Gourmet Food & Wine Expo in Toronto



 

Finally, the time has come for my favourite event of the year! The Gourmet Food & Wine Expo is an annual event that attracts a unique crowd of food and wine enthusiasts every year in Toronto. It offers an interactive and educational approach to the field of gastronomy. My favourite part of the experience is sampling award winning wines by the glass and being able to interact with the ambassadors at each booth. Last year there were several Canadian wineries as well as international brands and even port makers from Porto in Portugal, which I happen to be a huge fan of.

 

The atmosphere is very busy and the experience is very hands on, so come prepared.

Here are some tips if this is your first time attending the expo:

 

1. Bring a pen so you can write down the wines you enjoyed or restaurants you sampled. You may think you will remember everything, but after a few glasses of wine...you won't.

 

2. If you work in the industry, it is a great networking event as well so bring business cards.

 

3. Eat before you come. The samples are, well, samples. And you will be able to handle more drinks on a full stomach.

 

4. Look at the list of exhibitors before you go. Once you have established the must-visit booths, it will be easier to navigate across the crowded show floor.

 

5. Get out of your comfort zone. Don't go for the usual Riesling that you buy every weekend. Instead, try a vintage blend that you've never had before (or never purchased because of the price). If you had ever contemplated the risks of buying a $80 bottle of wine, worried that you won't enjoy the taste, this is the time to try that $3 sample and make a note of what you liked and disliked.

 

5. Finally, bring FRIENDS! It is always more fun in a group- make sure you coordinate a meeting point if you split up. Last year my phone battery died from taking too many pictures and I spent a long time trying to find my group in the end.



Food, Art, Wine and Friends





Live Chef Demo



 



Wine Tastings



Niagara and International Wineries





Maritime Lobster

 

 

For more information and tickets click HERE.

 

I will be attending the event, so if you would like to see pictures and updates, follow me on Twitter : @katiakhaddadine