A preview of the Toronto Carretilla Initiative, Luminato’s roving cooking-meets-participatory-art project
The mobile kitchen set up at the Brick Works (Image: Renée Suen)
The Toronto Carretilla Initiative is a free contemporary participatory art project that brings together for the first time the food and art programming at Luminato. The TCI will launch this weekend at the festival’s popular 1000 Tastes of Toronto event before decamping to David Pecaut Square, with late afternoon snacks and suppers being served at Berczy Park, Fort York and Loblaws at Maple Leaf Gardens, and on June 16 the carts will be at Evergreen Brick Works. We had the chance to get our hands dirty in a rehearsal run of the mass-cooking experience, preparing two varieties of gnocchi: a sweet version topped with poppy seeds and icing sugar, and a savoury version with grated beet, garlic and Parmigiano-Reggiano.
The TCI concept began in February when Austrian artist Rainer Prohaska, who’s presented participatory cooking performances in other cities, noticed that Toronto’s street food was limited to the abundant hot dog vendors. For his project, Prohaska set himself the task of setting up mobile cooking stations where the public could make meals together while still complying with Toronto’s exacting public health standards. During Luminato, Prohaska will take his mobile kitchen concept out into six public spaces, creating a customized, curbside cooking cart sculpture that’s both visually arresting and functional. An assortment of household objects—plywood, clamps, zip ties, straps—attached to 20 orange shopping carts will be assembled into different configurations depending on the recipe being made. The fine-tuned kitchen will be equipped with handwashing stations and waste disposal, and each cart will have a specified task and a trained supervisor. Members of the public are encouraged to collectively prepare—and then partake in—one of nine potato-centered dishes that will be made for the communal meal. At the end of the event, Prohaska and his crew will dismantle the station, and the participants, hopefully, will be left with a “memory of the flavourful experience in the mind and on the palate.” Check out our preview run of the TCI in the slideshow below »
142393 (Image: Renée Suen) Rainer Prohaska dismantling the mobile kitchen after the cooking session was over Toronto Carretilla Initiative preview https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12Carretilla16-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12Carretilla16.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12Carretilla16.jpg 416 624 [] https://torontolife.com/food/toronto-carretilla-initiative-preview/slide/jun12carretilla16/ jun12carretilla16 0 0
Rainer Prohaska dismantling the mobile kitchen after the cooking session was over
142392 (Image: Renée Suen) Savoury gnocchi: sautéed with grated beets, garlic, pepper, cream and Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese Toronto Carretilla Initiative preview https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12Carretilla15-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12Carretilla15.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12Carretilla15.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/toronto-carretilla-initiative-preview/slide/jun12carretilla15/ jun12carretilla15 0 0
Savoury gnocchi: sautéed with grated beets, garlic, pepper, cream and Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese
142391 (Image: Renée Suen) The sweet gnocchi: cooked in butter and ground poppy seeds, then topped with icing sugar Toronto Carretilla Initiative preview https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12Carretilla14-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12Carretilla14.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12Carretilla14.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/toronto-carretilla-initiative-preview/slide/jun12carretilla14/ jun12carretilla14 0 0
The sweet gnocchi: cooked in butter and ground poppy seeds, then topped with icing sugar
142390 (Image: Renée Suen) A TCI staff member adds icing sugar to the potato dumplings that have been cooked in butter and ground poppy seeds Toronto Carretilla Initiative preview https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12Carretilla13-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12Carretilla13.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12Carretilla13.jpg 416 624 [] https://torontolife.com/food/toronto-carretilla-initiative-preview/slide/jun12carretilla13/ jun12carretilla13 0 0
A TCI staff member adds icing sugar to the potato dumplings that have been cooked in butter and ground poppy seeds
142389 (Image: Renée Suen) Rebecca LeHeup, executive director of the Ontario Culinary Tourism Alliance, behind the makeshift stove Toronto Carretilla Initiative preview https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12Carretilla12-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12Carretilla12.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12Carretilla12.jpg 416 624 [] https://torontolife.com/food/toronto-carretilla-initiative-preview/slide/jun12carretilla12/ jun12carretilla12 0 0
Rebecca LeHeup, executive director of the Ontario Culinary Tourism Alliance, behind the makeshift stove
142388 (Image: Renée Suen) Rebecca LeHeup, executive director of Ontario Culinary Tourism Alliance, grinds the poppy seeds used for the sweet gnocchi preparation Toronto Carretilla Initiative preview https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12Carretilla11-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12Carretilla11.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12Carretilla11.jpg 416 624 [] https://torontolife.com/food/toronto-carretilla-initiative-preview/slide/jun12carretilla11/ jun12carretilla11 0 0
Rebecca LeHeup, executive director of Ontario Culinary Tourism Alliance, grinds the poppy seeds used for the sweet gnocchi preparation
