Tasting Together

Happy Canada Day from Tasting Together! We’re reaching into the way-back machine for one of our favourite episodes from our radio days: a Canada Day special that unpacks a hard to define question — What is Canadian food? André and Miroki dig into a deeper conversation about Canadian identity, multiculturalism, reconciliation, and the way food carries history, culture, and politics whether we like...

This episode is a litteral roller coaster - starting on a high note as Miroki got the opportunity to check out Playa Bowls a new restaurant that opens in Toronto on June 18. They then reflect on nomad culture - and proper etiquette when camping out in a coffee shop - especially given that so many restaurants are in a tough financial spot these days. And move to entertaining - André has been itchin...

André joins Miroki fresh from a short trip to the east coast. He had a chance to visit two wineries in the Annapolis Valley in Nova Scotia. He had a chance to visit Benjamin Bridge, and Lightfoot and Wolfville. There were many surprising moments he experienced while visiting the wineries - but none were more surprising than when he tasted a sparkling Rosé from Benjamin Bridge that gave him goosebu...

The cocktail scene has come a long way since Strawberry Daiquiris and Sex on the Beaches. Toronto has become especially rich with innovative cocktail spots, a number of which recently made it into's Canada's Best 100. Miroki was particularly thrilled to learn that Suite 115 , the place that currently makes her favourite cocktail (what is it?), is among the other prestigious locations on the list....

As wine aficionados, Miroki and André are always asked what is their favourite wine? If you don't know André's, you may have been sleeping on previous Tasting Together episodes. Miroki, however, has often said her favourite depends on her mood...until you see how her eyes light up when Syrah is mentioned. When folks talk about Rhône wines, it's often in reference to Southern Rhône, with its very w...

Argentinian Malbec is, without a doubt, a cornerstone for Canadian wine drinkers...Canada is Argentina's 4th largest global export market! With Malbec World Day having recently passed on April 17th, Miroki and André are reminded about the quality that Argentine wines present for the dollar. But there is so much more to the story of Argentine Malbec. It has a rich history from when the grapes first...

If you look at all of André's favourite dishes, you would think that chili would naturally be a part of his regular menu. Surprisingly, it's not! Not for the combination of ingredients, but from a lingering, unpleasant childhood memory. Meanwhile, why did Miroki polish off every, single grain of rice from all her plates as a child, while her sister would stubbornly sit at the table with half-eaten...

Trigger and content warning: In this episode, we discuss violence, which includes sexual assault. Hot kitchens. Sharp Knives. Loud voices. Cuss words. Those are the hallmarks of the back of house in a restaurant. And while there has been a level of glorification to being able to survive being toughened up the kitchens, the lines have too often crossed into abuse. A major shortcuming in the hospita...

Do you think you shop and eat local? What if we told you that to eat food sourced solely in Canada, that you would be giving up staples like olive oil, lemons, vanilla, and even black pepper? That's exactly the mission that Chef Hunter Guindon of The Table Culinary Studio has undertaken. Nestled in rural PEI, his restaurant stimulates the senses with an intimate 7 course dinner featuring not only...

As comedian Ronny Chieng says, "Gong Hay Fat Choy" isn't "Happy New Year"...it's "Hope you get rich!" Whether it's Miroki's Cantonese Lunar New Year celebrations, Vietnamese Tết, or Korean Seollal, festivities are in full swing during this period. As a first generation Chinese-Canadian, it's wonderful that Baker Joe of Wai Tack Kee is keeping Miroki's shelves full of delicious traditional Cantones...

Temperatures are frigid, but the month is hot with events and activities galore. Miroki and André give you a rundown of what’s exciting in February in Toronto and the surrounding region. Winterlicious will be just wrapping up, so now is the time to enjoy a great prix fixe in Toronto. André has found a new appreciation for spending a night out with Anja for Valentine’s Day, though he isn’t dining a...

January is generally a pretty blue kind of month, especially when the bombshell is dropped that 4000 restaurants will close by the end of the year. Emotions run high as customers and industry workers alike debate the reasons, trying to find one major factor to point the finger at. But sometimes the reasons lie in places we never consider. This is why we wanted to ask the best expert in the field....

