The Cheese Boutique is hosting a comic book–themed food festival

It’s tricky for a one-off food event to generate tons of buzz, particularly if it doesn’t involve poutine or grilled cheese sandwiches. A gimmick always helps, which may have been part of the rationale behind this upcoming event at The Cheese Boutique. On August 14, half the city’s culinary talent will be congregating at the shop to cook dishes inspired by various comic-book superheroes and villains. Cheese Boutique owner Afrim Pristine, who is coordinating the event, told Zagat Toronto that he selected a fictional alter ego for each chef, based on his or her temperament or role in Toronto’s culinary metropolis. (Bar Isabel’s Grant van Gameren, for instance, “is so Captain America, our fearless leader,” while The Harbord Room’s Cory Vitiello “is so the Joker, always smiling, etc.”) It’s not really clear what all this means for the menu, which is apparently still in development, but it does sound pretty fun, albeit extremely bro-y. (The one woman involved, baker Nadege Nourian of Nadège Patisserie, will be playing the role of Catwoman.)

Aug. 14. $175. The Cheese Boutique, 45 Ripley Ave., 416-762-6292, facebook.com