For over a decade, The Depanneur hosted thousands of unique Drop-In Dinners, Cooking Classes, Table Talks, and Supper Clubs. The Dep was also the birthplace of Newcomer Kitchen, a non-profit social enterprise that helped create social and economic opportunities for Syrian refugee women through food-based projects.
In 2023 The Depanneur will be exploring new ways to celebrate the incredible diversity of culinary talent we have in Toronto. You can keep abreast of our latest developments and new collaborations via our email newsletter, (subscribe here), or on our Facebook or Instagram pages.
UPCOMING EVENTS
July 2022
COMMUNAL PICNIC: Turkish Picnic | Tuba Tunç
Turkey has an ancient culinary tradition stretching back to the very beginnings of Western civilization. From these deep roots the Ottomans developed a sophisticated and aristocratic cuisine based on ingredients and influences pulled from an empire that stretched from North Africa across the Middle East and into Greece and the Balkans. The flavours of contemporary Turkish food emerge from this mix of cultures and traditions, and shine in Chef Tuba Tunç’s selection of traditional Turkish dishes.
Find out more »COMMUNAL DINNER: Creole vs Kreyól | Marc Kusitor + Daniel Holloway
There are many legacies of colonialism, many terrible, and yet still some wonderful things have emerged from this collision of cultures. In places where French and African cultures touched, a vibrant fusion cuisine emerged. Creole (Louisiana) and Kreyól (Haiti) foodways share common roots but represent diverse branches, informed by the idiosyncrasies of history and terroir. Chefs Marc Kusitor and Dan Holloway playfully explore the intersection of these two culinary worlds, where French techniques meet African traditions and New World ingredients.
Find out more »COMMUNAL PICNIC: Paella Picnic | Jose Arato
Paella is often thought of as the Spanish national dish, but it is really a speciality of Valencia, though it has countless regional variations. This classic rice dish has five key ingredients: short-grain rice, saffron, pimentón (smoked paprika), olive oil and the large, shallow paellera pan from which the dish gets its name. José Arato, owner and Head Chef of Pimentón, will be preparing his paella live on site in his giant 100 cm wide paellera!
Find out more »August 2022
COMMUNAL DINNER: Casbah Flavours | Dali Chehimi
Long-time Dep favourite, Chef Dali Chehimi brings his traditional Tunisian favourites to the table for a delicious taste of the Casbah! Tunisian cuisine features all the hallmarks of delicious North African food: complex spices, lush combinations of fruit and meat, Mediterranean ingredients and a hint of French colonial influence. Tagines, the flavourful stews that range from Morocco to Egypt, get their name from the characteristic conical dishes of the same name that they are most often cooked in.
Find out more »COMMUNAL PICNIC: Anishinaabe Picnic | Chef Candace
Chef Candace — whose name is Nawatiin Kwe, meaning Calm Water Woman — is an Anishinaabe entrepreneur from Aundeck-Omni-Kaning on Mantoulin Island. Her passion for food started as a child, and continued to grow over the years as she helped prepare foods for lunches, events, and ceremonies in her community. An interest in wellness and nutrition, emerging from more than 10 years as a frontline worker, also informs her approach to sourcing and preparing healthy, local, seasonal foods. Chef Candace has prepared this meal to share with us, inspired by the traditional foods and connection to the land of her First Nation family.
Find out more »COMMUNAL DINNER: Indonesian Rijsttafel | Elita Rocka
Dutch for “rice table,” rijsttafel is part of the Dutch-Indonesian colonial heritage, a meal for festive occasions to be enjoyed with family or friends. It consists of serving many small Indonesian dishes, revolving around rice, to be shared with the whole table. Tonight Chef Elita from Nai Nai Indonesian Food curates an exquisite selection of the diverse and delicious dishes from Indonesia’s many cultures and culinary traditions.
Find out more »COMMUNAL PICNIC: Tibetan Picnic | TC Momo
Momos — hearty dumplings of simple dough wrapped around delectable fillings, served steamed or fried with spicy sauce — are probably Tibet’s best known culinary export. In fact, momos are well-loved in many of the countries around the Himalayas, with countless variations in ingredients, appearance and names. But especially in Tibet, momos are not just food; they are also symbols of festivity and celebration. They are served during important social occasions like marriages, New Years and other special family gatherings. Join Tsewang & Lhundup of TC Tibetan MoMo, for a taste of traditional Tibetan fare, all made with local, organic ingredients sourced directly from the Ontario farmers they work alongside at several of Toronto’s farmers’ markets.
Find out more »COMMUNAL DINNER: Seoul Food BBQ | Greg Couillard
Chef Greg Couillard is best known for his unique and eclectic mix of Caribbean, Asian, Latin, and Indian flavours and ingredients. He has forged a reputation as a fearless culinary innovator, a kind of supercollider of food ideas, smashing them together with incredible force, producing novel and exotic new dishes for lucky diners to marvel at. Chef Greg’s 30+ year culinary legacy has left an indelible impression on fine dining in Toronto, opening eyes, minds & palates to the incredible culinary diversity of our city. For this dinner, Greg casts his net across Asia, reeling in flavours from China, Thailand and Korea, and bringing it all to the table with his inimitable panache.
Find out more »COMMUNAL PICNIC: Mexican Picnic | Erika Araujo
Mexican culture has a profoundly long history, with settlements reaching back to 10,000 BCE, and a pre-Hispanic agricultural legacy contemporaneous with ancient Egyptians. This rich and ancient tradition, combined with centuries of Spanish colonial influence, has evolved into the full glory of contemporary Mexican cuisine. Tonight Chef Erika Araujo of Ixiim prepares a selection of classic Mexican dishes from, a colourful and flavourful picnic perfect for a warm summer night.
Find out more »COMMUNAL PICNIC: Palestinian Picnic | Mary Freij
In so many of the world’s culinary tractions, delicious food and their warm memories are the domain of grandmothers. Chef Mary Freij’s newest project, Teta’s Kitchen is an homage to those recipes, connecting Mary to her Palestinian and Lebanese roots, and sharing the stories and flavours from her family’s kitchen.
Find out more »