Supper Clubs

Friendsgiving is a Thanksgiving-themed meal typically eaten prior to or instead of a family Thanksgiving dinner. For Chef Crystal Powell, Friendsgiving was something celebrated during her time in the military, when close friends and colleagues had to work through the feast holidays. It was a time to be grateful, humble and know that each person would not be forgotten while being away from their loved ones, or preparing to be shipped off to parts unknown to serve. Inspired by this tradition and its many fond memories, Crystal has pulled out all the stops for a beautiful seasonal feast to celebrate everything wonderful about gathering around the table with friends, new and old.

There is a famous Gujarati proverb, Surat nu Jaman ane Kashi nu Maran. Literally translated it means "Dining in Surat and dying in Varanasi is the only way to heaven". It refers to the long-standing reputation for culinary excellence that Surat, a city of about 7 million on the Tapi River in the west Indian state of Gujarat, is known for. Centuries of trade with both the East and the West, flowing through its bustling port and fuelled by its famous textile and diamond markets, have created a vibrant, cosmopolitan food culture. Join us for an intimate dinner by proud Surti ambassador, Malav Naik, who will share his personal take on what makes the justly famous cuisine of this city so heavenly.

Join Maria Polotan of Mama Linda's for a thoughtful and authentic dive into the techniques and traditions of the Filipino kitchen — a delicious celebration of the diverse cuisine of the Phillippines. The cooking methods of the Philippines have been defined not just by its geography, but also through centuries of trading and colonization. Traditionally souring agents - like vinegars or the multitude of sour fruits and vegetables found in the Philippines - provide not only one of the quintessential flavours but also one of pillars of cooking. Without using any heat, vinegar can be used to ‘cook’ food, often done with seafood, which is called kinilaw. Vinegars and other souring agents can also be used as the foundation of stews and broths - like the adobo and paksiw, or sour broths like sinigang. Filipinos also love to kinulob (steam), inihaw (grill) and ginisa (stir fry) - methods incorporated from neighbours or colonial powers over more than 1000 years of cultural exchange.

The traditional Venezuelan Christmas meal of hallacas, pernil and pan de jamón. La hallaca is a sort of tamale made out of yellow corn dough, filled with a beef, chicken and pork stew embellished with raisins, olives, and capers, which is then is wrapped in banana leaves, tied with string and boiled. El pan de jamón (ham bread) is a brioche bread filled with smoked ham, raisins and green olives, and el pernil is a baked and glazed pork leg. La ensalada de gallina is a creamy chicken salad with potatoes, carrots, peas, and mayonnaise.

Tonight Asmait Merhatsion will share with us a homemade meal of traditional dishes together with an introduction to the coffee ceremony, one of the most cherished social rituals of daily life in Eritrea.

Losar is a Tibetan word that means New Year; lo meaning 'year' and sar meaning 'new'. Like any important festivity, there are special New Years foods to enjoy. Join Tsewang Chodon & Lhundup Gyatso of TC’s Tibetan Momo, for a taste of traditional Tibetan fare, all made with local, organic ingredients sourced directly from the Ontario farmers they work alongside at several of Toronto’s farmers’ markets.

For more than two millennia, Afghanistan was a place where important trade routes between India, China, the Middle East and Europe converged. Marco Polo crossed the country en route to China; Arab travellers and the British passed through on their way to India. A rich culture took hold at this crossroads, and with it a varied cuisine influenced by that of Persia, India and Mongolia, but with style all its own. One symbol of Afghan hospitality is the sofra, a woven cloth or spread upon which food is served. In a broader sense it has come to mean the kind of convivial family meal associated with Islamic cultures, and is where we, half a world away, get the idiom of 'putting on a big spread'. Tonight Frishta Ghafoori will share a lovely selection of traditional Afghan dishes, all infused with this spirit of hospitality.

The inimitable Mikiki, Canada’s sultriest #SlopQueen returns to The Depanneur for their 5th annual Drag Valentine’s Day Dinner. An immersive and interactive food experience unlike any other, teetering tipsily between drag cabaret, performance art, academic lecture, political protest, and dinner party. Served in full drag regalia and interspersed with songs, this collision of high-concept dining and low-brow humour is a Valentine's Day that is fearless, funny, and truly provocative.