Tag: food

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Albion Islington Square’s Signature Event Fusion Taste of Festival is Back!

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From an All-Day Fun Zone to live stage programming, Albion Islington Square BIA comes alive in July again with its signature event, 13th Annual Fusion of Taste Festival! It has been a niche multicultural festival in a diverse community since 2006 which caters to a wide range of people with its outdoor celebrations of culture and food. The festival itself is a showcase of ethnic dancing, performing artists and culinary offerings which range from Thai, Chinese to West Indian and South Asian.

This exciting street festival starts at 12:00pm with one of Toronto’s favourite bands, DNA project, performing the latest in Top 40 music. The fun continues with Toronto’s best percussion group, drumhand performing live at 2pm. The stage will be live all day with local and international performers including Caribbean band: N2, Canadian Bollywood singer, Parichay, UK Superstar Jaz
Dhami, and International Sensation: Dhira Gill. The festival also offers both fun and interactive activities for kids including: bouncy castles, art zone, stuffy riders, gaming rv, face painting, double’s eating competition, and free raffle draw prizes.

New to the festival this year is our first ever Emerging Star in Etobicoke. This project in partnership with the City of Toronto, Cultural Hotspot program, will showcase the finalists from our talent search at the upcoming festival. In addition, we will have two stages for audiences to enjoy more live entertainment.

The Fusion of Taste festival is brought to you by our proud sponsors and partners including: Province of Ontario, City of Toronto, Cultural Hotspot, Woodbine Toyota, Toronto Pearson Airport, Freedom Mobile, TD Canada Trust, & Zabiha Halal. Continue reading “Albion Islington Square’s Signature Event Fusion Taste of Festival is Back!”

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Ontario Field Strawberries are the Perfect Summer Treat

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First fruits of the season are now available at stores and farmers’ markets across the province Ontario field strawberries are now ripe, with Ontario’s berry growers saying this year’s cool spring is resulting in an exceptional crop.

“For most of us, Ontario strawberries are one of the great tastes of summer. You can enjoy these healthy and delicious fruits fresh on their own, baked in a dessert or made into jam,” says Ernie Hardeman, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. “This Canada Day weekend, I encourage you to kick off your summer by choosing Ontario field strawberries and celebrate the good things that grow in Ontario.”

Whether you pick them up at your local grocery store and farmers’ market, or visit a pick-your-own farm, Ontario’s hardworking farmers have harvested the first fruits of the season for you to share today and throughout the summer.

“Ontario’s cool spring has done wonders for strawberry plants,” said Tom Heeman, Chairman of the Berry Growers of Ontario. “There really is no comparison to the taste and flavour of a true local Ontario strawberry, and this year they will be in great supply. Enjoy the taste of summer with the first fruits of the season!”

More than 1,900 acres of field strawberries are harvested in Ontario each year. Strawberries are high in antioxidants and vitamin C, and can be enjoyed in a variety of ways. Visit Foodland Ontario for recipes and suggestions for enjoying strawberries at every meal. For more than 40 years, Foodland Ontario has connected with families on how to recognize, prepare and enjoy locally grown foods. Continue reading “Ontario Field Strawberries are the Perfect Summer Treat”

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The Best Gift for Mother’s Day?

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 Help Mom Live a Long, Healthy  Life with the Mediterranean Diet (and These Delicious Recipes)–By Amy Riolo

May is Mediterranean Diet Month, and with Mother’s Day just around the corner, most of us are busy planning the perfect present for Mom. The usual gifts of flowers and cards are nice ideas, but the greatest gift you could give your mother is helping her achieve lasting health.  The best way to show love to your mother on Mother’s Day is by making a meaningful contribution to her life. Let your mom know that you love her, and that’s why you want her to live a long, healthy, and happy life. Introducing her to the healthful and delicious dishes from the Mediterranean region is a great way to do just that.

You’ve likely heard of the Mediterranean diet, which was recently named best overall diet of 2019 and has been shown to help extend your lifespan by roughly a decade. This eating pattern has also been linked to preventing heart attacks, strokes, certain cancers, and diabetes, and reducing inflammation. It may even help lower your risk of dementia by a third.

The Mediterranean eating pattern centers around seasonal produce, fish and seafood, poultry, eggs, dairy, and small amounts of meat and sweets. Part of what makes this diet so successful is that people in the Mediterranean region consider food to be a friend and ally—a source of pleasure, nutrition, history, medicine, and tradition. When combined with lifestyle choices like communal eating and physical activity, the Mediterranean diet is believed to contribute to remarkable longevity in the region. For example, residents in Sardinia are ten times more likely to live past 100 than people in the United States.

Mother’s Day is the perfect time to help your mother make the lifestyle changes that can give her a longer and more joyful life. Continue reading “The Best Gift for Mother’s Day?”

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Host the Perfect Healthy  (Diabetes-Friendly) New Year’s Day Brunch Party!

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–By Howard Rosenthal

Most people vow to adopt healthier habits in the new year. For many that includes eating a healthier diet. Even if you rang in the new year with too much champagne and celebration, you can turn over a new leaf starting on day one of 2019. But why do it all alone? Instead, call up your friends and host a healthy New Year’s Day brunch party to start the year off right.

