23 Toronto food events worth checking out in December

Holiday markets, fundraisers, brunches, and festive food events are happening throughout the city in December as Toronto gets ready to send 2017 off with a bang full stomach!

Here are the top food events happening in Toronto this December.

The Toronto Christmas Market

The Toronto Christmas Market returns to the Distillery District from November 16 to December 23 and in addition to the twinkling lights and holiday cheer, look forward to plenty of seasonal sweets and European-inspired eats.

Where: The Distillery District
When: November 16 to December 23 – closed on Mondays.

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Fair in the Square

This massive holiday market and winter carnival located outside Toronto City Hall kicks off on December 1 and runs until the day before Christmas Eve. Look forward to holiday shopping, an ice bar, and plenty of festive foods including a two-handed festive feast dubbed Deep Fried Christmas, plus Beavertails, poutine, fudge, and more.

Where: Nathan Phillips Square
When: December 1 to 23

Milk & Cookies for Sick Kids

A post shared by legourmand (@legourmand) on Nov 19, 2017 at 6:46am PST

Le Gourmand’s legendary chocolate chip cookies are available throughout the month from a food truck parked outside of Sick Kids.

When: Throughout the month of December
Where: Sick Kids Hospital, 555 University Avenue, Toronto

Evergreen Winter Village

Roast s’mores over the open campfire and enjoy warm beverages from the Sipping Container while shopping or playing street curling at this Winter Village. Hungry for more? Look forward to a rotating line-up of food trucks serving up comfort foods ranging from crêpes to gourmet grilled cheese, and more.

When: Weekends in December and weekdays from December 26 to 29, 10 am to 5 pm
Where: 550 Bayview Avenue, Toronto
Price: Admission is free

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Free unicorn treats from Le Dolci

To celebrate the opening of Le Dolci’s Scarborough Town Centre location, the bakeshop is planning a day full of music, samples, and balloons. Additionally, the first 100 people through the doors will get a mini unicorn cake or unicorn cupcake!

When: December 2, 2017, 10 am
Where: Le Dolci Scarborough Town Centre, 300 Borough Drive, Scarborough

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Hop Chow

This inaugural food and beer festival happening the first weekend in December and promises curated pairings as chefs and brewers buddy up to collaborate on menu items complemented by amazing brews.

When: December 2, 2017, noon to 11 pm
Where: 99 Sudbury Street, Toronto
Price: From $25 online

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Milton Pop-Up Holiday Market

Milton’s pop-up Holiday Street Market, from the founder of Toronto’s Mac and Cheese Festival is putting on “Ontario’s largest authentic outdoor holiday market.” Expect an open concept street market complete with 242 artisan vendors selling all the holiday classics from gingerbread cookies to hot apple cider to one-of-a-kind gifts and crafts.

When: December 2, 9, and 16 from noon until 7 pm
Where: Along Main Street from Brown Street to Commercial in Milton

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Barley’s Angels Pop-Up Market

This annual Christmas Market in a brewery offers the chance to do some holiday shopping while sipping beers and winning prizes.

When: December 3, 3 pm to 6 pm
Where: Granite Brewery, 245 Eglinton Avenue East, Toronto
Price: Admission is free

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Hoppy Holidays

This craft beer sampling event already boasts nearly 20 vendors that will be serving up seasonal brews, one-off creations, and yuletide beer cocktails. Not to mention the culinary team at The Berkley is putting together of beer-friendly bites including mini Jamaican patties, mini grilled cheese sandwiches, poutine, and more.

When: December 5, 6 pm to 10 pm
Where: The Berkeley Church, 315 Queen Street East, Toronto
Price: $25 in advance

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Canada: From East to West

“The Hunter Chef” hosts this multi-course meal complete with expert pairings from Rioja. On the menu, tourtiere, bison with creamy polenta, pumpkin toffee pudding, and more.

When: December 5, 7 pm
Where: Antler, 1454 Dundas Street West, Toronto
Price: $105

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I Heart BEER Holiday Festival

The holiday edition of this brew fest promises to be an “epic holiday extravaganza” complete with ugly sweaters and tipsy caroling to make this a hoppy holiday to remember.

When: December 9, 3 pm to 9 pm
Where: Queen Elizabeth Building, 160 Princes Boulevard, Toronto
Price: From $25

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Santa Brunch Cruise

When: December 10, 2017, boarding begins at 11:30 am
Where: Northern Spirit, Toronto Harbourfront at the Queen’s Quay Terminal Building, 207 Queen’s Quay West, Toronto
Price: $56.95 for adults; $29.95 for children ages 7 to 12

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Hannukah Kick-off Party

The Jewish holiday kicks off the at The Drake Hotel with this complimentary Hanukkah Feast courtesy of Bespoke Butchers, Lox & Schmear, Mad Maple + Rosen’s Cinnamon Buns. Look forward to chopped liver, latkes, lox, and rugelach.

