Showing posts with label Event. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Event. Show all posts

Frolicking at the Big Feastival

Posted on Monday, September 04, 2017 by

This summer marked the first year The Big Feastival, created by Jamie Oliver in the UK, arrived in Canada. Touted as a weekend of music, fun, and food for families, the event transformed Burl’s Creek Event Centre into a sprawling playground for adult and children alike.

Live Music

The main stage was huge with plenty of free space around it so people could set-up chairs, blankets, and even mini tents to keep everyone comfortable. Even without a seat, with the booming speakers, you could hear the acts from various areas of the park. During our Saturday afternoon visit, we were serenaded by cheerful songs from Splash ‘n’ Booths, Fred Penner (I remember watching him crawl through the log entrance and strumming on his guitar), The Beaches, and The Elwins. The songs were catchy and fun; with the bouts of rain, the cheerful tunes helped stave off the cloudy day spirits.


At the bandstand area, the mood was mellower. While sipping on a drink, I was captured by the folksy songs by The Relative. Their tribal swaying dresses making me wish I arrived with a flower crown through my tresses.

Fun and Games

With the moody weather, we didn’t get a chance to play in the field area where a number of lawn games were set-up, but it seemed popular as children continued frolicking despite the wetness. For those that are a bit older, there was a Ferris wheel and MEC’s climbing wall so visitors could check out the festival from high above.


Let’s be honest, my friends and I were there for the food. Being named Feastival you’d expect there’d be lots to indulge in, but there were culinary attractions as well.

The Big Kitchen


Inside the Big Kitchen, Abbey Sharp had a number of notable chefs on hand creating family friendly recipes. I watched Chef Hunter create tagliatelle pasta with a ricotta base using a food processor to speed things up. Viewers also left with some great tips: 

  • The secret to a vibrant sauce is using ripe tomatoes and rapidly boiling the sauce.
  • To flavour pasta sauces, infuse olive oil with aromatics (garlic, chilli, etc.) then purée them separately before adding it to the sauce.
  • Don't rinse pasta. You’ll wash away all the starches that helps make the sauce stick to the pasta.
It was a great idea to give away samples to the audience so they could taste what was being made. However, they were divvyed out haphazardly so not all audience members received a taste. For future years, they should consider giving out sample tickets to the first x number of people who enter the Big Kitchen. Afterwards, ticket holders can go to the area at the front to pick up their sample. This alleviates requiring staff members to distribute the plates and ensures no one expecting a sample leaves empty handed.

The Cheese Cave


Ace Bakery and The Cheese Boutique’s cheese cave was a popular destination giving out various cheese bites to festival goers: a lollipop of white cheddar wrapped in cooled maple syrup; a salad of parmesan chunks combined with Ontario strawberries and balsamic vinegar; and the grilled cheese s’more, a genius concoction combining Nutella and brie, gooey and melted in a toasted bun.



The grilled cheese s’more required some patience given they were made hot and fresh. Luckily, a lamb spedducci from Spedducci ($2.50) was on hand to tie me over.


Food Vendors

The Big Feastival featured a number of vendors in food trucks and tents, but they were scattered around the park so it was difficult to decide what to eat without circling the entire park. Personally, I would have liked if the program had a quick reference list separating the eateries (instead of being scattered amongst all the merchants selling take-home type products) or locate them all in a central area.

Heirloom’s truck was busy, so we joined the line for a 20-minute wait to tuck our teeth into one of their monstrous sandwiches. I opted for the fried chicken ($12), which had plenty of creamy Woolwich Dairy’s goat cheese over top. The chicken was sufficiently crispy, but over cooked so the middle was a tad dry. Luckily, the pickled cabbage slaw and aioli sauce helped add moisture.


The fried Szechuan chicken version ($12) would have been a better choice as the chicken gets a dunk in their homemade Szechuan sauce. It would have been what I'd order if only I wasn’t wearing white and afraid I’d have to walk around the park all day with a stain on my shirt. I did sneak a bite of my friend’s pork belly sandwich ($12) and it was delicious: sticky, juicy, and indulgent.


In hindsight, we should have shared a couple sandwiches as they were huge and left us full. Even so, I still snuck in samples from the various merchants across the park. It wasn’t difficult, as soon as I smelled the aroma of cooking bacon and sausages from DuBreton, I had to have a taste. Their sausages were speckled with herbs and tasted of quality meat.


