Brewers Plate - RockthePlate Food, Beer, Fun

Me and my foodie girls had the opportunity to attend the The Brewers Plate Rock the Plate last week.  It is a celebration of locally curated food and locally brewed beer. It's an indulgent evening featuring unlimited sampling of collaborations between renowned Toronto restaurants and Ontario brewers. Now in its 10th year, this charitable event is a one-of-a-kind tasting experience wrapped in a rock and roll theme! They raised over $8000 at this event that will be donated to War Child Canada.

The Participating Restaurants included:

· Trattoria Nervosa
· Le Dolci Toronto
· Heirloom Toronto
· Ted’s World Famous BBQ
· Tundra Restaurant & Bar
· Globe Bistro
· Cheese Boutique
· Mangia & Bevi
· Beaus All Natural Brewing
· ChocoSol

Brewers
· Old Tomorrow Beer
· The Collingwood Brewery
· All or Nothing Brewhouse
· Station Cold Brew Coffee Co.
· Henderson Brewing Co.
· Walter Craft Caesar
· Beaus All Natural Brewing
· Sawdust City Brewing Co.
· Great Lakes Brewery
· Muskoka Brewery
· MacKinnon Brothers Brewing
· Steam Whistle Brewing

I am not into Beer festivals but this event was a lot of fun.  It was held at the magnificent Corus Quay.  A beautifully designed space with a slide that goes from the 1st to 2nd floor.  It's set right in front of the Lake and has an amazing view, although it was rainy and foggy on the night we attended.

It's nicely laid out with the Beer paired with the food.  

They had special guest DJ Ian D'Sa from Billy Talent spinning lot's of Rock Tunes from the 70's to current tunes.  I had a flashback to my 80's life with all the Rock n' Roll T-Shirts for the Rock Themed event.  I saw many Led Zeppelin and Rolling Stones T-Shirts and some Nirvana and Bowie and many others.  In the 80's I wasn't a T-Shirt girl so I had to pick up a shirt just for the event so I went classic with Led Zeppelin and I wasn't alone.  My friend Denise went with the Rolling Stones and my friend Natalie went with Michael Bolton and got a good chuckle from some people.

BBQ pitmaster Ted Reader was there with one huge BBQ set up outside of the building cooking up some tender porkloin.  Most of the food was meat, from Pork to Bison sliders and veal meatballs.  There was also lots of goat cheese desserts and cheese from the Cheese Boutique.  Not the best for vegetarian lactose intolerant and gluten free people though.  But I enjoyed it especially the Cheesecake in a Can from Heirloom.

Their was a silent auction of great music industry stuff and hockey jerseys etc.  The other thing that I really loved was the artist live painting a guitar that was sold at the live auction at the end of the night.  It was fantastic.

It was a fun night and the best part was hanging out with lots of friends and it was all for a good cause and will help lots of kids dealing with the effects of War.  I wish there was no need for this charity but it's nice to have a bit of fun and help kids that deserve to have fun and not live through war.

For more information:

Twitter @BrewersPlateTO

WarChild Canada :   http://warchild.ca/

Brewers Plate: http://brewersplatetoronto.org/

Corus Quay - 25 Dockside Dr.

Syria A Living History at the Aga Khan Musuem

World Premiere of Syria: A Living History
October 15, 2016–February 26, 2017

I have wanted to visit the Aga Khan Museum for a long time. It's been open for 2 years now and it's an incredible structure with nothing like it in North America.  In a area of Toronto with mostly office and industry this Museum really stand out.  I was lucky to be able to visit the Museum this week for a tour of the Syria: A Living History Exhibit and also a look through the beautiful gift shop and a dinner at Chef Mark McEwen's curated restaurant Diwan where we dined on a flavourful array of Syrian dishes.   

Some of the dishes sampled were:

Lamb meatballs braised with sour cherry sauce, Fattoush salad, RedLentil soup, Pickled turnips and labneh, "Tarator" salmon crusted in walnuts and topped with pomegranate seeds, Lahana salad with cabbage and beets and a vegetarian filled phyllo pastry.

The exhibition brings together over 5,000 years of art highlighting the contributions that the diverse cultures within Syria — Mesopotamian, Greek, Roman, Byzantine, Persian, Ottoman, and Arab — have made to world heritage. A collaboration of museums and private collections in Europe, North America, and the Middle East with 48 artifacts displayed.

