Mahar Restaurant and Indian Buffets on Gerrard East in Little India

Since I live on the edge of Gerrard India Bazaar (Gerrard from Greenwood to Coxwell), I eat a lot of Indian food and feel considerable loyalty to my local businesses, especially since two of my favourites (Madras Durbar and Narula's Chat, Dosa & Thali Hut) have closed in the time I've lived here. So I couldn't name a favourite, but I like different places for different reasons.

Lately I've been dropping in to Mahar (1410 Gerrard Street East, 416-466-6241) when I feel like a lunchtime buffet meal – despite the fact that I also love the New Haandi buffet (1399 Gerrard Street East, 416-469-9696) and would heartily recommend it for people with very small children. However, I like that Mahar has soups, and that they sometime vary their dessert selection with burfi as well as the ubiquitous gulab jamun. I'm a sucker for the goat curry too.

There are things to be said in general against Indian buffets (as in: you have no idea how much ghee you're taking in), but they are convenient when dining out with veggie and non-veggie friends, if none are vegan. Incidentally, the proprietor of one local vegetarian spot was clearly crestfallen when I mentioned the vegan issue; he said that since Lord Krishna was a goatherd, Hindus essentially consider it a holy thing to eat dairy products. Some people avoid milk from mistreated cows in favour of milk from cows that are treated with respect, which makes sense to me (especially after seeing Food, Inc.) But I digress...

Those who mourn the passing of Surati Sweet Mart's Gerrard Street shop will be pleased to know that Mahar carries lots of sweets, as you'll see in the following video (!)

Latin Food at Salsa on St. Clair

We're already well into the season of summer food festivals. This weekend is the Taste of Asia at Kennedy and Steeles. Coming up on the following weekend are Taste of Lawrence and the Corso Italia Toronto Fiesta. To the best of my knowledge, the next one after that is the Salsa on St. Clair Street Festival on St. Clair from Winona to Christie, which runs from noon to 11 p.m. on Saturday, July 11 and noon to 8 p.m. on Sunday, July 12

Salsa on St. Clair is mainly a music and dance event, but there is also a food component. If you doubt me, watch the video above. Salsa on St. Clair is part of the Ontario Summer Salsa Tour; there's also Salsa at Ontario Place on Saturday, July 4.

Pho on Gerrard East

So good for a hot night: beef and brisket pho, plus deep-fried shrimp rolls with fish sauce at Bach Yen (788 Gerrard East, 647-347-8160). It's one of several Vietnamese places on that strip just east of Broadview, all goodish. This nourishing evening meal for two people: $11.02 plus tip. I was also intrigued by the tall, pretty green avocado smoothie, but I thought it would be way too filling.

Yesterday Was a Cookie Day

Top left: LPK's Culinary Groove (718 Queen Street East, 416-461-6440), with artisanal vegan, organic, sugar-free and fair-trade baking, as well and treats with butter and sugar. Below: Mad Batter Bakers (133 Jefferson Avenue, 416-516-4759).

Enter the TO Tasting Notes Contest

Okay, I just made the contest easier. Give it a try!

Global Consumers Want Greener Food Choices, and Ruth Klahsen of Monforte Cheese Has a Plan

A June 11 international study by Ipsos Marketing shows that people around the world are changing their priorities when it comes to grocery shopping. In general, they want fresher and more healthful food; however, they’re apparently not yet ready to sacrifice convenience in order to get it.

As reported on GiftsAndTablewares, ProgressiveGrocer and elsewhere, Ipsos interviewed about 1,000 people in each of 18 countries: Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, Great Britain, India, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Poland, Russia, South Korea, Spain, Turkey and the U.S. Of these, 51% said they were ready to reuse jars and containers; half were ready to buy products with recyclable packaging; 49% to use dishcloths and sponges instead of paper towels, and 48% to reduce their use of paper plates and plastic cups.

“However,” said Amaury de Condé, senior VP for Ipsos Marketing, Global Consumer. “They are less likely to be proactive about protecting the environment if it requires giving up major conveniences such as modern appliances or even minor conveniences such as individual-size food packages and plastic bags."

