We are just 11 months away from the Pan American Games to be held in Toronto in July 2015. What better way to get in the mood than to attend the second annual Pan American Food Festival from August 8-10, 2014 at the Daniels Spectrum. Watch cooking demonstrations from well-known Latin American chefs, taste Latin specialty dishes such as ceviche and learn Latin dancing, plus admission to the festival is free. The host country for this year’s festival is Peru.
Many Toronto chefs including Steve Gonzalez of Valdez Restaurant, Claudia Gaviria of Cruda Cafe, Giancarlo Colombaro of Pisco Toronto, Luis Valenzuela of Torito Tapas, Ivan Tarazona of Ardor Bistro, Roger Arakaki of Sushi Ito and Eleni Herrera of Eleni’s Empanadas to name a few will be offering cooking demonstrations for visitors.
Several chefs will compete in Totalmente Tamales, a competition to determine who makes the best tamales. The event takes place on Saturday, August 9, 2014 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. and costs $9 to taste six tamales. Totalmente Tamales will be curated by food and travel writer Mary Luz Mejia.
This year, the Pan American Food Festival will feature the first annual Wine & Spirits Salon on Saturday, August 9, 2014 in the Daniels Spectrum’s Ada Slaight Hall from 7:30 pm to 11 pm. Enjoy pisco, a popular Peruvian drink, tequila, mezcal and rum from participating sponsors.
The festival will give you the chance to immerse yourself in Latin American culture. You will be able to learn how to salsa and bachata from Harbourfront’s resident instructor, Martin Samuels.
Other activities include an art exhibition will showcase work from artists in Chile, Columbia, Cuba and Canada and children’s activities sponsored by Kiddo Magazine including colouring contests and games.
The Pan American Food Festival takes place at Daniels Spectrum, 585 Dundas Street East (two blocks east of Parliament Street). Admission is free.