 Exhibition highlights include:

·       *   An eye idol from Tell Brak, Syria, carved around 3,200 BCE;

·       *   A stele with a depiction of a prayer from Tell Halaf, Syria, (10th–9th centuries BCE), still bearing the   marks of a Second World War bombing raid in Berlin, Germany;

·       *  Contemporary works by Elias Zayat (b. 1935) and Fateh Moudarres (1922–99) that merge personal   experiences with reflections on modern-day Syria.

Lion’s Head

Historic Syria, 9th–8th centuries BCE

Ivory, carved

With permission of the Royal Ontario Museum © ROM.

Additional programming highlights include:

·       An illuminating symposium on Syria’s art and architecture (October 29, October 30)

     Co-organized with Professor Nasser Rabbat, Aga Khan Program for Islamic Architecture, MIT

·       Lectures with leading scholars (November 10, November 13) Featuring Dr. Ross Burns, historian and author of Monuments of Syria and Damascus – A History, and Jens Hanssen, Professor of Arab Civilization, University of Toronto

·       Showcase performances with Syrian artists (October 29, November 26, November 27, December 11)
With artists such as vocalist Lubana Al Quntar (Syria’s first opera singer), composer Kinan Azmeh, and visual artist Kevork Mourad

Lion’s Head

Historic Syria, 9th–8th centuries BCE

Ivory, carved

With permission of the Royal Ontario Museum © ROM.

   

       Backgammon/Chess Box

    Syria, 19th century

Wood, wood veneers, bone, and mother-of-pearl; inlaid

With permission of the Royal Ontario Museum © ROM.

The Aga Khan Museum in Toronto, Canada, has been established and developed by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture (AKTC), which is an agency of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN). The Museum’s mission is to foster a greater understanding and appreciation of the contribution that Muslim civilizations have made to world heritage while often reflecting, through both its permanent and temporary exhibitions, how cultures connect with one another. Designed by architect Fumihiko Maki, the Museum shares a 6.8-hectare site with the Ismaili Centre, Toronto, which was designed by architect Charles Correa. The surrounding park was designed by landscape architect Vladimir Djurovic.

HOURS:

Monday: Closed

(except holiday Mondays)

Tuesday: 10 am–6 pm

Wednesday: 10 am–8 pm

Thursday–Sunday: 10 am–6 pm

COST:

General Admission*

Friends: Free

Adults: $20

Seniors (65+): $15

Students:* $12

Children & Youth (6–13): $10

Family Package:* $50

LOCATION:

The Aga Khan Museum is located at

77 Wynford Drive, close to Don Mills

Road and Eglinton Avenue East in

Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Please visit

agakhanmuseum.org for directions,

parking information, and TTC routes.

General Information:

416.646.4677

IDS2016 New ideas in design

Want to get the biggest BANG for your buck in Design?  

I recently attended the Opening Night Party and Media Preview at the INTERIOR DESIGN SHOW IDS2016 in Toronto to see what's new in Home Design. I have been wanting to go to IDS for the past few years but it always seemed to happen when I had other things going on.  So I was really happy that I could attend this year, although I did end up having work conflicts and was only able to go to the Opening Night Party but I was determined to see everything at the show that night.  The alcohol and assorted food bites were flowing but I ventured throughout the Metro Convention Centre to look at all of the Design Displays.  The photos probably don't do the design justice but it will give you a bit of an idea of a few of the things I checked out including this Lego House.  I wonder if Lego could be the homeless solution of the future?  Maybe I should build myself a Lego House on a Lake or something... HMMM..  

 One of my favourite Canadian stores Urban Barn was there with a great booth of all the things I would love to buy in the spring.  I bought a lot of my furniture from them.

I am not sure exactly what this oval piece is meant for but I am guessing it's a man cave thing of possible a music player?  There wasn't anyone there to ask at the time.

 

I really like Black Classic but with a slight edge so this booth of black and white really caught my eye.  Solid pieces that would probably stand the test of time. I love all of these pieces.

 

 Oh Look it's fashion Santa on the wall of this huge living room booth.  Looks cozy.  I wonder how long these people sat there.  They look very comfy.

A trend that I saw seemed to be Wood everything including these sliding doors and this very interesting Modern Table.

In one of the Kitchen's was Chef Devan Rajkumar from OMAW whipping up some delicious Shrimp and Grits.  I am sure he doesn't get to cook in a kitchen that clean and roomy everyday.  I would love to have a kitchen with a fridge that large and a visit by Chef Devan wouldn't hurt too.

I thought this Fridge was interesting.  You know how you lose things at the back of your fridge?  This fridge is shallow and you can see everything in it very easily.  Might not be great for Big Birthday Cakes though.