Fresher ingredients, extra health benefits and more environmentally friendly packaging were the three top priorities that respondents say they want to see food producers focusing on. They expressed less interest in better tasting food, more convenient packaging and preparation, or new foods.

For people already in the vanguard of this trend, artisanal cheesemaker Ruth Klahsen of Monforte Dairy is leading the charge. She’s in the process of relocating her operations to 49 Griffith Road in Stratford, where she hopes to base her sustainable micro-producer / dairy, with an apprenticeship program and new products. The new location will be open as of July 1, but the official launch is set for January (“beginning when the milk flows”)

She’s also launching a revolutionary CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) cheese operation, which allows customers to support Monforte by pre-buying cheese in increments of $200, $500 and $1,000. If you’re interested in her Cheese Renaissance, you may want to attend Monforte’s Town Hall tomorrow (Saturday, June 27) from 2 to 4 p.m. at Hart House on the University of Toronto campus. Klahsen will be on hand with guests Lauren Baker of Sustain Ontario and Roscoe Handford of Stop’s Green Barn Market to discuss CSA principles and “the politics of food production, distribution, employment and equity in Ontario”.

Photo: Ruth Klahsen by Nigel Dickson.

Food-related Job Openings

The Gladstone Hotel is looking for a full-time Food & Beverage Director, AKA "Food and Beverage Hero/Shero". They want someone who's involved in community and social engagement, as well as local and fair food, beverage and product, with three to five years' experience. You should know about their Key Values and their food projects like Harvest Wednesday and Honey Pie Hives & Herbals before you apply. Resumes can be emailed to Celina Carroll, Human Resources Manager or faxed to 416-539-0953. The complete job posting is available at GoodWorkCanada.

FoodShare Toronto is looking for a full-time Focus on Food Youth Project Coordinator to co-ordinate the Focus on Food Youth Employment Project for a six-month maternity leave contract beginning in July. The successful candidate will work with 12 young adults who face significant barriers in their lives to maintaining employment, helping them to grow professionally and personally, while ensuring they contribute to FoodShare’s Vision of “Good, Healthy Food for All.” The position requires capacity and passion for supporting young adults; counselling and coaching skills, and ability to manage a large budget, among other qualifications. A valid driver’s license would be an asset. Compensation is based on an annual salary of $40,000 at 37.5 hours per week (prorated to six months). Email a resume and cover letter to Meredith Hayes, fax to 416-363-0474, or mail to 90 Croatia Street, Toronto M6H 1K9 by 10 a.m. on Thursday, July 2 (a recent, extended deadline). The complete job posting is available at FoodShare.net.

Real Food For Real Kids seeks a full-time Client Relations Representative and Project Coordinator to start July 15. Real Food for Real Kids is an all-natural catering company for daycares, schools and camps serving meals to over 5,000 children throughout the GTA. The job focuses on client relationships, database management and resource development. They're looking for someone independent, with strong leadership and communication skills; knowledge of current food and nutrition issues; experience in customer relations and administration, and a valid Ontario Driver's License. Email your resume and cover letter to David Coyle by July 6. The complete job posting is available at GoodWorkCanada.

Image: Gladstone Hotel chef Marc Breton and friend with fresh basil at Harvest Wednesday.

Farmers' Markets Closed for Strike

With updates to June 30: Here's the list of Farmers' Markets on City property. The City strike is affecting them in various ways.

MARKETS AT CIVIC CENTRES
Initially, Farmers Markets Ontario and the Toronto Farmers' Market Network reported that markets at civic centres would close altogether. Now, they will be operating, but at a reduced level, as follows (according to the City's Labour Disruption Information site):

• Nathan Phillips Square - every Wednesday, starting July 8 (The Canada Day edition moves to Yonge-Dundas square on Thursday, July 2.)
• Metro Hall, Metro Square - every Thursday, starting July 2
• Etobicoke Civic Centre - every Saturday, starting July 4
• East York Civic Centre - every Tuesday, starting July 7
• Scarborough Civic Centre, Albert Campbell Square - every Tuesday, starting July 7
• North York Civic Centre, Mel Lastman Square - every Thursday, starting July 2

MARKETS IN PARKS
Sheryl Kirby of Taste TO reports that markets on City property that are not actually run by the City have been told that "the decision to open is up to the individual market organizers". Most are going ahead for now, but other park services like washrooms are generally not available. Other MyMarkets and members of the Toronto Farmers' Market Network that do not operate on City property are unaffected. Here are resources for locating farmers' markets around town.

