Get your foodie self to the Delicious Food Show this week.

ATTENTION ALL FOODIES!!!!    You want to go to the Better Living Centre this weekend!            I'm excited to see Martha Stewart attend the show.  She was one of my early inspirations for converting things from good to great.            I will be there to sample all the great food and see some of my favourite Celebrity Chefs. The 2013 Delicious Food Show (DFS13) brings Canada’s food community together under one roof this coming Friday, October 25th to Sunday, October 27th. From coast-to-coast, leaders of the nation’s culinary landscape will be showcased, sipped, and sampled. Even the most discerning gourmands won’t be able to argue with these numbers… let’s have a look: Over 80 gourmet food products and services. 38 mouth-watering restaurants and bakeries. 15 innovative kitchen gadget and appliance brands. 25 hands-on workshops and classroom lessons. 8 book signings. 7 alcohol offerings. 6 Canadian celebrity chefs.4 taco wizards. 3 on-stage culinary battles. 2 expert sugar stars. 1 massive Mexican fiesta and, of course, the Queen of lifestyle living.     MUST-SEE FEATURES Food Trucks for Sinai  Food trucks have taken over Toronto! Five of the city’s top mobile kitchens roll their way onto the show floor to serve up a tasty menu amidst hundreds of exhibitors and raise funds for an incredible cause. You’ll find a variety of dishes for $10 from Buster’s Sea Cove(famous lobster rolls), the health conscious Gourmet Bitches, fiery BritsFeisty Jack, Latin sensation Gourmet Gringos (fabulous fish tacos), and the sandwich dictator himself Fidel Gastro. A portion of the Food Trucks for Sinai sales will be donated to Mount Sinai Hospital, in support of support life-saving work in care and research in women’s cancers.  View the Vibe Visit eight of the city's most popular restaurants in the interactive View the Vibe Food + Drink Lounge. Each is offering bites of utter bliss, from burger barons Holy Chuck Burgers to Darwin Bistro Bar's finessed French-influenced fare, to Eastern European edibles fromCzehoski. The spacious View the Vibe Food + Drink Lounge is replete with an eye-catching video wall showing off the coolest restaurant vibes in the city, and, of course, Evolution Wines by Macedo to wash down all the amazing eats.   Cheese + Cheers What will you find at Cheese + Cheers? A match made in heaven. The Dairy Farmers of Canada, CHEESEWERKSand Beau’s All Natural Brewing Company have joined forces to put together one unforgettable stop featuring legendary grilled cheeses, craft beer and more grilled cheeses. Perfect for the lactose-intolerant-intolerant! Sample and shop local Ontario cheese for an experience that as rich and creamy as the as one could ever hope for. Cheers! GE Café Classrooms The forum for which all of your culinary queries can be answered, learn from experts in a variety of fields set in The Dining Room, a theatre-style classroom and The Chef’s Table, a hands-on workshop. Both spaces are outfitted with GE Café appliances that offer the look and feel of modern stainless steel restaurant kitchen. Topics include: Tea Cocktails Fondue Fun Homemade Marshmallows Sandwich Smackdown Healthy Swaps Wine Awakenings The Food Network Celebrity Kitchen presented by The Home Depot Canada (#FNCelebKitchenbyHD) *Please note: schedule subject to change   103.9 Proud FM radio host and DFS13 Celebrity Kitchen Host, Mike Chalut kicks off each of the following presentations with high-energy charm, as he introduces the celebrity chefs and presenters, and leads contests and giveaways valued at more than $10,000 over the three-day event.   