 I also thought this bowl was interesting functional design.  It's a bowl that is also a strainer and it has a handle that you can use if you need to pout out the contents.

The one thing I have learned over the past few years of shopping for a new space is that you need to have function and beauty together for a piece that you will want to keep for a long time.  Design without function is just art but create a piece that is beautiful and functional then you have Great DESIGN.  I saw a lot of great design at IDS2016.  Lot's of solid wood, lot's of granite and other similar  types of counter tops, interesting finishes in wood and laminate flooring and modern and high tech kitchens and bathrooms.

I was hoping to write this post in time for you to still visit the show but unfortunately you will have to wait until next year to go to the show but you will see some of these designs on local daytime TV Shows and in retail stores soon where you can purchase some of these beautiful things.

For more information about the show and some of the Vendors that were in attendance check out :
http://www.interiordesignshow.com/

#IDS2016  Follow more photos from the show on Twitter and Instagram.

Art - Food - Charity Collide to save kids in Cambodia

ART - FOOD - CHARITY Collide to save KIDS

I love Art, I love food and I love it when these 2 things can come together to do something good in the World.  A local Toronto Chef and some great artists come together for a great charity event that will help kids in Cambodia have a chance to get the help they need and take them away from abuse and give them a chance at having their childhoods back.  

This is the kind of event I love to tell you about and hope that you can participate in some way.
If you are an Art Lover and a Foodie and fancy yourself a Philanthropist too then you can pick up some beautiful art and have a great dinner and have no guilt about it because your money spent will help so many kids that wouldn't have a chance at a good life without your help.  
It's a no brainer I think.

Toronto's rogue chef Matt Blondin and soon to be chef at Food Dudes collaboration JUNK a Food Dudes collaboration, is diving into charity work by auctioning off his services in support of the event Buy Art Not Kids.www.buyartnotkids.com

The art auction is offering a lot called The Perfect storm that is a private and exclusive dinner for six by Blondin in an artists residence. 

Buy Art Not Kids on April 4, 2014 BANK works to end child sex trafficking by raising funds with original artwork and one of a kind culinary experience with Matt Blondin On April 4, 2014, Buy Art Not Kids (BANK) returns for its annual fundraising event to raise awareness and funds for Ratanak International. Ratanak is an international organization working to bring an end to child sex trafficking. BANK features 31 acclaimed Canadian artists and 14 senior students from Havergal College, where the event is held. On April 4, the BANK Art Auction consists of live music, performance art, raffle prizes, sumptuous food, wine, a silent auction and live auction facilitated by auctioneer Stephen Ranger, including works by notable artists like Christopher Boffoli, Michael Levin, Julie Himel,Sheila Kernan and Marjolyn van der Hart. Anne-Marie Mediwake, cohost of CBC News Toronto, is hosting this year’s fundraiser. “Buy Art Not Kids is a great way to reach and rescue young girls and boys who might live half way around the world, but desperately need our help. This fundraiser encourages you to support Canadian artistic talent and in turn you can also help save the lives of youth who are at risk of child sex trafficking. Support and change a life. It really is that simple,” says Mediwake. Also featured in this year’s auction is Lot # 19, The Perfect Storm. For The Perfect Storm, much loved Toronto chef Matt Blondin has paired with BANK artist Cesan D’Ornellas Levine to create a once in a lifetime dining experience combining food, wine and art. The winning bidder receives a catered dinner created by Matt Blondin for 6 people. The dinner party will be hosted in the world renowned home/studio of artist Cesan D’Ornellas Levine, who will also provide the winner with a painting commission valued at $1,000. The total value of Lot # 19 is $5,000. Lot #21, Christopher Boffoli, Peanut Butter Cup Repair Technician, 2011, Lambda C-print At its inaugural event in 2013, BANK raised $50,000. This year’s event aims to exceed that. BANK is hosting a sneak peek of artwork being featured at the April 4 fundraiser in the CBC’s Context Studio (205 Wellington St. W.) from March 5-March 28, 2014. About BANK Buy Art Not Kids (BANK) is an art auction founded in 2011 by Rachelle and Stephen Kearns. As a mother of two she is highly motivated to take the compassion she feels and create tangible change. BANK showcases top Canadian artists and raises funds and awareness while shedding light on the modern face of child slavery and exploitation.  All funds raised benefit Ratanak International, a Canadian charitable organization created in 1992 by founder Brian McConaghy, with the goal of raising awareness in support of the Cambodian people,  by rescuing exploited children and providing them with a safe haven, medical aid and emotional, mental and spiritual healing.