• At Riverdale Park, the Farmers' Market continue with a slight change in location, 3 to 7 p.m. on Tuesdays.
• Trinity Bellwoods has announced "Yes, the market is on...this week. Please come out to support us during this current situation. It's important."
• Media relations rep Nate Habermayer at Evergreen Brickworks reports that the market there is on as usual.
• Dufferin Grove Park announces "Yes, we have a market this week, but what a week it has been. ... Markets like ours, in parks, are continuing to operate, but without the usual city services. We hope you will come and make it the best market possible under the circumstances." The cafe and the bread oven will cease operations during the srike.
• East Lynn Park's MyMarket will go ahead without electricity, so frozen products like buffalo meat will be sold out of coolers.
• Cookie Roscoe Handford at Green Barn Market says they will go ahead.
• St. Lawrence Farmers' Market is listed as running on Taste TO, and there's no signage on the building to indicate otherwise.
• Helen Goldlist, volunteer chair of Bloor.Borden MyMarket, called in to say they're up and running and ready for business Wednesdays from 3 to 7, including Canada Day.
• As of June 24, the Withrow Park site said "If the Toronto city strike has not been resolved by the next market day (June 27) the market will still be on. There will, however, be no access to public washrooms. Please come out and support your neighbourhood market.
• A Gremolata.com reader reports that Sorauren was running on the first Monday of the strike.
• I have no news reports for Lakeshore Village Parkette, but I'm guessing it'll go ahead too.

If the strike continues for a long time, the situation could change. I will update this post as I hear more. If you have news, please let me know via a comment!

Meanwhile, read about how the strike is affecting farmers.

TO Tasting Notes Contest

Here's a fun summer contest for you. First person who can correctly answer the following question will received a pack of vegetable-theme greeting cards, drawn by me. (In order to win, you must include some kind of contact info with your answer, so I can find out where to send the cards.)

CONTEST QUESTION

• Where in Toronto was this picture taken?

Answer via the "Comments" function. Ready, set, go...!

Raincity Grill, Vancouver

A tip of the hat to another fine food city, Vancouver. This is salmon with carrots of many colours at Raincity Grill, a pioneer in sustainable and local (to them) foods. It was delicious.

Gerrard India Bazaar

LCBO Tutored Tastings for Summer 2009

The LCBO offers a range of reasonably priced tastings in select stores. Here are the schedules for Toronto-area locations. Visit LCBO Tutored Tastings for information on sessions in North York and further afield. For a description of each session, follow the links for either location.

LCBO The Kingsway (2946 Bloor W. All events take place on Wednesdays from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Register in the store or call 416-239-3066.)

• Wednesday, June 24: Great Wines, Shoestring Budget ($20)
• Wednesday, July 8: Taste the New Essentials ($30)
• Wednesday, July 15: Sneak Peek: Pinot Noir Pre-release Tasting ($35)
• Wednesday, July 22: Brewer's Choice ($20)
• Wednesday, July 29: 2007: Ontario's Best Year ($30)
• Wednesday, August 5: Italy in the Summer ($30)
• Wednesday, August 12: Sneak Peek: Vintages Chile Pre-release Tasting ($35)
• Wednesday, August 19: Discover Califormia ($30)
• Wednesday, August 26: Cheap and Cheerful Summer Whites ($25)

LCBO Summerhill (10 Scrivener Square. Register in the store or call 416-922-0403.)

