Tag Archives: chocolates

ONE OF A KIND SPRING SHOW OFFERS BEAUTIFUL ARTS & CRAFTS AND TASTY TREATS

The first sign of Spring in Toronto isn’t the tulips or daffodils…it’s the annual Spring One of a Kind Show down at the Enercare Centre at Exhibition Place.  www.oneofakindshow.com/home/

Thanks to artist friend, Mark J. Gleberzen, who kindly gave me a comp. ticket, I was able to stroll the aisles filled with all manner of arts, crafts, toys, handcrafted clothing, jewellery and…yum yum yum…tasty treats. https://www.markgleberzon.com/ So let’s get going by first dropping in to Mark’s booth (below) And just around the corner was Mark’s gallery partner, Morgan Jones, whose work is so intriguing. I caught him sitting down having a quick cuppa tea! https://www.morganjonesart.com/ I soon found a new exhibitor with a great sense of humour and a fabulous new use for maps. Sadie & June take old maps or atlases and frame individual cities and countries – they’re very affordable as gifts, too. I was thrilled to find my hometown of Perth, Western Australia, as well as Perth, Ontario and Perth, Scotland! Best of all, tho, was the pairing of Bangkok and Beaverton (yes, I have a naughty sense of humour).  www.sadieandjune.ca I then met artist, Kate Brown and her husband BJ, who are new to the OOAK show here in Toronto. Salt Sky Studio is based in Halifax, NS, and Kate’s art is a series of brightly coloured wood slices of varying lengths. I was so intrigued – I found one piece that called to me and I told Kate & BJ that I would come visit their booth before I left for home. Hmmmm, I wonder if I went back to claim my new prize….keep reading.  www.saltskystudio.com  Artist/blacksmith Julian Amati-Lecours of Tap ‘N Anvil Forge had a wonderful booth full of copper, iron, stainless steel hand-crafted home accessories. I chatted with Julian who described his spectacular floor lamp (see video below). https://www.tapnanvil.com/

 

Next, it was time for the foodie section and I made a b-line for the No.7 Mexican Hot Sauce booth as I needed to re-stock my cupboards. I met owners Sandra & Carlos Flores several years ago when they were doing a demo session at the now-closed Williams-Sonoma store up on Bloor West in Yorkville, and I am so impressed with how they’ve grown their company since. www.no7hotsauce.comNext, the Little Shop of Lobsters – THE best lobster or crab mousse ever!! Every OOAK show, I head there to pick up a jar of each but within 48 hours, it’s all gone! So deelish.   https://littleshopoflobsters.com/It was such a challenge but I managed to walk past all the tempting chocolate booths, even this yummy fudge booth…I ate with my eyes! So I carefully (and quickly) navigated past the sweet-treat aisles and found this lovely lady who was demo’ing beautiful natural fragrances.  www.piperandperro.com Time to go home but not before heading back to Salt Sky Studio where Kate & BJ were waiting for me and I claimed my new art piece. Isn’t it pretty? A sea shore scene with 2 little plovers inspired by the beach near their Halifax studio. Thank you Hope you all make it to the show this weekend…it’s good to support Canadian artisans and craftspeople.

GRAZING MY WAY THRU LAST NIGHT’S 21ST ANNUAL “EAT TO THE BEAT” FUNDRAISER

Last night, I had the pleasure of attending the 21st annual Eat to the Beat fundraiser, presented by KitchenAid®, for the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation (CBCF) which featured 60 female chefs supporting people living with breast cancer.  Toronto’s Roy Thomson Hall became the mecca for urban foodies to experience the best Ontario’s culinary scene has to offer.20161101_192052 20161101_192441 20161101_192621 20161101_193335Eat to the Beat guests have the opportunity to enjoy specially prepared savoury and sweet dishes at 60 stations, along with wine, beer and a selection of non alcoholic beverages set up around Roy Thomson Hall’s outer lobby. “We are so grateful to our participating chefs, sponsors and supporters who have helped to make Eat to the Beat Toronto’s must-attend culinary event and fundraiser over the years,” says Cathy Park, co-chair, Eat to the Beat20161101_193704 20161101_193439 20161101_192116Started 21 years ago by sisters Lisa and Abby Slater, Eat to the Beat has raised more than $3.9 million since its inception. Funds raised at Eat to the Beat will support the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation – dedicated to funding relevant and innovative research, supporting and advocating for the breast cancer community, and providing credible, unbiased information to help empower those affected by breast cancer or at increased genetic risk of developing the disease.

“Just like Lisa and Abby, we’re inspired by the strength of breast cancer survivors and those who are affected by this disease,” says Karen Malone, VP, Research & Programs, Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation, “Thanks to fundraising events like Eat to the Beat, we can continue to offer emotional support and information to anyone affected by breast cancer.”20161101_194217I ran into a number of friends there, including the lovely ladies from Succulent Chocolates (yummmmm), pictured below…20161101_191956…and lots of other talented bakers, chefs and chocolatiers…..20161101_195939 20161101_19211120161101_195643There was also a number of wineries sampling their products and the fellas from Still Waters Distillery offering shots of their new Stalk & Barrel Canadian whisky (just launched in LCBO stores) – pictured below. Mmmmmm, very nice and smooth.20161101_195441 20161101_195453On behalf of all us hungry foodies attending last night, thank you to all the participating chefs and congrats to the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation (CBCF) for another successful soiree. For more information, visit www.cbcf.org

Big thank you to my dear PR colleague, Peter Ashworth (with me below) of Ashworth Associates Inc. for granting my media accreditation – my tummy really thanks you….burp!20161101_202703_001