There's a new food festival happening in Toronto and it's not like any other food event we've seen in the city.
The first annual Tastemaker hits Toronto May 18th and 19th at Evergreen Brickworks. The event promises to offer "a truly unique culinary experience, allowing guests to explore the best of what the city’s culinary scene has to offer" as the city's top chefs are set to collaborate to create unique dishes for the festival. Best part? For $60 you get an all-inclusive ticket to one of three sessions. This means that you get full access to ALL programming scheduled for the session you purchase tickets for, as well as unlimited samples from restaurants, chefs, wineries and vendors.
Tastemaker will have two stages - the Sobeys Tastemaker Kitchen, which will feature two chef collaborations and the Paderno Challenge Kitchen, which will feature a chef battle. Here is a rundown of who will be participating in each collaboration and battle:
Friday, May 18
7 p.m. - 11p.m.
Sobeys Tastemaker Kitchen
Afrim Pristine (Cheese Boutique) & Alida Solomon (Tutti Matti)
Michael Hunter (Antler Kitchen & Bar) & Vikram Vij (Vij's)
Paderno Challenge Kitchen
Carl Heinrich (Richmond Station)
Ted Corrado (the Drake)
Saturday, May 19
1 p.m. - 5 p.m.
Sobeys Tastemaker Kitchen
Rob Gentile (Buca Osteria & Enoteca) & Patrick Kriss (Alo)
Grant van Gameren (Bar Isabel, Bar Raval) & Victor Barry (Piano Piano, Cafe Cancan)
Paderno Challenge Kitchen
Alida Solomon (Tutti Matti)
Elia Herrera (Los Colibris)
7 p.m. - 11 p.m.
Sobeys Tastemaker Kitchen
Elia Herrera (Los Colibris) & Matt Dean Pettit (Matty's Seafood Co.)
Ivana Raca (Resto Boemo) & Brad Smith (Resto Boemo)
Paderno Challenge Kitchen
Devan Rajkumar (Loch & Quay)
Trevor Lui (Kanpai Snack Bar)
Guests of Tastemaker will also have the opportunity to participate in food and drink pairings at the Toronto Life Pairing Table. You will be guided through paired tastings by chefs, producers and craft mixologists. Some of the pairings include Piano Piano's kale, bacon and prosciutto pizza paired an Astral Tequila Paloma and Ace Bakery's bruschetta with Bannock Station Pink Moscato Sangria.
Tickets are still available on Eventbrite.