• Wednesday, June 24, 7: to 8 p.m.: Just in from Argentina ($30)
• Thursday, July 2, 7: to 8:30 p.m.: The Marriage of Wine and Cheese ($45)
• Wednesday, July 8, 7: to 8 p.m.: Summer Entertaining ($25)
• Thursday, July 9, 7: to 8:30 p.m.: Single Malts: The Highlands ($60)
• Wednesday, July 15, 7: to 8 p.m.: Savour the Difference: Shiraz / Syrah ($35)
• Thursday, July 16, 7: to 8:30 p.m.: Just for a Change: Beer and Cheese ($35)
• Wednesday, July 22, 7: to 8 p.m.: Pinot Noir from Around the World ($30)
• Wednesday, July 29, 7: to 8 p.m.: Germany: Single Vineyard ($25)
• Thursday, July 30, 7: to 8 p.m.: Beers of Belgium ($25)
• Wednesday, August 5, 7: to 8 p.m.: Campagnia, Sicily, Puglia ($30)
• Thursday, August 6, 7: to 8 p.m.: Wines on a Budget? ($25)
• Wednesday, August 12, 7: to 8 p.m.: A Blind Red Wine Tasting ($30)
• Thursday, August 13, 7: to 8 p.m.: Rich Aussie Reds ($35)
• Wednesday, August 19, 7: to 8 p.m.: Chile: Wines of Value and Versatility ($25)
• Wednesday, August 26, 7: to 8 p.m.: Clean and Crisp: Wines of New Zealand ($30)

Photo: Odapi, Morguefile

Caribbean Karaoke at The Real Jerk

A really good roti at the Professionals Calypso Tent last night reminded me how good Caribbean food can be. So I'd just like to point out that the venerable Real Jerk is hosting what they're calling IRIE-Okee (a.k.a. Caribbean Karaoke) on Thursday nights from 8 p.m. to midnight. They promise guest appearances, Jerk staff performances and food & drink specials.

In case you can't make it in, from time to time the Jerk owners post recipes on their website. They also have a cookbook (pictured) that you can order online or buy in the store.

Taste of... Toronto Neigbourhood Food Festivals 2009

Well, the summer is upon us, and that means every corner of Toronto is trying to lure us with festivals celebrating the food of one world culture or another.

Here's a list of the ones I can think of, not counting special events at Harbourfront, Yonge-Dundas Square, and so on. If you can think of others, let me know.

• Friday to Sunday, June 19 to 21: Taste of Little Italy (College from Bathurst to Shaw)
• Sunday, June 21: Summer Solstice Street Festival (St. Joseph from St. Nicholas to Yonge)
• Saturday & Sunday, June 27 & 28: Taste of Asia (Kennedy & Steeles)
• Friday to Sunday, July 3 to 5: Taste of Lawrence (Lawrence East from Warden to Pharmacy)
• Saturday & Sunday, July 4 & 5: Corso Italia Toronto Fiesta (St. Clair from Dufferin to Lansdowne)
• Sunday, July 12: Salsa on St. Clair Street Festival (St. Clair from Winona to Christie)
• Friday to Sunday, August 7 to 9: Taste of the Danforth (Danforth from Broadview to Dewhurst)
• Saturday & Sunday, August 22 & 23: TD Canada Trust Festival of South Asia (Gerrard East from Greenwood to Coxwell)
• Saturday & Sunday, September 12 & 13: Taste of the Kingsway (Bloor West from Prince Edward Drive to Montgomery Road)
• Friday to Sunday, September 18 to 20: Toronto Ukrainian Festival (Bloor West from Jane to Runnymede)
• Saturday & Sunday, September 19 & 20: Roncesvalles Polish Festival (Roncesvalles Village)

Pictured, Taste of the Danforth, by Sarah

Veggie Mushroom, Walnut and Goat Cheese Burger Recipe for the BBQ

The folks at California Walnuts have just released some ingenious barbeque recipes featuring walnuts. And since I first posted them, I've discovered that they were created by none other than my favourite east-end café Red Rocket Coffee (1402B Queen Street East, just east of Greenwood, 416-406-0880). Here's their veggie recipe for Portobello Mushroom, Goat Cheese and California Walnut Sliders. You'll also find recipes for Beef Sliders stuffed with California Walnuts & Gorgonzola and Pork, Apple & California Walnut Sliders on their website.

