Weekly Eater: Toronto food events for September 17 to 23

Monday, September 17

• 86’D With Ivy Knight: Eat, swap and buy preserved goods, and learn about home preserving from Sarah B. Hood, author of Sure We Can, who will be available to answer all your canning questions. The Drake, 1150 Queen St. W., 416-531-5042. Find out more »
• Piola’s Monday Night Mixer: Piola’s weekly aperitivo Italiano, with cocktail and beer specials and complimentary snacks. 1165 Queen St. W., 416-477-4652. Find out more »
• Preserving the Harvest: Chef Paula Bambrick focuses on different preserving methods, using mostly local ingredients to prepare sweet and savoury specialties like wild blueberry jam, cranberry-raspberry chutney, pickled wild mushrooms and rosemary dipping oil. Kingsway LCBO, 2946 Bloor St. W., 416-239-3065. Find out more »
• Rock the Danforth—Pub Crawl: Part of the third annual Toronto Beer Week, Troy Burtch of Great Lakes Brewing Co., along with Sam Corbeil of Sawdust City Brewing and Cass Enright, founder of The Bar Towel and Brewers Backyard, will lead a pub crawl along the Danforth, stopping at five of the neighbourhood’s favourite spots. Starts at 417 Restaurant and Lounge, 417 Danforth Ave. Find out more »
• Highland Park Whisky-Tasting Series: Join Highland Park ambassador Marc Laverdiere at The Caledonian for an exclusive whisky tasting. All proceeds go to support the Canadian National Trust for Scotland. The Caledonian, 856 College St., 416-547-9827. Find out more »

Tuesday, September 18

• Escape the City—Canoe and Beach Dining Adventure: Paddle to the island with the Culinary Adventure Company for a gourmet beach picnic. 416-565-1730. Find out more »
• Communal Dinner at Queen Margherita Pizza: Join Foodies on Foot for a family-style feast. Evening begins with a cocktail reception featuring $5 prosecco and negronis, followed by a communal four-course Neapolitan dinner for $35. 1402 Queen St. E., 416-826-1997. Find out more »
• Mario Batali’s Fall Classics: Learn to cook Batali’s seasonal Italian dishes at The Chef Upstairs. Menu includes tomato and grilled zucchini stacks, tomato sauce from scratch and wild mushroom risotto. 516 Mount Pleasant Rd., 416-544-9221. Find out more »
• From Wing to Tip: Chef Rodney Bowers presents new and exciting ways to prepare delicious, family-style chicken dishes using only the best local, organic chicken. He’ll also demonstrate how to make chicken stock and a quick fall soup—not to mention Shanghai chicken thigh lettuce tacos. Kingsway LCBO, 2946 Bloor St. W., 416-239-3065. Find out more »
• Food Fables From the Spice Routes: Join Smita and Sanjeev Chandra to explore how spices transformed the cuisines of the countries through which they were carried. Menu includes chicken satay skewers with peanut sambal dip (Thailand), cucumber salad (Indonesia), Malaysian chicken curry served with nasi goreng (Singapore) and stir-fried cabbage with curry leaves and coconut (India). LCBO Summerhill, 10 Scrivener Sq., 416-922-0403. Find out more »
• Canadian Beer News Dinner—Wellington Brewery at The Grove: An evening of U.K.-influenced beer and food, as the classic ales of Guelph’s Wellington Brewery are paired with chef Ben Heaton’s modern English cuisine. The Grove, 1214 Dundas St. W., 416-588-2299. Find out more »
• Mitolo Wine Tasting and Comedy Network Show: Mitolo Wines partner with Fynn’s of Temple Bar for a night of wine, food and laughs. Winemaker Andre Bondar comes from Australia to lead a tasting of his new Mitolo Jester shiraz and other wines, and complimentary appetizers will be served as well. Darren Frost of the Comedy Network provides the laughs. Fynn’s of Temple Bar, 489 King St. W., 416-586-1331. Find out more »

