Photo courtesy of Gourmet Food & Wine Expo
Wine and food lovers should put Toronto on their travel radar this fall. The Gourmet Food & Wine Expo, Canada’s biggest celebration of wine and food, is set to take over the Metro Toronto Convention Centre in the heart of downtown from November 15 to 18, 2012.
The annual event brings together more than 300 exhibitors from local restaurants as well as wineries from around the world, to smell, taste and enjoy the best of food and wine. The Gourmet Food & Wine Expo is now in its 18th year, and it continues to grow in both scope and popularity. Last year, more than 40,000 attendees visited during the festival weekend. They sampled more than 1,500 different wines, beers and spirits from famous wine regions such as Australia, California and France, discovered wines from the former Soviet state of Georgia, and tasted a wide array of amazing wines and spirits grown right here in Ontario.
Photo courtesy of Gourmet Food & Wine Expo
While the Gourmet Food & Wine Expo is the perfect opportunity to learn about and compare different grapes and wine regions around the world, it also features plenty for those who love to eat. Attendees will find a wide array of delicious bites, from oysters served by Toronto’s best shuckers to some of the city’s most authentic Mexican delights. And any great wine party needs cheese, which the Food & Wine Expo showcases in spades. Celebrity chefs from the Food Network will be on hand, too. Last year featured Chuck Hughes acting as show MC, with Thirsty Traveler Kevin Brauch walking guests through various wine lessons as part of the expo’s Tutored Tastings series.
Photo courtesy of Gourmet Food & Wine Expo
The popularity of this event means that tickets sell fast. Buy tickets online through the show website in advance to ensure you’re able to join the fun. Those who want to get a head start on the tasting and avoid the biggest crowds can buy tickets for the November 15 VIP evening.
For an added indulgence, consider buying tickets to the Gourmet Gala, which takes place on the Saturday night of the expo. Gala guests will enjoy a multi-course meal, with dishes paired with a variety of award-winning wines.