• One small onion, thinly sliced and caramelized
• 2 tsp vegetable oil
• 2 tbsp finely chopped fresh chives
• 1/3 cup finely chopped California walnuts
• ½ tsp salt
• ½ tsp black pepper
• 4 oz (125 g) package goat cheese, room temperature
• 4 portobello mushroom caps, 4 inches (10 cm) in diameter
• Olive oil
• 8 small dinner rolls (or 24-inch whole grain baguette, sliced into 8 equal portions, then sliced horizontally)
• Green lettuce leaves
• 1 tsp finely chopped fresh rosemary for garnish
• Dijon or whole grain mustard

Instructions

1. Caramelizing onions: In a heavy saucepan over medium-low heat, cook onion in vegetable oil until caramelized, about 15 to 20 minutes. Set aside.


2. Mix chives, walnuts, salt and pepper and place mixture on a flat surface or cutting board. Remove goat cheese from package and roll over mixture, evenly coating the cheese. Cut cheese vertically into 8 equal slices, cleaning knife after each cut. Set aside


3. Remove stems from mushrooms and brush off any remaining dirt. Using a spoon, gently remove gills from underside. Brush both sides with olive oil. Grill over medium heat, gill side down, for 4 minutes. Flip and continue cooking for 4 minutes. Remove from grill, cool for 3 minutes and cut in half.


4. Place mushroom on bottom half of each dinner roll (or baguette). Place slice(s) of goat cheese mixture to taste on top of the mushroom. Top goat cheese with caramelized onion and a piece of lettuce. Sprinkle rosemary for garnish. Smear top half of bun with a thin layer of mustard. Serve. (Makes 8 servings.)

Per serving: about 198 calories, 7 g protein, 11 g fat (4 g sat. fat), 19 g carb, 2 g fibre, 13 mg cholesterol, 437 mg sodium.

Picnic at the Brick Works Tickets Now on Sale

One of the most popular local and sustainable food events of the year is the Picnic at the Brick Works, presented by Evergreen and Slow Food Toronto. The third annual edition takes place Sunday, October 4 at Evergreen Brick Works (550 Bayview Avenue), and tickets are already on sale. The early registration price (until August 14) is $90 per person (with $10 off for Slow Food Toronto members and Evergreen donors). After that, it goes up to $110 per person. To buy tickets, call 416-596-1495, extension 300 or use the online purchase form.

FoodShare Annual General Meeting, Open House and Panel Discussion

This coming Saturday, June 20, FoodShare is holding its Annual General Meeting and Open House at their headquarters at 90 Croatia Street (entrance on Brock, west of Dufferin & south of Bloor). The AGM starts at 10 a.m., with the Open House (including gardens, beehives and fresh produce market) at 11. At 12:15, they're offering a free fresh salad bar lunch. Then at 2, authors Margaret Webb (Apples to Oysters), Robert Albritton (Let Them Eat Junk), Wayne Roberts (The No-Nonsense Guide to World Food), Judy Rebick (Ten Thousand Roses, The Making of a Feminist Revolution) and FoodShare executive director Debbie Field participate on a panel discussing the way to affordable, healthy food. RSVP to Adrienne De Francescop via the email link or by phone at 416-363-6441, extension 226.

How to Find a Farmer's Market in Toronto

The Farmer's Market* season is gearing up, and there are more than ever operating in city parks. If you want to locate the ones nearest to you, have a look at the listing on the Toronto Farmers’ Market Network website. It differs slightly from the list provided by the City of Toronto. Both sites provide links to individual markets; the TFMN site also has maps. A few additional markets are listed in the MyMarket network.

*Not to be confused with the city's equally important Fresh Food markets, which don't necessarily offer local farm produce, organics and heritage fruit and vegetables, but do make fresh food shopping more convenient in underserved and low-income areas. The City will be launching a campaign to promote both Farmer's Markets and Fresh Food Markets over the course of the next few weeks.

Cooking Fire Theatre Festival in Dufferin Grove Park

From June 17 to 21, Dufferin Grove Park (Dufferin just south of Bloor) hosts the 6th annual Cooking Fire Theatre Festival. It starts with a nightly organic meal ($6) cooked in the park's outdoor wood-burning ovens nightly at 6 p.m. Meat and vegetarian choices are on offer (including cheap, kid-friendly versions), with ingredients from the Dufferin Grove Park Farmer's Market.