I had more than my fill of nuts from Jewels Under the Kilt as they had such interesting flavours ... I had to try them all! In the end, it was the maple mojito jalapeno pecans and maple chipotle pecans that won me over, buying bags to bring home ($10 each).


Thanks to Mike & Mike’s organic, I received a sizeable chocolate covered almond that was that bite of sweet I was craving.

Of course, this was before seeing all of Tori's Bakeshop goods … the heart shaped doughnuts definitely drew a crowd. Instead, I purchased the kale and garlic scape scones ($4 each) that made for a delicious breakfast the next morning, so filled with taste that I didn’t even need butter.


Lundberg Family Farm and Jif Peanut Butter also gave samples of crispy chips and chocolate/peanut butter spreads to take home to snack on.


Drinks

Something about being outdoors makes me want a cold beer. So, my first order of business, before partaking in any other activities, was to satisfy this desire. As promised, Belgian Moon’s beer was light and refreshing ($9.95), the orange wedge adding a light fruity sweetness.  


The most photographed drink has got to be Jacob’s Creek’s frosé ($6) made from their sweet pink bubbly moscato. Their comfy chairs and rose covered wall were a central attraction as well.


Given The Big Feastival is a family friendly event, there were a large number of non-alcoholic vendors including Green Machine Smoothies and Pure Leaf iced tea (thanks for the delicious complimentary drinks). For the adults who required an extra boost of caffeine to keep up with the children, Grounded Coffee Company, Kicking Horse Coffee, Station Cold Brew, and Teavana were all on hand.

VIP Access

For an extra $100, tickets could be upgraded for VIP access. With the rainy day, we were so thankful we could access the VIP tent, which was spacious with tons of seating areas for people to relax and get out of the rain.

Moreover, they had their own private bar, serving a selection of beer, wine, juices, and water – so you could still stay hydrated without stepping out of the tent. The first drink is included with the access (about a $10 value) and I loved being able to sit in their comfortable lounge chairs, watching the bands play on the Main Stage that's located right beside the lounge.

After a bit too much hydration, their premium toilets are great. Set-up like a “real” bathroom, it’s so much easier to navigate, especially if you need to accompany younger children (good luck fitting in a small pot-a-potty).   

Despite the weather, my friends and I had a great time. Being my first visit to Burl’s Creek Event Centre, I appreciate the ample parking and spaciousness. For a person who hates crowds and waiting endlessly in lines, The Big Feastival had enough attractions to keep everyone spread out across the park. Aside from the periods of rain, when people crowded under tents (once again thanks for the VIP access!), it didn’t feel packed and chaotic, so I could actually relax and have fun.

It lived up to its promise providing family-friendly music, food, and fun. Hopefully, it will come back to Canada in 2018, maybe this time Mother Nature will cooperate.  

Disclaimer: I received complimentary tickets to the festival. Rest assured, as noted in my mission statement, I will always provide an honest opinion.
How To Find Them
 Location: Oro-Medonte, Canada
 Address: Burl's Creek Event Centre

 Follow me on twitter to chat, be notified about new posts and more - https://twitter.com/GastroWorldBlog


Kelly's Landing Opens Downtown (Toronto)

Posted on Tuesday, August 22, 2017 by
Thanks to Parv for all the amazing interior shots (my phone couldn't do the space justice)
The Landing Group only started in 2010 and already has amassed eight locations across the GTA. Their newest addition, dubbed the “Centre Ice” location (thanks to their proximity to the Air Canada Centre), opens on August 23, 2017. Like the rest of the chain, the Kelly’s Landing pad is large and spacious offering an extensive menu that makes choosing difficult. Steve Pelton, CEO of the Landing Group, notes that while they know they can’t please everyone, they’ll try their best to do so.


During a sneak peek event, we tried a number of items, prior to Kelly’s Landing official opening. True to form, the dishes were very different. Of course, there’s pizza, a perennial crowd favourite. Of the three styles, I was most surprised with the sausage picante ($18), a flavourful concoction combining spicy tomato sauce, house-made spicy Italian fennel sausage, roasted peppers, and mushroom. Generally, I find sausage pizzas too heavy, but theirs was not oily so the crust remained dry and crispy. Moreover, the meat added just enough to taste without being too salty.


