Weekly Eater: Toronto food events for August 20 to 26

Tuesday, August 21

• Escape the City—Canoe and Beach Dining Adventure: Paddle to the island with the Culinary Adventure Company for a gourmet beach picnic. 416-565-1730. Find out more »
• Family Pizza Nights: Join Evergreen and Pizzeria Libretto for fresh homemade pizzas from their wood-fired oven. All proceeds benefit Evergreen’s children’s food programs in Chimney Court. Evergreen Brick Works, 550 Bayview Ave. Find out more »
• Cook Like Mario Batali—Summer in Italy: Create a feast of summertime flavours with dishes like wild arugula salad with salami and pecorino, eggplant parmigiana and Sicilian calamari. 516 Mount Pleasant Rd., 416-544-9221. Find out more »
• Late Summer Harvest Menu: Chef Michael Wilson teaches you to create fresh dishes inspired by Ontario’s late summer ingredients. Menu items include heirloom tomato salad with avocado, yogurt and bacon vinaigrette; roasted swordfish with caponata; and vanilla panna cotta with seasonal fruit compote and crumbled almond biscotti. Kingsway LCBO, 2946 Bloor St. W., 416-239-3065. Find out more »
• Modern Middle Eastern Flavours: Chef Jeffrey Marshall demonstrates dishes to showcase the best of modern Middle Eastern cuisine. Menu includes grilled haloumi salad with peaches, sprouts and honey-cumin vinaigrette; za’atar-toasted pita chips with preserved lemon guacamole and beet skordalia; and grilled sumac-scented lamb chops on Israeli couscous. LCBO Summerhill, 10 Scrivener Sq., 416-922-0403. Find out more »

Wednesday, August 22

• Taste of Lombardia: Chef Fabio Sacca creates a five-course meal inspired by Milan’s capital city, featuring dishes like tortelli stuffed with squash and amaretto in a butter-sage sauce, battered black cod on a bed of potato cream, and breaded veal chop with asparagus and potatoes. $50 per guest, including a glass of wine. Church Aperitivo Bar, 1090 Queen St. W., 416-537-1090. Find out more »
• A Chef’s Tour of Little Italy: Join the Culinary Adventure Company on a behind-the-scenes tour of Little Italy’s finest kitchens. 416-565-1730. Find out more »
• Marvelous Macarons With Maddy: Learn the secrets to no-fail macarons using everyday kitchen items. In this class you’ll make two different flavoured and coloured macarons, each with its own ganache filling. Le Dolci, 1006 Dundas St. W., 416-262-3400. Find out more »
• Vintages on a Budget: Join an expert consultant and learn about some of Vintages’ best-kept budget-friendly secrets. Kingsway LCBO, 2946 Bloor St. W., 416-239-3065. Find out more »
• Passionate for Pinot Noir: Challenge your senses with a comparative blind tasting of pinot noir from Ontario, the Pacific Northwest, New Zealand and, of course, its original home of Burgundy, France. LCBO Summerhill, 10 Scrivener Sq., 416-922-0403. Find out more »

Thursday, August 23

• Wine for the 100-Mile Feast: Discover the perfect food-friendly, locally produced bottles to go with farmers’ market and local artisanal foods. LCBO Summerhill, 10 Scrivener Sq., 416-922-0403. Find out more »
• Shop the Market—Locavore: The market’s chefs shop for fresh, local ingredients, and then guide you through the preparation of an Ontario-inspired three-course meal. St. Lawrence Market, 92 Front St. E., 416-392-7120. Find out more »
• Green Bites Workshop—Water Meets Fire—Fish on the Grill: Kristin Donovan, co-owner of Hooked, teaches this essential primer on grilling fish. Workshop includes a grilling and tasting of Chinook, sockeye and keta salmon, as well as pickerel, silver bass and whitefish. Menu also includes marinated wild Baja shrimp skewers and grilled B.C. octopus. Evergreen Brick Works, 550 Bayview Ave. Find out more »
• Sip, Shake and Sparkle at Fielding Estate Winery: Fielding hosts its annual ladies’ night in support of the charity program Go Girls! Enjoy an evening of wine, cheese and cocktails by mixologist Jeremy Parsons. Fielding Estate Winery, 4020 Locust Ln., Beamsville, 905-563-0668. Find out more »

