I enjoy Toronto’s annual Gourmet Food & Wine Expo and attend almost every year, assuming that I’m in town the weekend it takes place. In the past, however, I’ve been frustrated by how little attention has been paid to beer, which one might assume from years past the organizers don’t consider worthy of the adjective “gourmet.”
Not this year.
In checking out the exhibitor listing for this year’s show, I note a veritable abundance of breweries and beer importers, and that’s not even including the newly beer-interested wine importers who might be pouring a brew or two alongside their chardonnays and pinots. There are still no Tutored Tastings that involve ale or lager – although one would hope that Thirsty Traveller Kevin Brauch might include at least one beer – but from the impressively increased amount of beer being served in 2008, I would expect that situation could be ready to change in 2009.
The Gourmet Food & Wine Expo takes place at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre on November 20 – 23, with a specially priced, VIP Preview evening kicking things off on Thursday. I’ll be taking in at least one session, so if you see me lingering by the beer booths, stop by and say hello.