When: December 11, 8 pm
Where: The Drake Hotel, 1150 Queen Street West, Toronto
Price: Free

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Build a Cake Dream Home with the Property Brothers

Jonathan and Drew Scott from HGTV’s Property Brothers help raise money for the Nzirambi Orphanage in Uganda at this evening of wine, bubbles, cake fun. The Property Bros. will assist with design tips, structural advice and eating as guests work on cake creations alongside raffles, food and drink.

When: December 12, 7 pm to 9 pm
Where: Le Dolci Loft, 114 Geary Avenue, Toronto
Price: $149

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Armenian Pilgrimage

Middle Eastern inspired cocktails paired with a selection mezze, seared lamb loin, grilled quail, and more are on the menu from Chef Seb Yacoubain at this communal feast presented by Mayrik and The White Distillery.

When: December 14, 7 pm
Where: Mayrik, 1580 Bayview Avenue, Toronto
Price: $70

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Black Foodie Holiday Party

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Come through this holiday social and enjoy complimentary African Canapes, Caribbean snacks, cassava pone, and Black cake, then fill up on a festive menu created by Toronto’s newest African Restaurant’s Kiza!

When: December 14, 6 pm
Where: Kiza Restaurant & Lounge, 366 Queen Street East, Toronto
Price: $10 in advance

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Pied de Cochon Tourtière Pop-Up

Acclaimed Montreal restaurant Au Pied de Cochon pops up in Toronto for two days in December to deal out festive favourites like tourtière, foie gras terrine, house-made ketchup, apple jelly, and more.

When: Pick up on December 15 from 11 am to 3 pm
Where: Spaces Self Storage, 356 Eastern Avenue, Toronto

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Hope for the Holidays

A post shared by atyabtabkha (@atyabtabkha) on Jan 3, 2017 at 2:30am PST

Some of the best Syrian cooks in Toronto join forces with a chef from the CN Tower, performers, and volunteers for this fundraiser dinner featuring a menu of pita, baba ganoush, tabouleh, kabsa, and more. Funds raised will go to support a Syrian refugee family in Ghana being sponsored to come to Canada by Community Matters Toronto.

When: December 15, 5:50 pm to 9:30 pm
Where: Ralph Thornton Community Centre, 765 Queen Street East, Toronto
Price: $50

Chau Pop Up

Pulled pork nachos, pulled pork bao, and a vegan Sloppy Joe pop up for an afternoon of bar snacks and beers at Henderson Brewery Co.

When: December 16, 2 pm to 7 pm
Where: Henderson Brewing Co 128A Sterling Road, Toronto
Price: $8 to $12

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Vegan Winter Market

This vegan holiday market from the same folks behind this summer’s Vegan Wine & Cheese Fest, offers a festive way to warm up with seasonal treats, shop an abundance of gift options from local vegan-friendly businesses, and stock up for holiday entertaining.

When: December 17, noon to 7 pm
Where: Lithuanian House, 1573 Bloor Street West, Toronto
Price: Admission is $5 online, $8 at the door.

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12 Beers of Xmas

Come enjoy 12 local craft beers at this annual all-you-can-taste, beer-drinking extravaganza. There will be live music, DJs, and enough suds to give Santa’s village a hangover.

When: December 22, 6 pm to 9 pm
Where: Gladstone Hotel, 1214 Queen Street West

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Ramen Heads

Tour the best noodle houses, learn secrets, recipes, and insights with Osamu Tomita, one of the most revered ramen chefs in Japan during this ramen-centric screening that’ll leave viewers with an insatiable craving and new appreciation for this delicious dish.

When: December 22
Where: Ted Rogers Hot Docs Cinema, 506 Bloor Street West, Toronto
Price: $11.50

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Festivus Dinner

Frank Constanza’s legacy lives on with a holiday dinner that’ll leave you without a single grievance to air. On the menu, a traditional turkey dinner with all the fixings!

When: December 25
Where: The Drake Hotel, 1150 Queen Street West, Toronto
Price: $35

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See also

• Festive reindeer cakes have landed in Toronto for the holidays
• Toronto is getting a $5.95 All-You-Can-Eat pierogi night
• Where to find brunch with bottomless mimosas in Toronto