142387 (Image: Renée Suen) Rolled out gnocchi, ready to be boiled Toronto Carretilla Initiative preview https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12Carretilla10-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12Carretilla10.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12Carretilla10.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/toronto-carretilla-initiative-preview/slide/jun12carretilla10/ jun12carretilla10 0 0
Rolled out gnocchi, ready to be boiled
142386 (Image: Renée Suen) Gnocchi rollers Malcolm Jolley (Good Food Revolution) and Alexa Clark (CheapEats Restaurant Guides, Secret Pickle Supper Club) Toronto Carretilla Initiative preview https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12Carretilla9-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12Carretilla9.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12Carretilla9.jpg 416 624 [] https://torontolife.com/food/toronto-carretilla-initiative-preview/slide/jun12carretilla9/ jun12carretilla9 0 0
Gnocchi rollers Malcolm Jolley (Good Food Revolution) and Alexa Clark (CheapEats Restaurant Guides, Secret Pickle Supper Club)
142385 (Image: Renée Suen) How to roll out the gnocchi from the dough Toronto Carretilla Initiative preview https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12Carretilla8-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12Carretilla8.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12Carretilla8.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/toronto-carretilla-initiative-preview/slide/jun12carretilla8/ jun12carretilla8 0 0
How to roll out the gnocchi from the dough
142384 (Image: Renée Suen) A tribute to Robert Wilson and Philip Glass’s <em>Einstein on the Beach,</em> also playing at Luminato Toronto Carretilla Initiative preview https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12Carretilla7-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12Carretilla7.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12Carretilla7.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/toronto-carretilla-initiative-preview/slide/jun12carretilla7/ jun12carretilla7 0 0
A tribute to Robert Wilson and Philip Glass’s Einstein on the Beach, also playing at Luminato
142383 (Image: Renée Suen) Two portions mashed potatoes to one portion of flour and a heaping teaspoon of salt Toronto Carretilla Initiative preview https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12Carretilla6-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12Carretilla6.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12Carretilla6.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/toronto-carretilla-initiative-preview/slide/jun12carretilla6/ jun12carretilla6 0 0
Two portions mashed potatoes to one portion of flour and a heaping teaspoon of salt
142382 (Image: Renée Suen) <em>The Grid’</em>s Karon Liu demonstrates how to measure out the ingredients without a graded measuring cup Toronto Carretilla Initiative preview https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12Carretilla5-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12Carretilla5.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12Carretilla5.jpg 416 624 [] https://torontolife.com/food/toronto-carretilla-initiative-preview/slide/jun12carretilla5/ jun12carretilla5 0 0
The Grid’ s Karon Liu demonstrates how to measure out the ingredients without a graded measuring cup
142381 (Image: Renée Suen) The dough-making recipe card made specifically for this station Toronto Carretilla Initiative preview https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12Carretilla4-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12Carretilla4.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12Carretilla4.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/toronto-carretilla-initiative-preview/slide/jun12carretilla4/ jun12carretilla4 0 0
The dough-making recipe card made specifically for this station
142380 (Image: Renée Suen) The kitchen crew at the TCI preview included Pasquale Casullo, the <em>Star’</em>s Corey Mintz and <em>The Grid’</em>s Karon Liu Toronto Carretilla Initiative preview https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12Carretilla3-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12Carretilla3.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12Carretilla3.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/toronto-carretilla-initiative-preview/slide/jun12carretilla3/ jun12carretilla3 0 0
The kitchen crew at the TCI preview included Pasquale Casullo, the Star’ s Corey Mintz and The Grid’ s Karon Liu
142379 (Image: Renée Suen) Artist Rainer Prohaska putting together the mobile kitchen units out of basic items like plywood, clamps, zip ties and straps Toronto Carretilla Initiative preview https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12Carretilla2-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12Carretilla2.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12Carretilla2.jpg 624 416 [] https://torontolife.com/food/toronto-carretilla-initiative-preview/slide/jun12carretilla2/ jun12carretilla2 0 0
Artist Rainer Prohaska putting together the mobile kitchen units out of basic items like plywood, clamps, zip ties and straps
142378 (Image: Renée Suen) The mobile kitchen. A different configuration, using up to 20 shopping cart stations, is set up depending on the recipe used at each event. Each station is manned by experienced kitchen hands. Daily, free events are scheduled at one of six locations across Toronto Toronto Carretilla Initiative preview https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12Carretilla_intro-96x96.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12Carretilla_intro.jpg https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/jun12Carretilla_intro.jpg 656 420 [] https://torontolife.com/food/toronto-carretilla-initiative-preview/slide/jun12carretilla_intro/ jun12carretilla_intro 0 0
The mobile kitchen. A different configuration, using up to 20 shopping cart stations, is set up depending on the recipe used at each event. Each station is manned by experienced kitchen hands. Daily, free events are scheduled at one of six locations across Toronto
For the location and times of the free event, visit carretillainitiative.net or follow the Twitter hashtag #TCIFood