BRUUUUUNCH Fest

Growing up, I was never that much into breakfast foods. I hated going out for breakfast because it would mean I wouldn't be able to eat my favourite AM item; cereal. Seriously. Cereal is my favourite food (still is). 

It wasn't until I was introduced to the poached egg and brunch that I started to understand what all the fuss was about.  

This year, for the first time, but hopefully not that last, Cravings Food Co. introduced Toronto to 'Brunch Fest' in partnership with Bud Light Radler.

I love how this company organizes their events. I went to Taco Fest last year and it was the same deal. You have to purchase tickets ($10-15) for timed entry to the event, but once in, you can stay as long as you like. I feel like this really helps with crowd control and any ridiculous lines that you might encounter at free events, I'm looking at you Mac n' Cheese Fest.

They also provide a menu printout that you can take around with you, or if you do happen to find yourself in a line so long, it's bananas, you at least know what the heck you are waiting for. For my food partner in crime, it helps us prepare a plan of action. You can't go into these events without some sort of strategy!

We tried the Coconut Pancakes with Bud Light Radler Syrup and Crab Cakes with Radler infused Hollandaise sauce from Hollandaise Diner.

Belgian Waffles from The Good Son Restaurant and Will you Berry Me? and Chocolate Banana Milkshake cereals from Sil013.

A Fully Loaded Waffle and Waffle Bacon where the bacon is INSIDE the waffle from Starving Artist.

The Mango Lassi from Kathi Roll Express and my most favourite item of the day, The Spicy Chicken Sandwich also from the Starving Artist.

It's a great party atmosphere carried throughout the event over the whole weekend with live music and outdoor lawn games and a complimentary Bud Light Radler.

The food was good, but probably better when actually served in a restaurant, it was very waffle heavy and not a ton of variety between one vendor and the next. That said, I do love brunch and you can probably find me here again next year.

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Cider *hiccup* Glorious Cider *hiccup* Link Up

This month's travel link up is all about the wonderful world of food and eating. I am certainly not one to shy away from a tasty treat or be scared off by something that looks like it might bite back. One of my favourite bits about travelling is trying different foods of a region and experiencing a culture through its culinary delights. And I'm not ashamed to say that this has included a tipple or two.

When I discovered Toronto was again hosting a one day cider festival I knew where I'd find myself that Saturday evening. With tickets purchased for the evening session I was more than ready to try some premium cider, which seems to be finally seeing its day in Ontario (said thankfully, by this non-beer drinking girl).

The regular tickets cost $30 and with it you receive a commemorative sampling mug, 4 drink tokens plus access to live entertainment, contests, games and some sweet food trucks.

18 cider vendors and over 40 ciders available for sampling, I wish I could say I tried them all.

A few of the cider's I had tried before, but there were a lot there that I'd been eyeing up for a while and haven't got around to trying yet or hadn't even heard of because they were a brand, spanking new start up.

Along with the drinking of cider I do enjoy food pairing. Although there were limited food choices (but really, we weren't there for the food) the food trucks present were good ones. We went with Moustache Burger and got 'The Works' Poutine. The fries themselves were SO GOOD. Perfect carb loaded meal to go along with an evening of drinking sampling ciders.

The location was at Yonge and Dundas Square, which I wasn't too sure of at first, but aside from a lack of seating (more Muskoka chairs!) it was a great location. We forgot we were right downtown Toronto surrounded by skyscrapers, concrete and general urban chaos.

The whole place had a great atmosphere, lively and relaxed; like a great big downtown patio, with Muskoka chairs, giant Connect Four, party sized Jenga, flair bartending and all.

The Toronto Cider Festival was a fun night out in Toronto and super pleased my favourite British drink is coming into popularity here and I have more than just a can of Strongbow to choose from.

At the beginning of each month, I like to take part in the monthly travel link up hosted on the incredible blogs by Angie, Jessi, Emma,  and this month's special host Tanja. You can join in too by leaving a comment below, checking out other posts on the link up, or adding your own post to the widget now until September 7th.

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Mac and Cheese Fest 2016

As soon as I walked away from Mac n' Cheese Fest 2015 with a belly full of cheesy goodness I was already planning my trip for the following year. The happy day arrived back in June and I called up a foodie friend to join me. 

