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Wednesday, July 15, 2015

PanAm Food Festival Returns to Toronto, July 30 - August 3...

3rd annual Pan American Food Festival 2015 Program: Top Chefs and Food Competitions
www.panamfoodfest.com / Facebook: PanamericanFoodFestival
 
The third annual Pan American Food Festival – the only festival in the world that celebrates the best food and culture of the Western Hemisphere – returns to Toronto from July 30 to August 3, 2015 at Daniels Spectrum, 585 Dundas Street East Toronto ON M5A 2B7
 
This year's festival features another roster of impressive chefs and fun food competitions.
 
"We are excited to present the best flavours and cultures of the Pan American region at the height of Pan Am fever in Toronto," says Daniel Garcia-Herreros, Festival Director and Founder.
 
"We are returning to Daniels Spectrum this year with our biggest festival to date—filled with more delicious food experiences than ever before."
 
The festival launches on Thursday, July 30 with the opening of 10×10 Pan American Faces, a new exhibition of photography by ten local photographers to celebrate the contribution of Pan Americans to Toronto's vibrant quality of life. The exhibition will be on view in the South Lobby of Daniels Spectrum (585 Dundas Street East, Toronto) through the Festival. On Friday July 31, a private VIP Opening Reception will celebrate the Festival's third year, and the 2015 Featured Country, Mexico.
 
Over the August long weekend, the Festival will be entirely free to the public on Saturday August 1-3, 2015. Once again, the public can participate in mouth-watering food demonstrations by international chefs, kids' activities, Latin dance workshops, and a Pan American vendors market. Events will be held inside Daniels Spectrum, a vibrant cultural hub in downtown Toronto, and on the neighboring streets Regent Park Boulevard and St. David's Walk), creating a large outdoor street fair called the Pan American Market for visitors to discover the delicious and diverse cuisine and cultures of the Americas. below).
 
Many top Pan American food vendors and food trucks will sell specialties from their respective countries all weekend, bringing the best of Pan American flavour to Toronto. In addition, the Festival's Culinary Curator, Mary Luz Mejía, has put together a unique line-up of culinary talent to present food demonstrations and participate in international food competitions judged by the public. This year's feature International Chef is Colombia's Master Chef winner, Federico Martinez, who will prepare a traditional Colombian favourite on August 1st at 4 pm.
 
A total of twenty-five Pan American chefs will live demo dishes, including:
 
Chef Federico Martinez, first-ever winner of Master Chef Colombia
Chef Ryan Wilson-Lall, chef de cuisine at the AGO's FRANK restaurant
Chef Paola Solorzano, representing this year's host country, Mexico
Chef Elias Salazar, competing in Heladisimo with his Peruvian cacao and quinoa paleta
Chef Cristian Heise, winner of 2014 Best Tamale, represents Chile in Empanada Battle
Chef Pedro Quintanilla, from Bloom Restaurant in Bloor West Village, representing Cuba, who will demo his Picadillo Cubano live
 
Building on the success of last year's sold-out Totalmente Tamales competition, three new international Food Competitions will be held this year. The festival's first-ever Empanada Battle will pit some of the city's best empanada makers in a friendly competition to determine whose empanada will be crowned la reina! Six chef competitors from the Pan American region will battle it out on Saturday August 1, 6:30-8:30pm. A $10 ticket entitles guests to sample all six empanadas and a voting ballot to pick their top contenders.
 
This year's Host Country, Mexico, will sponsor Masa Mas Lucha Libre, where six chefs participate in a competition of masa-based dishes from different regions of the country. The event will take place on Sunday, August. 2, 2015 from 6-7:30pm, and visitors can taste all the contenders and vote with their $10 ticket.
 
On Monday, August 3 at 3 pm, the final food competition takes a sweeter and cooler turn as four chefs offer ices and ice creams with a Pan American twist in Heladisimo, with tickets priced at just $6.00. This is a great way for the whole family to cool down after a fun summer afternoon at the Festival.
 
DAILY FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS:
 
Thursday July 30 – Opening of 10×10 Pan American Faces photography exhibition, 7 pm
 
Friday July 31 – VIP Opening Reception (by invitation)
 
Saturday August 1 – International Chef Food Demonstrations: free, noon to 5 pm
– Pan American Market: free noon to 10 pm
– International Food Competition: Empanadas Battle: $10, 6:30 pm
 
Sunday August 2 – International Chef Food Demonstrations: free, noon to 5 pm
– Pan American Market: free noon to 10 pm
– International Food Competition: Masa Mas Lucha Libre: $10, 6:30 pm
 
Monday August 3 – International Chef Food Demonstrations: free, noon to 3 pm
– Pan American Market: free noon to 10 pm
– International Food Competition: Heladisimo (Ice Creams): $6, 3 pm
 
For more information, visit www.panamfoodfest.com / Facebook: PanamericanFoodFestival

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