The artichoke and cheese ($16) is what I’d normally order. The pizza is rich and creamy thanks to the parmesan asiago cream sauce and goat cheese with mozzarella mixture on top. Other ingredients are kept simple with slightly tangy marinated artichokes, sundried tomato, and baby kale; items that help balance the dish. Meanwhile, Mamma’s margarita pizza ($15) is the opposite – light and juicy with a bit of sweetness from the balsamic syrup.


You’ll be tempted to share an order of the brisket mac ‘n’ cheese ($11), which takes aged cheddar pasta and tops it with brisket that’s gone through a 10-day brine and 14-hr smoke. Imagine the most intense smoky bacon with a light heat (care of the poblano barbeque sauce), mixed with creamy pasta… how can you resist?

As the Beer Sisters taught me, creamy foods pair well with beer since the carbonation in the drink helps to cleanse the palette; a dish like mac ‘n’ cheese goes nicely with a light one. Coincidently, Kelly’s Landing has a ‘Beyond the Beer’ program where 50 cents from the sale of a draft Dos Equis gets donated to the University Health Network (operates hospitals such as Toronto Western and Toronto General). Now you can have your beer and help others too.

Two dishes that wowed me at the tasting were the Moroccan curried chicken ($20) and turkey burger ($16). The Moroccan curry incorporates a great blend of North African spices so the sauce actually has a strong hit of spices - full-flavoured and slightly spicy. It comes with fragrant basmati rice, flatbread, and some cooling crema that helps stave off any heat.


While the turkey burger ($16) is less exotic, it’s remarkably good thanks to the granny smith apples and herbs mixed into the patty for flavour and moisture. There’s a bit of spice from the chipotle aioli that’s balanced by a creamy Napa cabbage slaw, no boring burger here.


For vegans, Kelly’s Landing offers the Righteous Greens ($19) a mix of quinoa, brown barley, kale, roasted yams, avocado, vegetables, chia seeds, and cashews all tossed in a lime ginger sauce and topped with chili slices. It’s a hefty filling salad with sweet, salty, savoury, and spicy flavours giving the dish a Thai flare without tasting like a traditional Thai dish.


The Honey Smash cocktail ($13) is summery and sipping friendly, comprised of Absolut vodka mixed with strawberry and raspberry purée topped with mint. Touted as their take on a daiquiri, I find the cocktail is much smoother and you can taste the berries without the scratchiness of ice crystals mixed throughout.


During brunch (Saturday and Sunday from 11am – 3pm) you can get the Landing Cure ($16), a monstrous Caesar topped with a lobster tail, pizza slice, jalapeno Havarti and bacon skewer, celery, carrots, vegetable skewer, and an extreme green bean pickle. Good luck walking out hungry.

Aside from the traditional beer (24 options on tap), cocktail, and wine options, Kelly’s Landing also offers an extensive list of spirits. In fact, there’s a good choice for scotch lovers at various price points.

During the opening event, Glenlivet was on hand and I conducted a blind taste test to see if age actually matters. As it turns out, the older scotches definitely have less of a burn, but after a certain point it’s all pretty smooth. Personally, I preferred the 15 to the 18 year ($18/oz) as it’s an easy going drink. However, for people who like a drier peppery bite, the 18 year old definitely has those flavours thanks to being aged in bourbon and sherry casks. A more price conscious offering is the Glenlivet Founder's Reserve ($10/oz) that has an amazing oaky aroma but harsher bite.


With their 43' x 30' retractable roof and spacious patio, you know Kelly’s Landing is going to be popular with the downtown crowd and packed during games. Luckily, they accept reservations (even on their patio), which seems to be an anomaly amongst the newer restaurants opening downtown. I’m already excited to return for food and liberations and to try out the patio. Go soon, while the summer’s still upon us.   

Disclaimer: I tasted the food and drinks noted above at a media event. Rest assured, as noted in my mission statement, I will always provide an honest opinion.
How To Find Them
 Location: Toronto, Canada
 Address: 123 Front Street West

 Follow me on twitter to chat, be notified about new posts and more - https://twitter.com/GastroWorldBlog

The Big Feastival is taking over Ontario this weekend!

