Foodie Fortnight: the top five food events for December 10–24
In this edition of Foodie Fortnight: a Tunisian feast (with camel sliders!), a mince pie how-to and a cozy indoor farmers’ market.
Tunisian Feast College Street’s Depanneur hosts regular drop-in dinners prepared by a rotating cast of Toronto chefs. This week, Dali Chemini, the man behind the popular Casbah stall at Market 707, is serving a full-on Tunisian feast: camel hamburgers, North African veggie tagine and brik à l’oeuf, a deep-fried pastry pocket stuffed with tuna, capers and soft-boiled egg. Dec. 12. $10-$14. Depanneur, 1033 College St., 416-828-1990, thedepanneur.ca
Whiskey Pairing Dinner Fledgling scotch connoisseurs can hone their tasting skills at this dinner hosted by crack whiskey-sipper and scotchblog.ca founder Matt Franck. A $55 ticket buys five whiskeys from five different countries, each paired with a different pub plate. The menu is top-secret, but last summer’s meal included Scotch quail eggs and apple bread pudding with whiskey caramel sauce. Dec. 12. $55. Habits Gastropub, 928 College St., facebook.com
Christmas Beer Tasting Party 12 Beers of Christmas, the annual holiday party at the Gladstone Hotel, is a combination beer tasting, ugly-sweater contest and karaoke bash featuring local breweries like Collective Arts, Flying Monkeys and Hogtown Brewers. Added bonus: the website promises a night-long soundtrack of cheesy holiday hits. Dec. 13. $5. Gladstone Hotel, 1214 Queen St. W., gladstonehotel.com
Mince Pie Workship Lisa Sanguedolce, the pastry whiz at Le Dolci bakery on Dundas West, gives a hands-on tutorial on how to make the traditional tarts filled with dried fruit and spices. Kids under 12 are admitted at half-price. Dec. 15. $40. Depanneur, 1033 College St., thedepanneur.ca
Winter Farmers’ Market Sub-zero temperatures are no reason to forego farm-fresh produce and artisanal snacks. The indoor farmers’ market at Steam Whistle Brewery happens every Sunday during the chilliest winter months. Shoppers can expect local vendors selling root veggies, baked goods and other seasonal food. Dec. 22–Feb. 23. Steam Whistle Brewery, 255 Bremner Blvd., steamwhistle.ca