André is not participating in Dry January this year. Miroki has never done it. Both discuss their relationship with alcohol as industry workers, and why going cold turkey for a month may not (or might?) be a sustainable decision to recalibrate drinking habits. Meanwhile, a sandwich has traveled all the way from Italian Star Deli in Regina, Saskatchewan to Toronto just so Miroki could see what the...

As you tune into this episode on New Year’s Eve, you suddenly realize, “Sacré bleu! I didn’t get any sparkling wine to toast in the New Year!” Well, don’t you worry, Miroki and Andre have gotchu. From baller Champagnes tasted this year, the last great secret deal hidden in Ontario *cough* sparkling wine *cough*, fun and fancy free Prosecco, they will keep you well stocked for the celebration wheth...

The holidays can be both a wonderful and chaotic time of year. What is Miroki and André doing to make Christmas and Hanukkah with their families a time of joy? Maybe it’s using the right kitchen tools to make cooking turkey a breeze (pssst André tells you what it is). Maybe it’s planning out the perfect white elephant so no one ends up with a strange reject mug. The two reflect on what is the most...

The cider scene may be on fire right now, but if we said apple wine vs cider, I think a few of us would suddenly don our snob caps. Either thought of as too sugary, or poorly made, fruit wine has had a bit of a bad rap. But Miroki has frequented Kawartha Country Wines up in Ontario’s cottage country since 2012, and has enjoyed a delicious array of wines made of everything from blueberries, rhubarb...

Andre has never liked caviar. Miroki has wanted to like it, but didn’t understand the hype from the ones that she’s tasted. That was before Grégoire Doulain of Axyon showed up and bewitched them both. A purveyor of truffles, caviar, cured meats, oysters and pantry, Grégoire is no stranger to the finer foods in life, and convincing you that it’s worth lightening up your wallet for these goodies. He...

It’s been one year since Miroki got married, and she’s been reflecting on some of the crazy decisions she made to make her wedding the best it could be. Luckily, she had the very talented wedding planner Trevor Frankfort supporting her. Now, Trevor is back with his 2nd Best Wedding Ever Competition! From venue, to food, to cake, to flowers, one lucky couple will win the wedding of their dreams. Ca...

The most terrifying Halloween wine story is shared this episode - that of pairing candy with wine. Has anyone who has written about it actually tried and enjoyed it? Miroki and Andre want to know. Miroki would much rather be pairing wine with her catches from her crabbing adventures out in British Columbia. Learn how to sustainably catch crabs, fish and forage mushrooms. If procuring your own food...

Andre has been lamenting about summer being over, and clearly the deities heard - how has the spectacularly warm fall been affecting grape harvest for wine? Speaking of harvest season, there's lots of festivities happening, from Oktoberfest in Kitchener to the upcoming Thanksgiving holidays. Discover an array of family and adult activities at the second largest Oktoberfest in the world next to Mun...

Where's the best places to eat? The latest Michelin guide for Toronto has been released - check out the list of new restaurants, and some of Miroki and Andre's shoutouts. Wanna win an all inclusive wedding worth $211,000? Miroki's incredible wedding planner, Trevor Frankfort is hosting a competition for one lucky couple. Enter by Fri. Sept. 26: https://trevents.ca/bestweddingever2 Hopefully André...

Last November, André visited the north of Portugal in the search of great, food friendly wine. Vinho Verde - is a region that he visited in 2017 - and it made an impact on him. He felt the need to return. While this was recorded Miroki was planning her own trip to Portugal. Vinho Verde is on so many wine lists in the North - is this region really an underdog? André thinks so - but Miroki isn't con...

Miroki and André spent a whirlwind weekend at the International Cool Climate Chardonnay Celebration. Miroki proposed that before we showed up - we should ask people 'What is the future of Chardonnay?' Such a broad question had so much to unpack. As the podcast unfurled, it became apparent that there is so much more to talk about that goes much further than just Chardonnay, from where the wine mark...

Miroki and André return from a much needed break to discuss a few things that have popped up in the news ... First - Miroki is in the final hours of a Kickstarter for her day job - https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/rockpapercynic/dnd-party-game Second - We learned that André and Miroki are human garbage dumps when it comes to what they will eat - https://www.idrlabs.com/food-disgust/test.php La...

Let's keep this note short and sweet - André and Miroki are taking a short break for the summa! We will cya in a couple of weeks! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.