Over 300 food enthusiasts came together to enjoy the inaugural Toronto Catering Showcase presented by EventSource.ca on October 16, 2016. The grand event took place at the Bram & Bluma Appel Salon, where guests got to indulge in culinary delights prepared by 12 of Toronto’s most notable catering companies.




The Toronto Catering Showcase allowed guests to enjoy an afternoon of pure epicurean indulgence (pictures below). The event was $65 all-in, and provided all-inclusive access to culinary masterpieces, wines and craft beers from the top caterers in the Toronto area. Besides the delicious dishes, the event also featured local wines by the renowned Peller Estates, and a wide selection of craft beer provided by Brew Box Co.

Overall, the event was very well organized, and all 12 caterers were spaced out accordingly. There was a lot of room to walk around, and plenty of seating available. The event was also the perfect opportunity to scope out potential caterers for an upcoming event or wedding. However, it wasn't limited to those looking for event planning, Toronto Catering Showcase was fun for couples, families, and everyday culinary connoisseurs.

Please enjoy the food pictures from this year's Toronto Catering Showcase 2016 below. For more pictures of the fun, please check out the hashtag #TCS2016 on Instagram and Twitter.

10tation Event Catering

Social Media: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Website

East Coast Duo - seared scallop, poached lobster, celeriac puree, granny smith apple, bisque, celery leaves, and kale

Guests enjoyed live music from Wellington Music


Overall, the event was successfully put together, and I had a lot of fun.

I had the pleasure of attending Taste Matters earlier last month, a charity event hosted by Eva's Initiatives for Homeless Youth. The charitable organization is an award-winning organization that aims to help young people (16-24) who are homeless, living in shelters, “couch-surfing”, or housing insecure. Eva's also offers family and individual counseling to at-risk and homeless youth and their families. I think it's amazing that there is an outlet out there that works collaboratively with homeless and at-risk youth to help them reach their potential to lead productive.






 Eva’s Place opened their doors in 1994, and has since expanded from one to three shelters - Eva's Place, Eva’s Satellite and Eva’s Phoenix. All three shelters offer several different programs and services for homeless and at-risk youths. Since they started, they have helped approximately over 19,000 youth from the Greater Toronto Area and across Canada. It's a safe haven where youths are provided a supportive and safe environment as they try to better their lives.




The Mission: "The mission of Eva’s Initiatives is to work collaboratively with homeless and at-risk youth to help them reach their potential to lead productive, self-sufficient and healthy lives by providing safe shelter and a range of services, and to create long term solutions for homeless youth by developing and implementing proactive and progressive services." (source)




The grand-scale event was held in The Liberty Grand in downtown Toronto. There were over 20 food and beverage hosts, including a few tables featuring baked goods from the youth of Eva’s. It was an amazingly fun event filled with lots of delicious food, and it was all in the name of a good cause. The money raised from the event went to helping homeless youth receive critical job and life skills training and education, shelter, and housing for better futures.

Eva’s Taste Matters was a feast that brought together an array of Toronto’s finest food and beverage in support of homeless and at-risk youth. This year's event had 466 attendees and over $174,000 was raised for the charity. It was record breaking!!

2016 Food and Beverage Hosts include: Aria Ristorante, Beau’s All Natural Brewing Company, Brickworks Ciderhouse, The Chef Upstairs, Corby Spirit and Wine Limited, Cibo Wine Bar, DAVIDsTEA, De La Mer and Oysters XO, Eva’s youth residents, Fonda Lola Mexican Bistro, Gargoyle, Holy Cannoli Shells and Cream, Kacaba Vineyards and Winery, Kennedy Catering, Mill Street Brewery, North 44 Catering, Olive Oil Boutique, R&D Restaurant, Rancho Relaxo, Redstone/Tawse Winery, Revitasize, Side Launch Brewing Company, Steam Whistle Brewery, and Zelcovia Cookies/cookiedelivery.ca.

Please enjoy all the photos from the Taste Matters - Eva's Initiatives for Homeless Youth event below!

** All three recipes are created by Joy McCarthy (@joyoushealth) **

Berry Green Bites

Ingredients:

1 cup raw cashews

½ cup dried blueberries

½ cup shredded unsweetened dried coconut

6 soft medjool dates, pitted

2 scoops greens+ mixed berry

Juice from 1 lemon

Zest from 1 lemon

Directions:

Combine all ingredients into a food processor. Blend until combined. Roll into 1 inch balls.

Refrigerate for up to a week or freeze for one month.

Green Goodness Smoothie Bowl

Ingredients:

1 cup kale

1 cup chopped mango (reserve some for smoothie bowl topping)

1 tbsp chia seeds

½ avocado

1 scoop vegan greens+ O natural acai mango

1 scoop fermented vegan proteins+, vanilla

1 cup coconut milk

Garnish (Optional):

Handful blueberries and sliced strawberries

Chopped macadamia nuts

Coconut flakes

Chopped mango

Directions:

Toss all ingredients into a blender. Blitz until creamy. Pour into a bowl and top with remaining ingredients.

Hello Sunshine Smoothie

Ingredients:

1 orange, peeled

1 kiwi, peeled

1 cup pineapple, cubed

½ a lemon, peeled

1 banana

Handful spinach

1 scoop greens+ original plain

1 cup coconut water (or more if desired)

Directions:

Toss all ingredients into a blender. Blitz until creamy.

Social Media:

Facebook || Instagram || Twitter  || Website

Mark October 26, 2016 at 8:30 pm down on your calendar as Food for Action 2016 - Night Cap will be happening . The Food for Action 2016 - Night Cap event is an indulgent evening showcasing dishes from some of Toronto's talented chefs. The proceeds from Food for Action 2016 support Action Against Hunger’s programs in tackling global hunger.

Food for Action 2016 will be taking place at the George Brown Culinary School on Wednesday, October 26, 2016. The event commences with a three-course meal for a table of eight donors (one chef per table). The event features 10 chefs from some of Toronto’s best restaurants who will each be preparing a special three-course meal for a table of eight donors (in other words, one chef per table).

Following dinner, guests will indulge in the Nightcap after-party, which will run from 8:30 pm until midnight, and feature unlimited nibbles, drinks, and fun in support of Action Against Hunger’s fight to end hunger.

Event: Food for Action 2016 - Night Cap

Date: Wednesday, October 26, 2016
Location: George Brown College - Hospitality and Tourism Campus at 300 Adelaide Street East (Atrium), Toronto, ON M5A 1N1
Time: 8:30 pm
Ticket Price: $49.99
Purchase Tickets: Food for Action by Action Against Hunger (event brite)

Some of the amazing restaurants that will be serving their delicious food at the upcoming after-party:

Levetto
Sublime Catering
Tabule
Penny Candy Jam
Revel Food
Gushi

Action Against Hunger was founded in 1979, Action Against Hunger (ACF) is a leading international humanitarian organization committed to ending world hunger, with a special focus on children under five. Our programs save lives and provide communities with long-term solutions to hunger and its underlying causes. We work in 46 countries and supported approximately 14.9 million people in 2015.