dubai, Amsterdam, Milan, Moscow, Melbourne, Dublin, Mumbai, Sydney and Johannesburg, Taste Festivals said in a release.
For more information or to purchase tickets, visit tasteoftoronto.com.
