In many Italian households, Sunday means there’s red sauce simmering all day on the stove. It might be called sauce, sugo or gravy, and surely every family makes it their own way, but the result is always a tomato sauce rich with meat. Chef Luciano Schipano shares this tradition with us alongside an elegant selection of other authentic Italian favourites.
This lovely dinner celebrates this vital chapter in The Dep's history, inviting a few recent graduates alongside members of the latest cohort to showcase the talent and skill of Canada's new citizens. In a fitting twist, this meal will take place in the new Solutions Salon at the Centre for Social Innovation Spadina, just down the hall from Newcomer Kitchens offices. It all began with an invitation into The Dep's kitchen, and tonight we are invited to celebrate in their new home.
Natalia “Cookie” Martinez has long been a beloved part of The Depanneur’s story. From her early days as a cookie baker, to the ice cream sandwiches that were a popular summertime treat at The Dep for many years, to her successful kiosk at Scadding Court’s Market 707, to her very own Columbian Street Food shop in the Junction Triangle, she’s always brought her infectious smile and good humour to the tasty food she serves. Her delicious Colombian ajiaco was always a customer and personal favourite, so I’m delighted to have her back for a special pop-up event while is briefly visiting Toronto from her new home in Germany.
Montreal has always been an indelible part of The Depanneur's DNA, and more fundamentally, who I am. This is evident from obvious things like the name to subtler details like the long-standing tradition of being a BYOB venue (a concept entirely foreign to Ontario) and the spontaneous, unpretentious character of the place. I am absolutely delighted to return to the city that inspired it all and have a chance to celebrate with old friends in my old quartier. In addition to a fabulous meal by Nantha Kumar, this extra special event will feature live musical performance by Malachi Vale and DJ sets by Andy Williams.
Tonight two Dep alumni and Depanneur Cookbook contributors, Dali Chehimi and Fatima Khlifi, join forces to celebrate their shared Tunisian heritage. The dishes they are preparing reflect the kind of food one would typically find at countless small stalls in the local souk or market, flavours deeply woven into the life and memories of every Tunisian.
To delve into a truly Canadian concept of terroir – the flavour of a place – we need to embrace and celebrate our indigenous culinary heritage. We have invited Chefs Taylor Parker and Matthew Knight-Barton — the pair behind The Dep's subversive Canada Day Supper Clubs — to lead ongoing monthly residency at The Depanneur. It is an honour and privilege to create a space where these chefs can combine their considerable culinary talents to explore the possibilities of an elevated, communal dining experience rooted in First Nations traditions.
Tonight two Dep alumni and Depanneur Cookbook contributors, Dali Chehimi and Fatima Khlifi, join forces to celebrate their shared Tunisian heritage. The dishes they are preparing reflect the kind of food one would typically find at countless small stalls in the local souk or market, flavours deeply woven into the life and memories of every Tunisian.
The Depanneur is proud to launch the Indigenous Food Lab, a new monthly residency with Chefs Taylor Parker and Matthew Knight-Barton, the duo behind The Dep's acclaimed and subversive Canada Day Supper Clubs. It is an honour and privilege to create a space where these chefs can combine their talents to explore the possibilities of an elevated, communal dining experience rooted in First Nations traditions. It is a laboratory to explore and experiment end experience a truly Canadian concept of terroir – the flavour of a place — a place to rediscover and redefine what Indigenous food means today.
The opportunity to cook fresh from the farmers' market in an absolutely stunning natural setting for some of my favourite people in the world is about as close to a dream gig as one could ask for. I've offered to go up for the weekend and cook for my chums, and we've decided to make a few additional spots available at the table for anyone who would like to join us. The menu will be seasonal, flexitarian/vegetarian-friendly and inspired by the mid-summer cornucopia of the Peterborough Farmer's Market on Saturday morning. Join us for a lovely meal and beautiful sunset by the fire in the loveliest of settings. (And there is a beautiful and newly-restored barn & event space just in case we need to dine indoors). There are also lots of fun and affordable places in the area to stay if you want to make a weekend of it.
Kazakh cuisine has been shaped by the nomadic history of its people and the harsh conditions of the arid, rocky steppes. Kazakhs developed a culinary traditions using preserved products that could be stored for long periods, such as smoked, dried, and salted meats, particularly horse and lamb, as well as fermented milk products like kumis and various dried cheeses. Their cuisine also incorporated influences of neighbouring cultures, such as the Uyghurs, Dungans, and Uzbeks. Today, modern Kazakh cuisine is a vibrant mix of traditional nomadic dishes and contemporary recipes adapted to local tastes. Tonight Zhanar Khamitova shares a quintessential Kazakh family meal showcasing the ingredients, traditions and spices of a cuisine seldom seen in Toronto’s food scene.