Posted on Tuesday, August 15, 2017 by
All pictures in this post are from past UK events courtesy of Faulhaber Communications
People in the UK know how to party. For the last six years, Jamie Oliver has been connecting foodies and their families for a weekend of music, family friendly entertainment, and of course tons of food. Given his love for our country, in 2017, he's bringing the Big Feastival to Ontario as Canadians gather at the Burl's Creek Event Grounds to partake in what our UK counterparts have enjoyed so long.

There's an array of musical acts from the family friend Fred Penner and Splash 'n' Boots, to musical groups like Weezer or the Strombellas. I can imagine it already... sipping on a frozen cocktail or chilled wine while dancing up a storm with my friends.


Where I hit a predicament is what to eat... wow there's a TON to choose from. Some are perennial favourites like Caplansky, Eva's Original Chimneys, and Buster's Sea Cove. Then there are many that I've never had the pleasure to try but sound enticing: Hawley Crescent, Wafel Bar, and Tori's Bake Shop, I'm coming for you!

At some point, the Cheese Cave will be a welcomed respite from the sun as the Cheese Boutique, ACE Bakery and Adamo Estate Winery come up with a great tasting. Hopefully, I'll even learn a thing or two from Chef Rob Gentile and Alexandra Feswick at their Cooking School. Having attended one of Vikram Vij's event and seen Dan the Prescott at the Food Bloggers of Canada Conference, I know already they curated a great line-up of individuals to learn from.

Who knows, if I've had enough to drink, maybe I'll partake in a yoga class, listen to Victor Barry tell a story, or snap a selfie with Paw Patrol. The sky is the limit!

Tickets range from $45 - $145 for a single day pass, depending on your age and whether you want access to the coveted VIP tent. Those with children 12 and under, they go for free! With so much to do, you could go the entire weekend ($85-$255) and if you want to stay over camping and really party into the night, a weekend with camping combination are selling for $100-$295.


I'm excited to be going with a group of girl friends - not glamping for the entire weekend, but rather making a day trip out of it from Toronto on the Saturday. Having never experienced it before, I'm excited for, as one friend describes it, Coachella for foodies!

Although I'll likely leave my flower crown and fringe at home, the iPhone and appetite will be coming with me. Follow me on Instagram or Twitter on August 19th to get a glimpse of the day with me. Or come back later to read all about the day - love, food, and peace!

 If you want to join in for the day of fun, you can head to their website to purchase tickets. 

How To Find Them
 Dates: August 18 - 20
 Address: Burl's Creek - 240 Line 8 S (Oro-Medonte,  Ontario)

Follow me on twitter to chat, be notified about new posts and more - https://twitter.com/GastroWorldBlog

Harvest Wagon has expanded!

Posted on Wednesday, June 14, 2017 by

Rosedale inhabitants are likely familiar with Harvest Wagon, a high-end grocery boutique offering more than just groceries – think natural home essentials, floral arrangements, and plants. Started 40 years ago as a fruit and vegetable store, it expanded its footprint twice more into groceries and home essentials, and most recently in 2017 enlarged the store to include a prepared food section. It went from a quaint 900 square feet establishment to the current 5,000 square feet space.
Located in the back, there were tons of tantalizing items in the display cases of the prepared food items. The towering lasagna with ultra-thin noodles were begging to be re-heated, various vibrant salads, and tons of barbequed items … prime-rib anyone?


Yet, in speaking with the chef, it’s their sizeable grilled prawns that are their best sellers. Plump and sweet, I can see why they’re popular - the fire grilled version has a citrusy zip within the caper marinade. These would go nicely with some of their pastas like the cheesy penne or slightly spicy orecchiette.


For those who just want to grab something quickly, the array of jarred soups and sauces, dips, and huge pot pies would make a great homey winter’s meal.


While wandering around the store, the cheese display was equally tantalizing with a selection from around the world. I wouldn’t know whether I’d want a sweet or savoury ending given their bakery selection was enticing as well. The bakery contained an amazing selection of specialty cakes (including a gorgeous profiterole one) and even gooey looking butter tarts.



True to their roots, Harvest Wagon still has a huge selection of pristine produce - wow were the berries sweet and juicy! Surely, the vibrant colours of the vegetable display could keep you entranced for a while. After all, it was the fruits and vegetables that started it all. Happy 40th!




How To Find Them
 Location: Toronto, Canada
 Address: 1103 Yonge Street 

 Follow me on twitter to chat, be notified about new posts and more - https://twitter.com/GastroWorldBlog



Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)