Friday, August 24

• Bar Gilead Series: A Friday evening series at Jamie Kennedy’s Gilead focused on tapas and cocktails. 4 Gilead Pl., 647-288-0680. Find out more »
• Back Door Burgers: Gilead serves up its popular burgers for $5 from 11:30 to 2 p.m. 4 Gilead Pl., 647-288-0680. Find out more »
• World Café at the Harbourfront Centre: Returning for 2012. Enjoy a rotating variety of ethnic treats. Of particular note: Francisco Alejandri of Agave y Aguacate will be there through the end of August. 235 Queens Quay W. at the Harbourfront Centre, Lakeside Terrace. Find out more »

Saturday, August 25

• Stop Market Café: Enjoy a weekly meal sourced from ingredients found at the adjacent farmers’ market. Proceeds from the sales at the café are reinvested in The Stop’s programs. 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. Green Barn, 601 Christie St. Find out more »
• Chocolate and Cheese Crawl: Why choose one when you can have both? ChowBella Culinary Experiences hosts a chocolate and cheese tour of Queen and King West’s food shops. Find out more »
• Hands in the Bowl: The Evergreen Brick Works invites children (ages four to seven) and their caregivers to roll up their sleeves and learn how to mix, grate, mash and then eat their delicious creations—using only their hands. Evergreen Brick Works, 550 Bayview Ave. Find out more »
• Discover Greektown on the Danforth Walking Tour: Explore this quickly changing neighbourhood with the Culinary Adventure Company. Sample some Greek mezethes, indulge in Greek wine tasting and find the perfect addition to your kitchen while gourmet shopping. Culinary Adventure Co., 416-565-1730. Find out more »
• Introduction to Cupcake Decorating: A hands-on workshop teaching you how to dress up a cupcake. Le Dolci, 1006 Dundas St. W., 416-262-3400. Find out more »
• Roncesvalles Food Tour: Spend an afternoon in one of Toronto’s hippest neighbourhoods with a guided tour by Foodies on Foot, featuring visits to historical points of interest and tastings in shops. Find out more »
• Cupcake Couture: Explore the baking and decorating possibilities beyond Betty Crocker. Bonnie Gordon College, 868 Eglinton Ave. W., 416-440-0333. Find out more »
• Whole Hog Butchery: Chef and butcher Kyle Demming, co-owner of Sausage Partners, demonstrates the tips and tricks of whole hog butchery. Learn to break down the beast from primal cuts to portions, chops and roasts. Sausage Partners, 1378 Queen St. E., 416-565-1730. Find out more »
• Knife Skills: Sharpen up your cutting skills with this intensive hands-on tutorial and learn the basics of how to hold, sharpen, clean and purchase knives, as well as some classic cuts. St. Lawrence Market, 92 Front St. E., 416-392-7120. Find out more »
• World Café at the Harbourfront Centre: Returning for 2012. Enjoy a rotating variety of ethnic treats. Of particular note: Francisco Alejandri of Agave y Aguacate will be there through the end of August. 235 Queens Quay W. at the Harbourfront Centre, Lakeside Terrace. Find out more »