The entertainment commences with special guest hosts Les Trouvères, who will introduce the nightly lineup:

• 7 p.m.: Feather and Bill (Solo Chicken & BoucharDanse, Toronto)
• 7:20: Nurture (Urban Spine, Toronto)
• 7:40pm - Dessert and coffee
• 8 p.m.: Le Rire Muet (Theatre Biscornu, Quebec)
• 8:20: Mouving (Satellite Theatre in association with Theatre Houppz, Toronto)
• 9: Very Secret Ceremony (Zuppa Theatre, Halifax)

Photo: Elizabeth Rucker and Jane Wells of Les Trouvères in Hosts, courtesy of Cooking Fire Theatre Festival

How to Find Restaurants Serving Sustainable Fish

With so many fish species at risk, from cod to tuna to sturgeon, what's a responsible yet seafood-loving diner to do?

The Vancouver Aquarium's national Ocean Wise program, launched in 2005, identifies chefs and restaurants who are committed to helping prevent species loss through overfishing, "bycatch" (which means removing animals from the ocean that were not intended to be part of the catch, such as sea turtles, dolphins, seabirds and sponges), and habitat degradation. In order to become a member, restaurants must have the seafood on their menu assessed, and must immediately drop one non-sustainable item, and commit to dropping further items at a suggested rate of one every six months.

You can identify an Ocean Wise partner by the logo that appears on menus, or by searching their national database.

Photo by chamomile, Morguefile

Field Trip to Organic Farms and Growers

Holistic nutritionists Megan MacMillan and Sarah Dobec have come up with a great idea: Field Trip, a company that arranges outings to local food producers, so people can really find out about the food they are or could be eating. All trips include a farm tour and a chance to buy produce. Here's their Summer 2009 roster:

• Sunday, June 28 & July 19: Mapleton's Organics, which features cattle, poultry, spelt, vegetables and organic dairy products
• Sunday, July 5 & August 2: Cookstown Greens, which provides greens, edible flowers and seed sprouts to the top Toronto restarants
• Saturday, August 8 & 15: Everdale Organic Farm and Education Centre, with everything from farm animal to straw-bale building: the place to find out about grains, veggies and sustainable energy

Field Trip buses pick passengers up at 10:30 a.m. on Erindale Avenue, just behind the Broadview TTC Station and return by 4 p.m. (5:30 for Mapleton). Trippers are urged to bring weather-appropriate clothing, shoes for mud, lunch and water, shopping bags and a camera.

Rates are $45 per person. Kids age 6 to 12 are $30, with younger children free. Part of the proceeds goes directly to the farmers. Email Field Trip or call 416-371-3471 to find out more.

Glenfiddich Whiskey Tasting Launches "Taste & Talk" Series

On Wednesday, June 24, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., the folks at Glenfiddich are launching the first in a series of "Taste and Talk" events with a tasting of single-malt whiskies. Special guest Colin Angus will be present; he's a world explorer who completed a 43,000-kilometre, 17-country, human-powered tour – which I guess means he's earned a fine glass of whiskey, if anyone has. It takes place at Six Steps Lounge (53-55 Colborne Lane), and the cost is $30. Space is rather limited, so anyone who's interested should RSVP via email as soon as possible.

Gladstone Hotel Harvest Wednesdays 2009

For the fourth season, the Gladstone Hotel (1214 Queen Street West, 416-531-4635) is enlisting the services of chef Marc Breton to offer Harvest Wednesdays: a celebration of fresh, local ingredients that varies with the seasons.

At Tastings ($17.50+tax), diners can meet growers and farmers in a grazing ambiance with live music. An optional dinner (at a separate price) follows. At the Prix Fixe Dinners ($48+tax), diners are served a four-course meal, with optional, separately-priced drinks. Reservations or pre-purchased tickets are recommended for both. The Final Harvest Table Dinner ($60+tax) is a season-ending grand finale, and reservations are a must.

