Tag: food

Community, Health

Enjoy all the tastes the Ex has to offer!

There are many tasty treats to enjoy at the 141st Canadian National Exhibition (CNE, also known as the Ex), Toronto’s most iconic summer celebration. Toronto Public Health’s (TPH) food safety inspectors are working on site, behind the scenes, from opening day to Labour Day to inspect all food establishments to help ensure that residents are kept safe from foodborne illnesses.

The way food is produced, stored, handled and consumed affects the safety of food. DineSafe is TPH’s food safety program that inspects all establishments serving and preparing food in the city. TPH’s food safety inspectors’ work helps to make sure that residents and visitors can dine out in Toronto confident that food has been prepared in safe and healthy environments. For special and large-scale events like the Ex, TPH plans ahead and works with organizers to ensure that food safety is top of mind.

From now until closing day at the Ex, TPH will conduct food safety inspections of all food and drink stands, carts, kiosks and trucks on the midway and in the buildings so people can enjoy their food and beverages knowing that the places where they eat and drink are providing safe and healthy food options.

Similar to other food establishments in Toronto, all locations where food is sold at the Ex are required to post their food safety inspection results in a visible location. Continue reading “Enjoy all the tastes the Ex has to offer!” →

Community

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

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!” →

Business, Community, Health, Nation

Ontario Field Strawberries are the Perfect Summer Treat

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” →

Global, Health, Lifestyle

The Best Gift for Mother’s Day?
 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?” →

Articles, Health, Lifestyle

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

Articles, Community, Lifestyle

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

Community, Lifestyle

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