Friday 12pm – Chuck Hughes presented by Caesarstone, Host of Chuck’s Week Off Learn how to make a cheesy mushroom melt, mackerel, salsa verde, plum cake, vanilla ice cream & more   2pm – Martha Stewart presented by The Home Depot Canada, Martha Stewart Living Three scrumptious cakes from Martha Stewart’s new, 80th book, Cakes   4pm – Mark McEwan presented by The Hudson’s Bay Company, Head Judge on Top Chef Canada Fabbrica-inspired dishes including flattened Cornish hen, cauliflower puree, grilled corn, and risotto   6pm – Rose Reisman presented by Piller’s, Art of Living Well Sample chicken & sausage-filled paella and Mediterranean quinoa   7-10pm – Opening Night Party: Fiesta Delicioso  Let the party begin!   Saturday 11am – Michael Smith presented by AIR MILES, Host of Chef at Home Indulge your inner Italian with a demonstration featuring three kinds of pasta   1pm – Lynn Crawford, Host of Pitchin’ In Experience the making of a classic breakfast sandwich: the Croque Madame               3pm – Brian Gluckstein presented by The Hudson’s Bay Company, Interior Designer at Gluckstein Design and Product Designer at Gluckstein Home Hear from Brian alongside industry experts, Bill Fulghum, Arren Williams, and Lynn Crawford as they discuss décor    4:30pm – Mini Chef’s Challenge Pre-Battle In advance of Mount Sinai’s largest fundraiser, Chef’s Challenge, watch the four leading fundraisers compete for the chance to cook with Giada De Laurentiis at the main event in February 2014 (www.chefschallengeforacure.com)   5:30pm – Tom Filipou, Executive Chef President’s Choice  Take notes as Chef Tom presents PC Black Label’s Nero di Seppia Spaghetti with Clams – easily re-created at home after a trip to Loblaws             Sunday 11am – Caspar Haydar and Antonella Grillone, Co-Stars of SugarStars  Donuts don’t have to be fried! Learn how to bake them for a healthier alternative; next, sweet table essentials   1pm – Nadia G, Host of Bitchin’ Kitchen Expect a rock’n’roll hour full of pasta, puff pastry, & of course, cocktails – grapefruit spicy maple mojitos to be exact   3pm – David Rocco, Host of Dolce Vita Known for simple & fun food, David will start with mixed vegetable pakoras, share his recipe for mutton ragu & more   4pm – Abbey’s Kitchen Stadium Finals  The final round of Abbey Sharp’s Iron-Chef-inspired culinary battle between Toronto-based chefs  Show Information Better Living Centre, Exhibition Place – 195 Princes’ Blvd, Toronto Ontario, M6K 3C3 Friday, October 25, 2013 - 11am to 10pm Saturday, October 26, 2013 - 10am to 7pm Sunday, October 27, 2013 - 10am to 6pm   Admission Adult (ages 18+) Online - $20 Adult (ages 18+) At Door - $22 Senior (ages 65+) - $18 Student (ages 13-17) - $10 Group Admission (10 people or more) - $15   About the Delicious Food Show sponsored by Food Network Canada The Delicious Food Show, returning for its sophomore year to the Better Living Centre in Toronto, Canada from October 25-27, 2013. The Delicious Food Show is a 3-day culinary event, designed specifically for food-lovers, showcasing the best in food, cooking and entertaining. Sample, sip, and purchase the hottest new products from hundreds of exhibitors. Experience live cooking demos, tastings, and hands-on workshops. Attend presentations and book signings hosting world-renowned culinary genii on the Food Network Celebrity Kitchen presented by The Home Deport, including Martha Stewart, Chuck Hughes, Nadia G, Michael Smith, Mark McEwan, David Rocco, Rose Reisman, Brian Gluckstein, and more. Get ready to sauté, sizzle and simmer the weekend away!   Follow DFS on Twitter: @DeliciousShow Instagram: @deliciousfoodshow And Pinterest: DeliciousShow Like DFS on Facebook: Delicious Food Show #DFS13 #FNCelebKitchenbyHD And visit the official website at www.deliciousfoodshow.com

