Foodie Fortnight: the top five food events for May 20–June 4
In this edition of Foodie Fortnight: the Leslieville farmers’ market’s seasonal debut, a four-course street-food feast and a pop-up preview of the summery menu at the soon-to-open Drake Devonshire hotel.
Street Food Feast Game meat is the focus of this four-course dinner party by food-trucker-turned-restaurateur Matt Basile (a.k.a. Fidel Gastro). It takes place this Thursday in the lot behind Nella Cucina, near Bathurst and Bloor. The ticket price includes Beau’s beer pairings. May 22. $125. Nella Cucina, 876 Bathurst St., nellacucina.ca
Bootleggers’ Brunch Thanks to support from a somewhat unlikely source, Ontario’s contract brewers were able to circumvent a provincial rule that would have kept them out of this summer’s craft-beer festivals. Celebrate the victory with brunch at Duke’s Refresher, where six small brewers will be doling out samples of their signature concoctions. May 25. Duke’s Refresher, 382 Yonge St., 416-979-8529, facebook.com
Leslieville Farmers’ Market
Look for in-season asparagus and fiddleheads (as well as samosas, jerk-chicken sandwiches and Belgian waffles) at the popular east-side market’s season opener.
May 25, 9-2. Jonathan Ashbridge Park, 20 Woodward Ave., leslievillemarket.com
Drake Devonshire Pop-Up In anticipation of the new Drake-by-the-lake outpost in Prince Edward County, Drake One Fifty will be hosting a pop-up preview of head chef Matt DeMille’s seasonal, farm-to-table menu. Expect fresh, summery food, like tomato-strawberry salad with whipped chèvre and roasted pickerel with crab panzanella. June 2. Drake One Fifty, 150 York St., 416-363-6150, thedrake.ca
Big Night at the Green Barn Proceeds from this family-style Italian feast go to support The Stop’s Green Barn, a sustainable food-production and education centre at the Artscape Wychwood Barns. Guests can look forward to four courses cooked by an impressive cohort of Toronto chefs, including George restaurant’s Lorenzo Loseto, winner of 2014’s Canadian Gold Medal Plates competition. June 4. $200. Artscape Wychwood Barns, 601 Christie St., bignight.thestop.org
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