First-ever Taste of the Middle East Food Festival presented by Turkish Airlines set for Toronto

Author

Enterprise Canada

Release Date

Tuesday, July 17, 2018

Share

TORONTO, Ont. – Toronto’s first-ever Taste of the Middle East Food Festival will transform Yonge and Dundas Square this summer, serving up a delicious sample of the exotic flavours and cultures of the Middle East.

Inspired by the theme of 1001 Flavours, the Taste of the Middle East Food Festival on August 4, 2018 will feature a variety of food vendors (including Taste Spirit Lounge), musical performers, art, dancing, entertainment and retail vendors.

“It is a beautiful fusion of the delicious food, vibrant dance and energetic music that the Middle Eastern culture is known for,” says Hamsa Diab Farhat, Founder and Event Producer, Taste of the Middle East Food Festival. “We want everyone to experience the feeling of hospitality and the inclusiveness that is at the heart of our culture. To come together to celebrate each other, to eat good food and to help others while doing so in itself is a truly genuine human experience.”

The Taste of the Middle East Festival has partnered with Second Harvest, a Toronto-based food rescue charity, which has rescued more than 127 million pounds of food since 1985.

Further support to Second Harvest will come from a VIP event from Lebanese Canadian singer Karl Wolf sponsored by Sahara Restaurant. All festival attendees will be able to enjoy his free primetime concert at 8:30pm and tickets are being sold for a special backstage meet and greet with proceeds benefiting Second Harvest. Tickets can be purchased on eventbrite.ca.

The festival will also feature the Taste Chef De Jour where acclaimed chefs including Chef Costa Warwar of the Flaming Stove, Chef Reem Ahmed of Master Chef Canada, Executive Chef Stewart Cameron from Byblos and Patria and Executive Chef William el Dbaissy of Paramount Fine Foods will take centre stage as they teach audience members the secrets to middle eastern cooking.

The event could not be possible without the support of several generous businesses. Turkish Airlines is proud to be the presenting sponsor of Taste of the Middle East. Century 21 Leading Edge Hicham Farhat is the Exclusive Platinum Sponsor. Paramount Fine Foods, Venture X, Signarama, and Enterprise Canada are Diamond Sponsors. Entertainment is sponsored by Ya Amar and ONQ Entertainment. The full list of sponsors can be found on the festival website.

“Toronto is such an incredibly diverse place,” says Farhat. “We are all proud to be Canadian, yet we are still able to celebrate our differences. It is truly a beautiful thing.”

Note: Stay up to date with the Taste of the Middle East Food Festival at tasteofthemiddleeast.ca. Follow them on Twitter and Snapchat @tastemiddleeast and like them on Facebook and Instagram @tasteofthemiddleeastto.

Latest Stories