After last years widely criticized location of Liberty Village being much too small (organizers greatly underestimated Canadians' love of mac and cheese) the event this year was moved to Ontario Place, the multi use site and location of a now defunct IMAX cinesphere. In my opinion, it was the best decision. We went early in the day and it was super hot, but there were lots of shady areas and things were comfortably spread out.

Now on to the food. There were some clear winners in my mind, but overall I didn't find the mac n' cheese selection and options to be all that good. Now that could be a result of poor choosing on my part, but really everything I had was just okay. I was also sad not to find the mac n' cheese sushi there, my favourite thing from last year. 

This year my favourite dish of the day was the Mac Smash from Junked. They were at last years event, but the line up was just too long to bother with, this year I was determined to get me some! And honestly this mac n' cheese concoction served in a Doritos bag with lettuce and sour cream was like a mac and cheese taco and I wasn't mad at it. 

I almost went back for seconds.

This Pancetta mac n' cheese was a very close second. My mouth is watering just thinking of it.

This cake is not mac n' cheese related but delicious nonetheless. Can't go wrong with rainbow cake.

If you plan to attend this event next year, I highly recommend it and also suggest getting there early. It's free and un-ticketed, but the security check entering the park slowed things down and we noticed a crazy long line (fast moving but still not fun to do when standing in the hot sun).

Another summer food fest. I can't get enough of them. What's your favourite thing to do in the summertime?

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Mac n' Cheese Festival 2015 and a Canadian Cultural Lesson

Macaroni and cheese or as it's actually known in Canada, Kraft Dinner (KD for short) is Canada's national dish. Not poutine from Quebec, but a cheesy, quick pasta that has been 'manufactured and formulated by scientists' in Illinois. It is so ingrained in Canadian iconography that it makes appearances in art exhibitions by Douglas Coupland and the talking part of Barenaked Ladies song "If I had a Million Dollars" (which every Canadian can and has sung at some point in their life).

We, Canadians, consume an average of 3.2 boxes of the florescent orange, cheese food, pasta each year--55% more than Americans--purchasing 1.7 million out of the 7 million boxes sold globally each week. (Nerd alert: Interesting article about KD in The Walrus, "Manufacturing Taste" by Sasha Chapman)

The simple assemblage of elbow macaroni, processed cheese powder, and milk has changed little since its inception in 1937, but there have been additions to up the KD market such as white cheddar, KD Smart (hidden veg in the noodles), whole wheat pasta, to name a few items. 

I always looked forward to a care package from home which would inevitably include a couple boxes of Original KD which I would ration and only break into in dire financial weeks or low 'peoplesick' days.

All this to say, Toronto has finally hosted its very first Mac N' Cheese Festival. Everyone and their mother was buzzing about this three day event taking place in Liberty Market Building. It was free entry, but tickets had to be purchased for procuring any food items; 8 tickets for $10, 20 tickets for $20.

Our long history and intimate knowledge of the makeup of this traditional, childhood, comfort food has allowed some very talented chefs the ability to get creative, turning this simple meal into a dish worthy of an entire festival.

I attended on the Sunday at 12 and although we had to wait in line for an hour to get tickets, I hear the queues were so much worse the previous days.

Now for the food. First we tried the Lobster and Spinach Mac n' Cheese. Good one to start off with.

Next was a 5 Cheese and Herb Crusted Mac n' Cheese

Not tried but much desired (the line was just too long), this interesting mac n' cheese served in a Doritos bag. Junked Food were the winners of the "Most Unique". Clearly. 

This Hawaiian Salad Mac n' Cheese was served cold and could come with a side of pulled pork. I went for the sample size in order to fit more other mac n' cheeses in my belly.

This "sushi" man n' cheese from Cardinal Rule was hands down my fav of the day. Just look at that beauty. Cardinal Rule informed me via instagram that they have a similar item on offer at their restaurant.

Finally, time for dessert, insert this S'mores Mac n' Cheese (mascarpone, chocolate, elbow mac, marshmallow and graham crackers). Really good.

Just read the sign. Yeah, we went there.

I made my mac n' cheese ice cream into a sammy. Obviously.
I can't quite tell you what it tasted like as side from yummy and the uncooked pasta throughout was an interesting touch.

Hopefully, next year a new, bigger venue is selected cause I'm definitely going back for more. Until then, I'll just have to make do with the blue box.

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