Gladstone Harvest Wednesday 2009 Schedule

• Wednesday, July 8, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.: First Harvest Tasting
• Wednesdays, July 15, 22, & 29, August 5: First Harvest Prix Fixe (seatings at 6 & 8:30 p.m.)
• Wednesday, August 12, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.: Summer Harvest Tasting
• Wednesdays, August 19 & 26, September 2: Summer Harvest Prix Fixe (seatings at 6 & 8:30 p.m.)
• Wednesday, September 9, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.: Peak Season Harvest Tasting
• Wednesday, September 16, 23 & 30: Peak Season Harvest Prix Fixe (seatings at 6 & 8:30 p.m.)
• Wednesday, October 7, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.: Late Harvest Tasting
• Wednesday, October 14: Late Harvest Prix Fixe (seatings at 6 & 8:30 p.m.)
• Wednesday, October 21: Final Harvest Table Dinner (seating at 6:30, dinner at 7)

For Tastings tickets, call 416-531-4635, ext. 7100. For Prix Fixe dinners and Final Harvest Table Dinner, call 416-531-4635, ext 7103.

Food, Inc. Documentary Film Opens in Toronto

On June 15, FoodShare's intrepid executive director, Debbie Field, will be speaking at the Varsity Theatre at the Toronto premiere of Food Inc., a documentary about food issues that opens to the public at the Cumberland in Toronto as of June 19 (check times here.) It's directed by Robert Kenner and based on the writing of Eric Schlosser (Fast Food Nation) and Michael Pollan (The Omnivore's Dilemma). Field will be joined by Gary Hirshberg of Stonyfield Farm, Wayne Roberts of the Toronto Food Policy Council and Lauren Baker of Sustain Ontario.

There's also a companion book of 15 essays by the likes of Schlosser, Pollan, Marion Nestle, Anna Lappé, Muhammad Yunus, Joel Salatin and Gary Hirshberg. The book and film cover topics ranging from globalization of the food supply to e-coli. Sounds like a must-see (and read).

Chef Chris Brown Moves from Périgee to Stop Community Food Centre

Chef Chris Brown, until recently Executive Chef at the now-closed Périgee, has just announced that he is the new Food Enterprise Co-ordinator of the Stop Community Food Centre. On the one hand, this seems like a radical step; it's not often that a high-ranking chef moves into the non-profit world. On the other hand, the Stop is dedicated to providing good food to those in need, and has forged a partnership with numerous top-drawer establishments and their foodie clientele.

In a note to colleagues, Brown writes: "The Stop Community Food Centre has been on the front lines of tackling hunger and poverty for over 30 years. Initially functioning as a conventional food bank, The Stop has broadened its scope to create a true community food centre that promotes equitable food access, community development, nutrition and environmental health."

The Stop's formal announcement states that Brown "will be responsible for catering, cooking classes and a new weekly dinner series in The Stop’s Green Barn ... The hiring of Brown reflects a growing social consciousness among chefs who like to feed people and believe in expanding the vision of the good food revolution to include everyone." Count me in!

Cooking Classes at The Inspired Cook for June 2009

The folks at The Inspired Cook (1378 Queen Street East, 416-461-8886) have announced their June series of cooking classes. Fees include a hands-on class, take-home recipes and a 10% coupon to shop at The Inspired Cook.

• Friday, June 12, 7:15 to 9:30: Nice and Spicy! – British chef Neil Lomas introduces cooking with poblano, chipotle, bird’s eye and jalapeno peppers in the styles of Mexico, America, Asia and the Caribbean. $65
• Saturday, June 13, 6 to 8:30 p.m.: English Summertime Fare – Neil Lomas explains the preparation of Waldorf salad, prawn cocktail, Beef Wellington and brandy snaps, accompanied by a Pimm’s Shandy. $85
• Friday, June 26, 7:15 to 9:30 p.m.: Tortillias Hecho en Casa – Caterer Natalia Lyall builds a menu around the preparation of fresh tortilla shells for fajitas, including yucca fritters, guacamole, chirimole, salsa and Leche Asada. $75
• Saturday, June 27, 7:15 to 9:30 p.m.: La Cocina Latina – A session on Latin American dishes like Shrimp Ceviche with Patacones (fried green plantain), Aji De Gallina with Tacu Tacu (Peruvian yellow pepper sauce chicken with rice and lentils), Beets and Carrot Salad, and passion fruit ice cream, led by Natalia Lyall. $75