Hot and Spicy Food Festival at Harbourfront Centre on Toronto lakefront

Celebrating 15 fiery years of international culinary culture

TORONTO, ON --– Taste culinary ingenuity at the summer's most incendiary event, Harbourfront Centre'’s 15th Annual Hot & Spicy Food Festival, presented by CIBC (July 20-22).

Taco Takedown

This year, Harbourfront Centre celebrates 15 spicy years of culinary culture with a mouth-watering celebration that examines innovations in the local and international culinary scenes. Push your taste buds to the limit with ‘hot and spicy’ food from some of the most fascinating cultures on the planet, walk down memory lane with Hot & Spicy Food Festival alumnae chefs and savour smoldering flavours at a special ‘Hot & Spicy’ smokehouse.


Hot & Spicy Food Festival highlights include:

• Hot & Spicy International Iron Chef Competition - a culinary showdown that is unparalleled in the city; a Taco Takedown with top chefs who will put their own spin on this tasty snack; and the ever popular Red Hot Market, featuring some of the spiciest hot sauces around;
• The first-ever TECHmunch Toronto food blogging conference designed to bring together and inspire novice and seasoned food bloggers alike;
• Sizzling tunes from Chilean rapper/activist Ana Tijoux; uplifting soul music from Naomi Shelton & The Gospel Queens and the soulful sounds of Slim Moore & the Mar-Kays;
• Canning and Urban Foraging workshops and a Farmer’s Market for the health and eco-conscious consumer;
• …And more!

“For the past 15 years, the Hot & Spicy Food Festival has been a signature culinary event at Harbourfront Centre. It was one of the first culinary festivals that showcased global ‘hot and spicy’ taste tends for Toronto audiences,” says Melanie Fernandez, Harbourfront Centre’s Director of Community and Educational Programmes. “Over the years, the festival has become a leader in presenting culinary trends and unique food experiences from around the globe. We are pleased that CIBC recognizes the importance of this work and that they are presenting this signature festival with us."
“CIBC is proud to partner with Harbourfront Centre – one of Toronto’s foremost community, arts and cultural gathering places – to present a number of exciting events over the coming months, including the Hot & Spicy Food Festival,” says Stephen Forbes, Executive Vice-President of Marketing & Communications, CIBC. “CIBC has a strong commitment to diversity and we are thrilled to be part of this event.”
For additional information and complete event listings, the public may visit harbourfrontcentre.com/summer or call the Information Hotline at 416-973-4000. Harbourfront Centre is located at 235 Queens Quay West in the heart of downtown Toronto’s waterfront.

ABOUT HARBOURFRONT CENTRE SUMMER FESTIVALS
Harbourfront Centre is an innovative, non-profit cultural organization which provides internationally renowned programming in the arts, culture, education and recreation, in the heart of Toronto's downtown waterfront. Our summer festival season runs from Victoria Day weekend through Thanksgiving weekend, and features over 20 festivals and events that offer The World in One Place. For more information visit harbourfrontcentre.com/summer
ABOUT CIBC
CIBC is a leading North American financial institution with nearly 11 million personal banking and business clients. CIBC is committed to supporting causes that matter to our clients, our employees and our communities. We aim to make a difference in communities through corporate donations, sponsorships and the volunteer spirit of employees. In 2011, CIBC contributed more than $35 million to charitable and non-profit initiatives in Canada to support national, regional and local organizationswww.cibc.com.

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For more media information contact:
Althea Linton, 416-973-4428 alinton@harbourfrontcentre.com Follow me on Twitter @misslinton
For high-resolution images and additional media resources, visit our summer media page:  harbourfrontcentre.com/summer/media Follow us on Twitter: @harbourfrontTO