The inaugural Tapestry of Taste in East Gwillimbury this weekend is a showcase of international foods and talent.
Held at the East Gwillimbury Civic Centre and on the Sharon Temple National Historic Site grounds, the festival featuring food, entertainment and craft brewing received support from sponsors that include Longo’s, the East Gwill Soccer Association, Enbridge, Duca, and the Province of Ontario.
Tourism, Culture and Sport Minister Lisa MacLeod, explained that the East Gwillimbury festival received nearly $25,000 in grant funding through two separate grant streams - including the Celebrate Ontario Fund.
“We’re excited to support it because Ontario is obviously the world in one province,” said MacLeod, adding the festival speaks to both the interests and the aspirations of residents.
She attended the festival with York-Simcoe MPP Caroline Mulroney, Minister of Transportation, on hand for the event's opening Friday.
Tapestry of Taste kicked off with Peyton and the Mini Pop Kids on the main stage, food trucks that included Vince’s Barbecue, Beaver Tails, Twist and Shout Soft Serve ice cream, the Laos-C Chef, and King Cole Duck, with wine and beers from Holland Marsh Wineries, Ernest Cidery, and Port Perry's Old Flame Breweries.
There’s a story behind every Old Flame brew, said Aidan Doak, referencing beers with names like ‘Red’, ‘Blonde’ and 'Brunette.'
“Basically our thing is ‘Old Flames’,” said Doak. “Everyone has an old flame. All of our beers are named after girls. Our slogan is ‘worth remembering’.”
Old Flame also produces "seasonal beers," like the Blueberry Lager that was popular with visitors at the festival. But "every beer we have has a story that goes along with it,” said Doak.
Over at King Cole Duck, Conzelmann family members handed out free samples of barbecued duck.
To those who hesitated, deterred by memories of wild duck at hunting season, Chris Conzelmann had reassurance: the flavour is completely different, milder and more tender.
“For one thing, you don’t have to pick the buckshot out of it,” he said. For another, “it tastes like what it eats,” he said. “Corn, molasses and wheat, a little bit of soya in there as well."
"All natural grains and a little well water,” added mom Debbie Conzelmann.
Tapestry of Taste continues today and Sunday at the East Gwillimbury Civic Centre and the Sharon Temple with even more food booths, including Mexican Street Corn, Dvourr, Mustache Burger, and Tropic Love in addition to a Kidzone featuring games and live entertainment.
There will also be an international Bazaar Market, featuring vendors and crafts from around the world, and a full slate of entertainers on the main stage.
Today, the KidZone, Bazaar and food festival opens at 11 a.m., with entertainment that includes Bollywood Dance at 1:45 p.m., the Korean Dance Studies Academy of Canada at 2:30 p.m., Samba Squad at 3 p.m., Kathak Performance at 4:50 p.m., the Neema Children’s Choir at 5:30 p.m., and Irish Dancers at 6:15 p.m.
The evening wraps up with a Hoedown featuring John Anderson and a performance by fiddle master Ashley MacIsaac.
On Sunday, doors open at 11 a.m. for the Bazaar, Kidzone, food, beer and wine. There will be performances by The Hurricanes Dance, Mudmen, Afiwi Group, Maddy Ellen, and Santerias.
The Civic Centre is located at 19000 Leslie St. in Sharon. Hours are from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.
Admission is $10 for adults; accompanied children under 12 are free. For information see www.eastgwillimbury.ca.