Wednesday, September 19

• A Chef’s Tour of Little Italy: Join the Culinary Adventure Company on a behind-the-scenes tour of Little Italy’s finest kitchens. 416-565-1730. Find out more »
• Sausage-making workshop: Impress your friends by throwing homemade sausages on the barbecue! Join chef and butcher Kyle Demming, co-owner of Sausage Partners, to learn the tricks of the trade. Sausage Partners, 1378 Queen St. E., 416-565-1730. Find out more »
• Parkdale Eats Cookoff: Chefs from Parts and Labour, Barque and Local Kitchen are challenged with creating a meal using only ingredients found in Parkdale—and on a $10 budget for a family of four. Gladstone Hotel, 1214 Queen St. W., 416-537-0275 ext. 309. Find out more »
• Blind wine tasting: Learn about wine without the influence of price or label at this blind tasting. Kingsway LCBO, 2946 Bloor St. W., 416-239-3065. Find out more »
• Brewers Plate—Brewer’s Master Class: Tutored beer and gastronomy appreciation seminar hosted by brew masters from Black Oak and Beau’s All Natural Brewing, who will be showcasing five unique craft beers. Chef Brook Kavanagh from La Palette will be preparing special appetizers with local ingredients to pair with the meal. La Palette, 492 Queen St. W., 416-929-4900. Find out more »

Thursday, September 20

• Fidel Gastro’s Pop-Up Sandwich Tour: Join the Culinary Adventure Company and the rebel without a kitchen as Fidel takes you on an insider’s tour of his favourite sandwich spots, finishing the tour with a feast of his own creations. Starting at 474 Spadina Ave., 416-565-1730. Find out more »
• Wine Tasting With Rosewood Winery—Bees, Mead and Cheese: Discover what beekeepers at Rosewood Estates are doing with their honey. Enjoy an informative honey sampling followed by an exclusive tasting of mead and cheese pairings. The class ends with a mead cocktail demonstration. Le Dolci, 1006 Dundas St. W., 416-262-3400. Find out more »
• We Live for the Funk: Bar Volo and friends present the second annual night of funk, taking place during Toronto beer week, featuring experimental beers from local breweries, including 25 limited edition barrel-aged sour ales from Ontario and Quebec. There will also be funky eats from chef Guy Rawlings, and of course, the funky tunes. BarVolo, 587 Yonge St., 416-928-0008. Find out more »
• Super Suppers: Learn innovative recipes to kickstart your weeknight meals. Marni Wasserman demonstrates how to prepare healthy, unique meals that are simple enough to make in an hour. Marni’s Kitchen, 26 Lauderdale Dr., 647-477-8131. Find out more »
• Ontario Wine Superstars Meet Their Match: Taste a selection of award-winning Ontario wines, matched with perfect food pairings. LCBO Summerhill, 10 Scrivener Sq., 416-922-0403. Find out more »
• Green Bites Workshop—Preserving the Harvest: Joel MacCharles leads a hands-on preserving session (with tasting), followed by an information session to arm participants with the knowledge they need to continue preserving the season’s harvest. Evergreen Brick Works, 550 Bayview Ave. Find out more »
• Women and Wellness Luncheon: Charlotte McConnell and Andrea Ross host a luncheon and special presentation by Dr. Mike Evans, producer of the health-education videos 23½ Hours and 90:10. Funds raised through the luncheon help support The Stop’s anti-hunger programs. Wychwood Barns, Barn 2, 601 Christie St., 416-652-7867 ext. 222. Find out more »
• St. Lawrence Market Executive Chef Series—Jason Rosso: Get to know Rosso, executive chef at The Boiler House, as he creates a five-course meal with wine pairings as part of this series featuring Toronto’s top chefs. St. Lawrence Market, 92 Front St. E., 416-392-7120. Find out more »

Friday, September 21

• Savour Stratford: A weekend-long food fest celebrating Ontario’s culinary heritage with big names chefs, food, wine and spirit tastings, demonstrations and more. Various venues around Stratford. Find out more »
• Designer Cupcakes: Students learn how to work with fondant and professional food dyes to create designer toppers like Louis Vuitton handbags and Tiffany’s jewellery. Le Dolci, 1006 Dundas St. W., 416-262-3400. Find out more »
• Bar Gilead Series: A Friday-evening series at Gilead that focuses on tapas and cocktails. 4 Gilead Pl., 647-288-0680. Find out more »
• World Café at the Harbourfront Centre: Returning for 2012. Enjoy a rotating variety of ethnic treats. 235 Queens Quay W. at the Harbourfront Centre, Lakeside Terrace. Find out more »