Support street food in Toronto

If you have been following my Blog you will know that I support Food Trucks expanding their reach in Toronto.  If any of you watch the show Eat St. you will also know that in most other cities in the U.S. and other places there are many more opportunities for Street Food Vendors, while we are limited to hot dogs and french fry trucks.  While I have nothing against hot dogs and fries I would like to see a lot more variety and something of more value to your health or your money.   There are a lot of great Culinary Artists that start out with Food Trucks because they can't afford the costs of a full restaurant.  It gives them a chance to run a food business without losing their shirts.  The food industry is very difficult in Toronto.  I think it is a good thing that they are able to start out small with carts or food trucks and gain experience, have direct contact with the people that eat their food and get direct feedback and grow their clientele so when they do get too busy for their trucks they are able to expand to a bricks and morter location.   I received this email and have filled out the survey for the city.

Please fill the survey out or pass it along to friends that want to see more street food.  If you have the time and are able to show your support in person there is a link for further information in this email.

Let's get with the times and make our street food a whole lot more diverse.

Thanks..  Linda

Hello street food lovers! You're getting this letter because you wrote (and perhaps tweeted) your city councillor in support of street food at streetfoodto.com. It's been a long road since then, but we've had some success.. food trucks in parks, food carts allowed to a broader menu, and next, an unfair fee for street food vendors to hire employees is to be removed. The City has launched public consultations on street food, for changes to be made early next year. And they need to hear from you! Please fill out this survey to voice your thoughts on more carts and trucks. Attend one of these meetings (see consultation schedule) and say a few words about why you support street food. We can help you prep. Just email Jovic (howland.jovic@gmail.com) to let us know which date you can make. These are the changes we've asked for. Do you know restaurant owners who support street food? Let us know (email Jovic) so we can help them show their support.  Thank you! Darcy Higgins Executive Director, Food Forward

Canada gets more stinky cheese from the EU

CHEESE PLEASE!  There is a new Trade Deal being worked out by the Canadian Government and the European Union.  So what's all the fuss about?  More products will be able to be imported into Canada without Tariffs.  YEAH you say...  we get more stinky cheese... but there are a lot of people that aren't happy about this deal.  Mainly some of the great Canadian Cheese Producers in this Country.  A lot of great cheese is produced in Ontario and Quebec.  Monteforte Dairy is one of them, they produce cheese in the Stratford area and sell their cheeses at many local farmer's markets.  But they aren't the only ones. There are a lot of great goat cheeses and even Agropur cheese company that produce OCA cheese in Quebec.  They feel that the opening up of imported cheese to the Canadian Market will take away sales from the Canadian producers.   The government says this deal will create many jobs, but I suppose the Canadian cheese producers feel that it will also take away some of their jobs.

I am conflicted on this deal because I have been to Paris and one of my favourite cheese's that I ate there was Caprice de Deux and it has been sold at some places in Ontario but with Canadian standards it didn't quite taste the same.  I would love to see more new cheese selections in Ontario but I understand how hard it already is for Canadian producers to make a living in Canada.

There are always winners and losers in any trade deal but I suppose you have to weigh what's best for the majority of people when making decisions.   Here are some of the numbers according to the CBC.

WHAT DO YOU THINK? Is it just a lot more stinky cheese?

Imports from Europe that would see tariffs eliminated include: automobiles, industrial machinery, wine and spirits, some cheeses, fish and seafood products and many others.

Here's a look at more numbers, from Canadian and EU documents and briefings, related to what both sides have called a "historic" deal:

35 million: Population of Canada.

500 million: Population of European Union.

28: Number of countries in the European Union.

$17 trillion: EU's current annual GDP, the measure of its economic activity.

$1.8 trillion: Canada's current annual GDP.

$12 billion: What the Harper government expects in added GDP for Canada annually.

$16.3 billion: What the EU expects in annual GDP gains for Europe.

$1.5 billion: Annual value of increased agricultural exports expected by Canadian producers.

$700 million: What the EU expects in annual tariff savings (and what Canada would lose in duties).

20 per cent: The government's estimated increase in bilateral trade as a result of the deal.

29,000 tonnes: EU cheese allowed into Canada tariff-free annually, up from 13,000, once fully implemented.

65,000 tonnes: Annual quota for Canadian beef in Europe, up from 15,000, once fully implemented.

75,000 tonnes: Annual quota for Canadian pork, up from 6,000, once fully implemented.

100,000: Number of cars Canadian automakers will be able to export a year, 12 times the current limit.

2 years: Extension of drug patents for brand-name pharmaceuticals.

24: Number of languages into which the agreement must be translated.

5 years: Time elapsed since initial study of a trade deal began.

2 years: Expected length of time before deal is ratified.