Terroir Symposium brings together culinary trendsetters in Toronto

by W. Andrew Powell
Terroir Symposium 2017

In two weeks, the annual Terroir Symposium will bring 60 of the top hospitality and tourism professionals in North America together for the 12th annual event for sommeliers, chefs, hoteliers, and producers at Toronto’s Art Gallery of Ontario.

Celebrating Ontario as a world-class destination for culinary travellers, the sympsoium is an opportunity to engage with speakers, network, and explore food, beverage and travel trends.

This year’s conference theme is “Terroirnomics: The Powerful Economics of Local,” a subject the conference organizers suggest will inspire discussions on the importance of supporting local businesses and producers, as well as showcasing talented chefs and other artisans and entrepreneurs.

“When we shrink our supply chains, source locally and support our regional growers and producers, the positive impact on the economy is extraordinary,” said Rebecca Mackenzie, President of the Culinary Tourism Alliance, the organization behind this year’s event. “We have always been huge supporters of Terroir and are thrilled to be managing the event because it aligns so closely with our mission and core values.”

Featured speakers at this year’s Terroir Symposium include Elena Arzak (ARZAK, San Sebastian, Spain), decorated chef and restaurateur; Farmer Lee (The Chef’s Garden, Cleveland, Ohio), James Beard winner, farmer and champion of sustainable agriculture; Jason Clampet (SKIFT, New York, New York), the co-founder of SKIFT Table, a top trend-spotting resource for restauranteurs; Dennis Prescott (Eat Delicious, Moncton, New Brunswick), best-selling cookbook author, food photographer and social influencer; and Dr. Sylvian Charlebois (Professor, Dalhousie University, Nova Scotia), researcher, author and champion of terroir.

This year, the Culinary Tourism Alliance (CTA) will manage Terroir for the first time after supporting the event for years as a partner, and the event will return to the Art Gallery of Ontario.

“We are ecstatic to host this inspired event for the third year in a row,” said Renée Bellefeuille, Executive Chef, AGO.

“Terroir’s reputation has grown and now more than ever helps us attract some of the most curious, ambitious and knowledgeable hospitality professionals in the world to our beautiful city. Chefs see food as an art form, so the AGO is a natural backdrop for this incredible gathering.”

Event Highlights

  • Keynote addresses from technology, culinary, beverage, hospitality and tourism experts.
  • Interactive panel discussions featuring a diverse and gender-balanced group of presenters.
  • World Food Court lunch, showcasing global cuisines curated by Suresh Doss, editor of Foodism.
  • Guests can opt to attend master classes which will each highlight a segment of Ontario’s bourgeoning beverage industry.
  • Experts in wine, spirits and beer will lead intimate discussions around these key drivers of local hospitality and tourism.
  • The Great Ontario Craft Brew will showcase an exclusive beer brewed collaboratively by Great Lakes Brewery and Beau’s Brewery.
  • Wine lovers can spend the morning and afternoon portions of the event immersed in wine theory. The Wine Marketing Association of Ontario will host two of the master classes: Women in Wine and Cabernet Franc.

For more information or to purchase tickets, visit TerroirSymposium.com.

Photos from last year’s event:

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