Saturday, September 22

• Harvest Party in the County: Take a road trip to Prince Edward County and spend the afternoon in the vineyard celebrating the grape harvest. The Culinary Adventure Company’s chef will serve breakfast on the bus, followed by a stop at Hinterland Wine Company for some bubbly before landing at Sandbanks Winery for a tour and tasting, live music and lunch from Fidel Gastro. 416-565-1730. Find out more »
• Good Food for All Festival: A fun-filled (and completely free) day of entertainment, kids’ activities, music and lots of delicious snacks. Highlights include a community cook-off, the Good Food Market and samples from The Stop’s kitchen. The backyard of the Davenport Perth Neighbourhood Centre, 1900 Davenport Rd. Find out more »
• Savour Stratford: A weekend-long food fest celebrating Ontario’s culinary heritage with big names chefs, food, wine and spirit tastings, demonstrations and more. Various venues around Stratford. Find out more »
• Whole-Hog Butchery: Chef and butcher Kyle Demming, co-owner of Sausage Partners, demonstrates the tips and tricks of whole-hog butchery. Learn to break down the beast from primal cuts to portions, chops and roasts. Sausage Partners, 1378 Queen St. E., 416-565-1730. Find out more »
• Table d’OZ: A range of Ossington and Dundas West eateries (Bohmer, The Lakeview, The Saint, The Grove, Hawker Bar and more) join forces for a street food fair at a 100-seat communal table, with proceeds going to The Stop. Lot at 109 Ossington Ave. Find out more »
• Stop Market Café: Enjoy a weekly meal sourced from ingredients found at the adjacent farmers’ market. Proceeds from sales at the café are reinvested in The Stop’s programs. 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. Green Barn, 601 Christie St. Find out more »
• Chocolate and Cheese Crawl: Why choose one when you can have both? ChowBella Culinary Experiences hosts a chocolate and cheese tour of King and Queen West’s food shops. Find out more »
• Hands in the Bowl: The Evergreen Brick Works invites children (ages four to seven) and their caregivers to roll up their sleeves and learn how to mix, grate, mash and then eat their delicious creations—using only their hands. Evergreen Brick Works, 550 Bayview Ave. Find out more »
• Discover Greektown on the Danforth Walking Tour: Explore this quickly changing neighbourhood with the Culinary Adventure Company. Sample some Greek mezethes, indulge in Greek wine-tasting and find the perfect addition to your kitchen while gourmet shopping. Culinary Adventure Co., 416-565-1730. Find out more »
• Introduction to Cupcake Decorating: A hands-on workshop teaching you how to dress up a cupcake. Le Dolci, 1006 Dundas St. W., 416-262-3400. Find out more »
• Roncesvalles Food Tour: Spend an afternoon in one of Toronto’s hippest neighbourhoods with a guided tour by Foodies on Foot, featuring visits to historical points of interest and tastings in shops. Find out more »
• Couples Love Brunch: Chef Matthew Kennedy helps you create a sophisticated brunch menu including organic granola served with Balkan-style yogurt and Norfolk County maple syrup, classic eggs florentine with Atlantic smoked salmon, fresh breakfast sausage patties and buttermilk biscuits with Ontario fruit preserves. Kingsway LCBO, 2946 Bloor St. W., 416-239-3065. Find out more »
• Supper Club—From Bosnia With Love: Ksenija Hotic, a life-long foodie and regular participant in the Toronto Underground Market, combines her love for cooking with her family’s heritage for this dinner of traditional Bosnian recipes. The Depanneur, 1033 College St., 416-828-1990. Find out more »
• Make and Take—Pear Preserves: Work as part of a team to make three different preserves—tomato-pear ketchup (chow chow), spiced wine pear preserves and pear butter—and take away samples to enjoy at home. St. Lawrence Market, 92 Front St. E., 416-392-7120. Find out more »
• World Café at the Harbourfront Centre: Returning for 2012. Enjoy a rotating variety of ethnic treats. 235 Queens Quay W. at the Harbourfront Centre, Lakeside Terrace. Find out more »
• Bellwoods Brewery Pop-up Shop: Their pop-up may be “a construction zone that [they’ve] added a register to,” but you won’t find their products for sale anywhere else. Four of their high gravity beers (a style of fermentation that makes a heady, dense brew) will be available by the bottle between 1 and 4 p.m.  Hard hats optional. 126 Ossington Ave., 416-535-4586. Find out more »