Sunday, August 26

• Ride and Go Feast: The Culinary Adventure Company and View the Vibe team up with local restaurants and chefs to bring you the tastiest charity event in town. For this TIFF-inspired edition, participants will drink and dine at a variety of glamorous hot spots. All proceeds go to the Daily Bread Food Bank. 416-565-1730. Find out more »
• Rhino Summer Beer Festival : The first of what’s promised to be an annual affair, the festival will feature a host of local craft brewers, with 5 oz. sampler tickets going for $1.25. The event raises money for ALD research. The Rhino, 1249 Queen St. W. Find out more »
• Lettuce Wrap Night at Chantecler: Chantecler is offering lettuce wraps with helpings of meats, assorted pickles and condiments for $19 per person until 1 a.m.—or until the food runs out. Chantecler, 1320 Queen St. W., 416-628-3586. Find out more »
• Introduction to Cupcake Decorating: A hands-on workshop teaching you how to dress up a cupcake.  Le Dolci, 1006 Dundas St. W., 416-262-3400. Find out more »
• Baking and Buttercream: Learn how to bake and finish the perfect cake. Bonnie Gordon College, 868 Eglinton Ave. W., 416-440-0333. Find out more »
• Supper Club—Asian Twist: Join chef Matt Bell for a delicious meal of quality local ingredients prepared with Asian-inspired flavours. Dishes include spicy Thai halibut with jicama and watermelon-radish salad, barbecue yakatori strip loin, maple butterscotch baked apples and banana coconut tempura. The Depanneur, 1033 College St., 416-828-1990. Find out more »
• The Stop’s Beer Garden: This week, beer by Lake of Bays and food by Tiffinday. Green Barn, 601 Christie St. Find out more»
• World Café at the Harbourfront Centre: Returning for 2012. Enjoy a rotating variety of ethnic treats. Of particular note: Francisco Alejandri of Agave y Aguacate will be there through the end of August. 235 Queens Quay W. at the Harbourfront Centre, Lakeside Terrace. Find out more »

Farmers’ Markets:

• Sorauren Farmers’ Market: Monday from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the field house at Sorauren Park. 50 Wabash Ave.
• East York Farmers’ Market: Tuesday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. 850 Coxwell Ave.
• Riverdale Farmers’ Market: Tuesday from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. 201 Winchester St. (in Riverdale Park)
• Ryerson University MyMarket: Tuesday from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Gould St., east of Yonge
• SickKids Hospital Farmers’ Market: Tuesday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. 555 University Ave.
• Trinity Bellwoods Farmers’ Market: Tuesday from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Northwest corner of Trinity Bellwoods Park near Dundas St. W. and Shaw St.
• 401 Richmond Farmers’ Market: Tuesday from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. 401 Richmond St.
• Nathan Phillips Square Farmers’ Market: Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. 100 Queen St. W.
• Queens Quay Terminal Farmers’ Market: Wednesday from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. 207 Queens Quay W.
• Bloor-Borden Farmers’ Market: Wednesday from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Green P Lot, Lippincott St. and Bloor St.
• Dufferin Grove Farmers’ Market: Thursday from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. 873 Dufferin St. (in Dufferin Grove Park)
• East Lynn Farmers’ Market: Thursday from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. 1949 Danforth Ave.
• Metro Hall Farmers’ Market: Thursday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. David Pecaut Square, 55 John St.
• North Civic Centre Farmers’ Market: Thursday from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Mel Lastman Square, 5100 Yonge St.
• Toronto Botanical Gardens Organic Farmers’ Market: Thursday from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. 777 Lawrence Ave. E.
• St. Lawrence North Farmers’ Market: Saturday from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. 92 Front St. E.
• Evergreen Brick Works Farmers’ Market: Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. 550 Bayview Ave.
• The Stop Farmers’ Market: Saturday from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. Wychwood Barns, 601 Christie St.
• Withrow Park Farmers’ Market: Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. 725 Logan Ave. (in Withrow Park)
• Junction Farmers’ Market: Saturday from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Green P Lot, 385 Pacific Ave.
• Leslieville Farmers’ Market: Sunday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Jonathan Ashbridge Park, 20 Woodward Ave.
• Liberty Village Farmers’ Market: Sunday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Green P Lot, Hanna Ave. and East Liberty St.