I have to thank my friend and fellow sushi junkie, Deanna of Maple Leaf Mommy, for pointing out the super important fact that Toronto has a sushi festival, that promises all kinds of exciting and YUM. A two-day festival at the gorgeous Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre, during the evenings of next Thursday and Friday (March 5th & 6th,) and tickets are going quick! Its not hard to imagine this event selling out as attendees will be able to explore every type of sushi imaginable across the globe, enjoy artisan sushi tastings, learn from local and celebrity chefs, check out the latest and greatest in culinary accessories and gifts, and sample from 100s of sushi creations (even sample some of Ontario’s finest premium beer too!) Essentially, the festival is going to be one spectacular foodie experience.
Dramatization of the sushi eating practice. You’ll need to go to the Toronto Sushi Festival yourself for the full foodie experience. 😉
I have a few favourite sushi spots across Toronto, and with over 20 Local and International Japanese Restaurants participating this year, I’m entirely looking forward to adding a few more to my list! Pairing this with an oyster bar (catered by John & Sons Oyster House,) over 30 arts and cultural vendors, and fun live entertainment (from local, international and global artists, but also, I understand there will also be karaoke involved,) the Toronto Sushi Festival is not to be missed.
From the art vendors, I’m really looking forward to getting a closer look at the truly phenomenal miniature origami work of Mui-Ling Teh. Seriously, go check out this local Toronto artist’s work out. I’m entirely in love with the orange fox, the dragon and the goat/lamb (it’s the year of the goat according to the Chinese calendar, which I happen to fall under, lol.)
And you know how I love technology right? Imagine fresh-tasting sushi at home, whenever you want (without having to break out the nori yourself.) Bishosku Sushi will be launching its thaw-and-serve, innovative flash-frozen sushi at the festival, making Bishosku Sushi the first and only sushi manufacturer in Canada, and its situated right here in Toronto! Cool, huh? I can’t wait to try it out and see how well it fares to the just-made creations at the fest.
Anyway, stop reading and go get your ticket on Eventbrite before they sell out! If you want the ultimate experience, there is a VIP ticket for the elite package, including a full service VIP lounge, a handcrafted sushi gift basket and kit!
With General Admission You Can Look Forward To…
- The opportunity to explore and learn about world-renowned sushi creations (incl. with admission)
- Local and Celebrity Chef presentations all throughout the festival long at Main Stage (incl. with admission)
- Artisan sushi tastings and educational seminars at the Demonstrations Stage (incl. with admission)
- Preview the newest accessories and gift items for Sushi and culinary enthusiasts (incl. with admission)
- Live entertainment all throughout the festival on the Main Stage (incl. with admission)
- Sample hundreds of sushi created by the best Sushi restaurants/chef in Ontario (additional costs may apply, admission includes 5 Sample Food Tickets)
- Sample some of Ontario’s finest premium beers with Steam Whistle (additional costs apply)
Food Ticket FAQs To Know
- Food tickets are worth $1.50 each and are available in sheets of 10
- Food tickets are only for Sushi/Food
- Sample Quantity vary depending on the product (from 1 to 3 pieces)
- Experience the best sushi restaurants all under one roof
- *Beverage Tickets are sold separately
Will I see you there? And what is your all-time favourite sushi? Lets get the party started by geeking over that one creation that rules them all in your world!
* Disclaimer: This post is compensated for tickets, but all thoughts of the pure enjoyment of the upcoming Toronto Sushi Festival are my own. How can a night at the Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre, while enjoying sushi nom-noms, entertainment and art, not be epic?
8 Responses
I haven’t figured out a way to get myself to Toronto for this. Still scheming, but looks unlikely. So I need you to help me live vicariously; go, experience this for me, and report back.
If the scheming doesn’t work, I’ll use a #ThisIsForYouDeanna hashtag on instagram with hopefully some awesome pics! <3
Oh wow, this is a huge event! One that any sushi fan wouldn’t want to miss. I personally don’t care much for sushi but my husband does, he’d love to go!
Okay – full disclosure: I have never tried sushi EVER. Like any kind of sushi, I’m so scared haha. What would you recommend for a newbie?
Oh WOW, Randa never?? 😀 Is it the “uncooked fish” thing about sushi that scares you? I think I love sushi so much ’cause they’re fun, brightly coloured, bite sized pieces of deliciousness, that can explode with flavour and occasionally crunch with each bite. Each sushi creation has its own unique flavour, so its fun to grab a variety to enjoy with friends (the rice makes sushi pretty filling with a couple handfuls of bites, so if you go for variety, have a friend or two around to also enjoy, lol.) There are some that I’m not a fan of (I’m not the biggest fan of spicy mayo, which some rolls have,) but there is such an abundance of choice, that I can enjoy what I love and still not be bored with my selections. There are just so many combos to choose from.
I think the most common roll is the California roll which is mostly just crab meat, a bit of cucumber and/or avacado, rice and the nori wrap (nori is flattened seaweed that, if anything, is perhaps a bit sweet tasting, but really doesn’t add much flavour – its just used to keep the sushi all wrapped up into the roll.) If there was one to try, this would be it if you’re not vegetarian. It’s basic, as far as rolls can go – not spicy though still flavourful, and if I’m not mistaken, it was probably the sushi roll that really made sushi as popular as it is in North America.
Tamagoyaki is a sweet egg omelet layered over rice and wrapped with just a bit of nori. Again, fairly plain, but truly delicious.
There is also a vegetable maki roll, which is three or four different veggies wrapped in rice and nor. Its been a while, but I think the common ingredients for a veggie maki are carrots, cucumber and mushrooms.
Essentially there is a whole slew of sushi creations that are vegetarian in nature, as well as just as many filled with cooked tuna, salmon, even eel (unagi).
There are definitely some uncooked fish sushi creations. I think my favourite is salmon sushi (or sashimi, which is the salmon on its own, without the rice.) I actually hate cooked salmon, can’t stand the taste of it. But uncooked turned out to be really yummy!
Hope that helps? LOL I’m a bit passionate, so let the questions fly if you’ve got more. 🙂
This looks & sounds so delicious! I am always a little “conservative” with sushi while my husband is a lot more willing to try unique things. It would be fun to go to an event like that & just go ahead and try a bunch of new things!
Yum!! I think I will have to make room on my calendar to go to this event. Looks amazing. I love that Bishosku Sushi will be launching a thaw-and-serve sushi product. What a great idea.
Thanks for sharing this with me! My husband is just crazy about sushi, and I know he would love to attend such a festival.