Love spicy food? Then this is your festival. The Hot and Spicy Food Festival returns to Harbourfront Centre in Toronto on August 15–17, 2014. You’ll get to sample a wide variety of spicy food, watch chefs compete in The Fiery Food Challenge and learn how to make some of these fiery dishes at cooking demonstrations. This year’s festival will explore how food traditions have evolved into present-day dishes.
For the Love of Spice demonstrations will feature top chefs including Steve Gonzalez of Valdez and Deb Rankine of The Fridge Whisperer making dishes such as Peruvian Chupe and Moroccan Mint Tea Ice Cream. The Fiery Food Challenge features chefs competing to present the best hot dishes from their cultures.
Music at the Hot and Spicy Food Festival includes live performances from Moroccan-born singer-songwriter and oud master Hassan El Hadi, Canadian R&B/funk group Crack of Dawn, Lindy Vopnfjörd, Jimmie’s Habanero, and Johannes Linstead and his group, who perform Afro-Cuban percussion and Spanish guitar music.
Watch international chefs battle it out during the International Iron Chef Competition. Competing chefs include Shorne Benjamin (Saint Lucia), Chi-Wen Chen (Taiwan), Xavier Perez Stone (Mexico) and Howard Dubrovsky (Canada). See the competition in the Brigantine Room on Saturday, August 16 and Sunday, August 17, 2014.
You won’t want to miss the following cooking demonstrations:
For the Love of Spice: Chef Marilyn Mirabelli of Simply Splendid Victorian Afternoon Teas
Saturday, August 16, 2014 from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. – Lakeside Terrace
Chef Mirabelli will prepare Victorian Afternoon Teas and Chocolate Cayenne Shortbreads.
Rooted & Renewed (Hot Edition): Chef Devan Rajkumar of The Food Dudes
Saturday, August 16, 2014 from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. – Lakeside Terrace
Chef Devan will create Shrimp Vindaloo, an Indian dish made with vinegar, garlic, chilies and spices.
Red Hot Market Stage: Chef Whitney Mayes of Alphonsa’s Gourmet
Saturday, August 16, 2014 from 4 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. – Zone 6
Chef Whitney Mayes from Chopped Canada, representing Alphonsa’s Gourmet, will make Sweet Ginger BBQ Ribs with mango lime coleslaw.
For the Love of Spice: Chef Pero Berhane of Pero Restaurant
Saturday, August 16, 2014 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. – Marilyn Brewer Community Space
Pero Berhane will share a classical Eritrean treat, Ambasha Bread with traditional Awze sauce, as well as ginger coffee with live roasting of the beans.
For the Love of Spice: Chef Deb Rankine of The Fridge Whisperer
Sunday, August 17, 2014 from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. – Marilyn Brewer Community Space
Chef Deb Rankine demonstrates how to make Moroccan Mint Tea Ice Cream.
For the Love of Spice: Chef Steve Gonzalez of Valdez
Sunday, August 17, 2014 from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. – Lakeside Terrace
Steve Gonzalez makes his Peruvian Chupe with coconut milk and seafood.
Rooted & Renewed (Hot Edition): Chef Eleni Herrera of Eleni’s Culinary Journey
Sunday, August 17, 2014 from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. – Zone 5
Chef Eleni makes her Peruvian Aji Gallina stuffed mini empanadas in this hot edition of the series.
For the Love of Spice: Chef Deb Rankine of The Fridge Whisperer
Sunday, August 17, 2014 from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. – Lakeside Terrace
Chef Deb Rankine demonstrates how to make Moroccan Preserved Lemon Chicken Tajine with Couscous.
Rooted & Renewed: Chef Eleni Herrera of Eleni’s Culinary Journey
Sunday, August 17, 2014 from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. – Lakeside Terrace
Learn how to make Eleni Herrera’s Greek Keftedes.
Slow Food Toronto Food Demo with Chef Giacomo Pasquini
Saturday August 16, 2014 from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m. – Marilyn Brewer Community Space
Chef Pasquini will show you how to prepare a meal in the Slow Food Tradition
Root Remedies: Spomenka Bizic
Saturday, August 16, 2014 from 2:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. – Zone 1
Sunday, August 17, 2014 from 1:30 p.m. to 2 p.m.
Spomenka Bizi talks about root vegetables, their nutritive and healing properties, and simple preparation ideas.
Sensational Sprouts: Sideroad Natural Farm
Saturday, August 16 – Sunday, August 17, 2014 – Zone 1
Saturday, August 16, 2014 from 4 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Learn how to grow your own sprouts at this workshop.
The Art of Throwing a Sizzling Hot Cocktail Party
Saturday, August 16, 2014 from 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. – Lakeside Terrace
Carol Marks will demonstrate how to throw a hot cocktail party with props, food pairings, mocktails and cocktail creations.
Cost: $5
The Hot and Spicy Food Festival takes place August 15-17, 2014 at Harbourfront Centre, 235 Queens Quay West, Toronto. Get your spice on!
