Kultura Filipino Arts Festival - Toronto

One of the best things about living in Toronto is the multiculturalism; the city is a melting pot of languages, entertainment, food and music that meshes into a vibrant metropolis. From little Italy and China Town to the Caribbean Carnival and Latin Fest I love immersing myself in the mosaic vibe of the city! 

From August 5-9 you can enjoy the Kultura Filipino Arts Festival, a hip, urban event celebrating the Canadian-Filipino experience and culture through traditional and modern cuisine, poetry, live performances, a vibrant market, arts, crafts and more! 

Whether you’re a local or a visitor looking for summer fun Kultura has something for everyone!

Photo from metronews.ca

I have tried many different dishes from around the world but I am new to Filipino cuisine. Last week I was invited to the Kapisanan Philippine Center to sample some delectable dishes created by talented chefs who will be competing in the Street Eats Competition!

We kicked off the tasting with a dessert called Taho made with silken tofu, sago pearls, vanilla, brown sugar, syrup and water. This sweet treat is usually consumed for breakfast and can traditionally be purchase on the streets as people start their day. You can also add tapioca and shredded fruit, in this case the chef added slivers of crisp pear.

My favorite dessert was a native Filipino dish called Biko made from sweet sticky rice, coconut milk and cane sugar. The chef also sprinkled on crushed pistachio for a bit of crunch! This finger licking dish is commonly served on special occasions and the soft, pudding-like bars definitely trigger midnight cravings!

Siopao, or steamed buns is soft bread traditionally stuffed with savory meat, most commonly pork. I am very picky when it comes to meat dishes but the chef prepared the meal vegetarian style with a sweet glaze, cucumber, arugula and spicy hot sauce. It sounds simple but the scrumptious dough balanced all the flavors well for a delicious snack!

If you’d like to experience the Filipino Culture for yourself visit Kultura.Ca for the full schedule and join me on August 9 at Yonge Dundas Sqaure for the Street Eats Competition as top Filipino chefs cook-up delightful street food for a hungry crowd and battle it out for best dish!