Because everyone you know is likely planning to improve their diet right around this time, you’ll have no shortage of guests. With your help, your friends can head into 2019 with a fun, delicious, and healthy feast.

Keep in mind that diet is one of the biggest factors that affects our health. With 30 million Americans suffering from diabetes, it’s crucial to start choosing foods that promote wellness without sacrificing the flavor.

Ready to start planning your healthy New Year’s Day bruncheon? Here are some tips to get you started.

Set the mood with a fun playlist. Turn on some music you love to create a relaxed and inviting atmosphere that won’t overpower the conversation. Some good options include jazz, blues, or folk music.

Choose a simple and festive centerpiece. Save your sanity by keeping the décor minimal. Continue reading “Host the Perfect Healthy  (Diabetes-Friendly) New Year’s Day Brunch Party!”

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Cocktails, Wine and Food: A Fine Gourmet Mix at the 6ix!

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–Lachman Balani

The 6ix, as Toronto is known, has come alive again for four glorious days at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre.

The annual gourmet food and wine expo is back from Nov 22-25! Sip and savour your way through international gourmet cuisine, exotic delicacies, incredible wines, cutting-edge cocktails, stunning craft beers and so much more!

Many experts are in town to tell you all about how to be a connoisseur in manna and libations divine.

Jeremy Parsons, famed culinary mixologist, kicked off the event showing off his prowess in mixing cocktails. He gave the public a taste of his superb version of Canada’s famous “Caesar’s” made with vodka and Clamato juice and smoked in an infuser designed by him.

He then treated the attendees to an amazing sous-vide margarita, tequila blended with pineapple and other citrus fruits. All his impressive cocktails are in his new book “Invite: Cocktails, Canapés, Company! “

Following his incredible presentation, Christopher Waters, renowned wine connoisseur, wowed the crowd with four incredible wines. Starting off with a de jour rosé bubbly for the festive season, he continued with a white, then onto two reds, explaining the intricacies of the wines to the glowing and happy faces of the appreciative participants.

There are tutored tasting programs and complimentary cooking demonstrations by celebrity guests all day long. Continue reading “Cocktails, Wine and Food: A Fine Gourmet Mix at the 6ix!”

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2018 CNE BRINGS LARGER-THAN-LIFE ATTRACTIONS AND SUPERSIZED ENTERTAINMENT

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NEW: Indoor Lantern Festival, TELUS Asian Market, Giant Garden Gnomes, Star-Studded Concert Series, and the US Air Force Thunderbirds return to the Canadian International Air Show for their only performance outside of the USA this year

– August 17 to September 3 –

Toronto’s iconic summer celebration, the Canadian National Exhibition (CNE), kicks off August 17 to
September 3 with all-new and more diverse programming than ever before. In celebration of the 2018 Canada-China Year of Tourism, the CNE is home to one of the world’s largest indoor lantern festivals featuring 17 illuminated large-scale art installations on display daily inside the Enercare Centre, as well as an outdoor TELUS Asian Market transforming Princes’ Blvd. into a bustling and lively marketplace for artisanal crafts and authentic street foods from Aug. 30 to Sept. 3.

Returning to its destination beside the Princess Margaret Fountain is the eight-feet tall CNE sign. A new popular ‘selfie’ photo opportunity at The Ex is the Nook of Gnomes inside Heritage Court, where visitors can find unexpected encounters with six- and 12-feet giant gnome statues decorated in greenery. Innovation is also a strong theme this year with the return of the CNE Innovation Garage and the Emerging Innovators Pitch Competition; a new Genius Lab Playground and Nintendo Kids Tech Zone; more play-to-win tournaments at Gaming Garage; and an exciting new robot competition where high school teams showcase their robotic creations for top honours. Continue reading “2018 CNE BRINGS LARGER-THAN-LIFE ATTRACTIONS AND SUPERSIZED ENTERTAINMENT”

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Seva Spark: A Night to Remember

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Seva Spark was the place to be on Friday, May 25th, 2018. Politicians from all levels of government including, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development Navdeep Bains, Leader of Canada’s New Democratic Party Jagmeet Singh, Premier of Ontario Kathleen Wynne and Brampton Mayor Linda Jeffrey attended the
Gala evening.

“The 2018 Gala was the best ever with over 500 people in attendance,” said Sandy Grewal,
2018 Seva Spark Co-chair. “We raised over $100,000 in one night with $59,000 being raised by a
direct on-the-spot ask.”

Bongo and B Entertainment kicked off the evening with an upbeat performance by leading the
MCs into the Gala. Special Guest Speaker, Joshna Maharaj inspired everyone by her work. She
spoke of food and sustainability, grassroots-level food programming, and the need to develop a
city-wide food strategy. The crowd was wowed by Simar, who performed songs from her recent
collaboration with Fateh Doe.

One of the highlights of the evening was a dance-off between Navdeep Bains, Minister of
Innovation, Science and Economic Development and Jagmeet Singh, leader of the federal NDP.
The crowd unanimously agreed that the dance off was a tie. Continue reading “Seva Spark: A Night to Remember”