Sunday, September 23

• Lettuce Wrap Night at Chantecler: Chantecler is offering lettuce wraps with helpings of meats, assorted pickles and condiments for $19 per person until 1 a.m.—or the food runs out. Chantecler, 1320 Queen St. W., 416-628-3586. Find out more »
• Traditional Afternoon Tea Session: Enjoy a ladies’ afternoon tea session at Le Dolci. The two-hour tea service features an assortment of pastries like scones, tea sandwiches and cookies with fashion-inspired decorations. A wide selection of loose-leaf teas, from fruity to floral to peppery, will also be available for you to choose from. Le Dolci, 1006 Dundas St. W., 416-262-3400. Find out more »
• Baking and Buttercream: Learn how to bake and finish the perfect cake. Bonnie Gordon College, 868 Eglinton Ave. W., 416-440-0333. Find out more »
• Brewer’s Backyard—Beer From Toronto’s Backyard: Celebrate local brews with beer from two of Toronto’s newest and most talked-about breweries: Bellwoods Brewery and Indie Alehouse. They’ll not only bring their delicious beers, but also bites from their restaurants to complement the beverages. Evergreen Brick Works, 550 Bayview Ave., 416-863-8360. Find out more »
• World Café at the Harbourfront Centre: Returning for 2012. Enjoy a rotating variety of ethnic treats. 235 Queens Quay W. at the Harbourfront Centre, Lakeside Terrace. Find out more »
• Savour Stratford: A weekend-long food fest celebrating Ontario’s culinary heritage with big names chefs, food, wine and spirit tastings, demonstrations and more. Various venues around Stratford. Find out more »

Farmers’ Markets:

• Sorauren Farmers’ Market: Monday from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. in the field house at Sorauren Park. 50 Wabash Ave.
• East York Farmers’ Market: Tuesday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. 850 Coxwell Ave.
• Riverdale Farmers’ Market: Tuesday from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. 201 Winchester St. (in Riverdale Park)
• Ryerson University MyMarket: Tuesday from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Gould St., east of Yonge
• SickKids Hospital Farmers’ Market: Tuesday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. 555 University Ave.
• Trinity Bellwoods Farmers’ Market: Tuesday from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Northwest corner of Trinity Bellwoods Park near Dundas St. W. and Shaw St.
• 401 Richmond Farmers’ Market: Tuesday from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. 401 Richmond St. W.
• Nathan Phillips Square Farmers’ Market: Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. 100 Queen St. W.
• Queens Quay Terminal Farmers’ Market: Wednesday from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. 207 Queens Quay W.
• Bloor-Borden Farmers’ Market: Wednesday from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Green P Lot, Lippincott St. and Bloor St. W.
  
• Dufferin Grove Farmers’ Market: Thursday from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. 873 Dufferin St. (in Dufferin Grove Park)
• East Lynn Farmers’ Market: Thursday from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. 1949 Danforth Ave.
• Metro Hall Farmers’ Market: Thursday from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. David Pecaut Square, 55 John St.
• North York Civic Centre Farmers’ Market: Thursday from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Mel Lastman Square, 5100 Yonge St.
• Toronto Botanical Gardens Organic Farmers’ Market: Thursday from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. 777 Lawrence Ave. E.
• St. Lawrence North Farmers’ Market: Saturday from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. 92 Front St. E.
• Evergreen Brick Works Farmers’ Market: Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. 550 Bayview Ave.
• The Stop Farmers’ Market: Saturday from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. Wychwood Barns, 601 Christie St.
• Withrow Park Farmers’ Market: Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. 725 Logan Ave. (in Withrow Park)
• Junction Farmers’ Market: Saturday from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. Green P Lot, 385 Pacific Ave.
• Leslieville Farmers’ Market: Sunday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Jonathan Ashbridge Park, 20 Woodward Ave.
• Liberty Village Farmers’ Market: Sunday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Green P Lot, Hanna Ave. and East Liberty St.