If you are what you eat, then what is Toronto? Expanded from her popular food tours and local museum exhibits, this new series from culinary historian and Curious Minds favourite Dr. Laura Carlson (Meals That Changed The World) will explore how Canada’s largest city became a global culinary capital. From the mouthwatering specialties of Toronto’s immigrant neighbourhoods to the classic dishes served up at historic markets and diners to the cutting-edge cuisine of the hottest celebrity chefs, this will be a lively celebration of the city’s savoury stories. Bring your appetite, and your stretchy pants, for a virtual taste of past and present Toronto. 

Led by Dr. Laura Carlson, who holds a doctorate in History from Oxford University and has taught history, classics, and food studies at Queen’s University and Centennial College. Dr. Carlson is also the executive producer and host of the award-winning podcast, The Feast.

The six lectures in this series will all be available to stream until August 31. You can access each lecture at your leisure by clicking on links in your confirmation email, or by visiting your My Shows page.

Lecture 1: How Food Built Toronto: From Indigenous Cuisine to the Halls of the St. Lawrence Market
A city is built on its stomach, and Toronto’s rumbling bellies have always found satisfaction in its region’s natural bounty. After exploring the food traditions and eating habits of the city’s earliest residents, we’ll take a tour through the stalls of the St. Lawrence Market, one of the city’s oldest and most beloved food institutions.

Lecture 2: Toronto Food Icons: From Mr. Christie’s Cookies to President’s Choice
Over its history, Toronto has been the birthplace of giants in the food world. In this lecture, we’ll explore some of the more famous brands that got their start in “Hogtown” and take a lively tour through Canada’s food hall-of-fame. We’ll hear the savoury stories of the city’s early bread wars, explore the rise of Loblaw’s and the Bloor brewery, and sneak into the secret room in Mr. Christie’s mansion. 

Lecture 3: Toronto Gets Cooking: From the Brits to Bonnie Stern
How did Toronto learn to cook? In this lecture, we’ll explore how dining at home has changed over the decades and meet the food columnists, cookbook authors and TV chefs who have shaped how the city eats, introducing increasingly diverse and sophisticated flavours into our home cuisine. We’ll take an exciting journey from The Frugal Housewife’s Manual to The Galloping Gourmet to the digital spectacle of modern Food TV.

Lecture 4: Toronto’s Food Neighbourhoods: From Little Italy to Greektown
From spicy kebabs on Gerrard Street East to momos in Little Tibet to the delightful custard tarts at Little Portugal’s bakeries, Toronto today is world-renowned for the food of its immigrant neighbourhoods. Strolling through the Greek Danforth, Koreatown on Bloor and the Jewish food stalls that once lined Kensington Market, we’ll dig into the history of Toronto global communities and how they’ve defied discrimination to make the city delicious.

Lecture 5: Toronto’s Classic Restaurants: From Captain John’s to The Senator
Captain John’s, Ed’s Warehouse, The Arcadian Court—the names alone are enough to bring back lip-smacking memories of youth! In this lecture, we’ll learn about some of the beloved food spots from Toronto’s past and present, how restaurant styles have changed over time and the local institutions—from Barbarian’s to The Senator to the United Bakers Dairy—that are keeping the past alive.

Lecture 6: The Taste of Toronto Today: From Top Chef Winners to Pandemic Pop-Ups
Increasingly famous for its diverse culinary scene, Toronto emerged on the global stage as a must-visit destination for foodies in the early 2000s. In our final lecture, we’ll explore the city's rise to culinary super-stardom in the early 21st century. As we examine the mouthwatering cuisine of celebrity chefs like Susur Lee, Anthony Rose and Mark McEwen, we’ll look at what’s next for Toronto’s food scene, particularly in the aftermath of the coronavirus crisis. What will the next chapter be for a city that loves to eat?

Streaming for all Curious Minds lectures is available worldwide. Need assistance? Visit our FAQ page or email us at streamingsupport@hotdocs.ca.