Experience the best in Icelandic tastes and talent from Nov. 12 to 15

Back for its fifth year in a row, Taste of Iceland returns to Toronto from Thursday, Nov. 12 to Sunday, Nov. 15. The multi-city festival offers a glimpse into the cuisine, music and culture Iceland is known for, through a menu of authentic Icelandic delicacies at Luma and a free showcase of the country’s hottest up-and-coming musical talent at the Reykjavik Calling concert.

Icelandic Cuisine
Nov. 12 to 14 at Luma (350 King St. W.)
Toronto welcomes noted Icelandic chef Ylfa Helgadóttir (owner and chef de cuisine, Kopar Restaurant) who has won numerous awards for her cooking and is part of the country’s competing team of chefs. Helgadóttir has collaborated with Anthony Walsh, corporate executive chef of Oliver & Bonacini and Michael Wilson, Luma’s own chef de cuisine to put together a four-course prix-fixe menu for $75. For reservations, please call Luma at 647.288.4715 or click here.

On Sunday, Nov. 15, Luma and Helgadóttir will host ‘An Evening in Iceland’, an interactive dining experience featuring Icelandic music, cuisine and inspired drinks. Join chefs Helgadóttir, Walsh and Wilson for a meet and greet cocktail reception, followed by a four-course tasting menu with fine wine pairings. Throughout the meal, guests will have the opportunity to learn more from chef Helgadóttir, as she visits the communal tables and speaks to the unique features of each dish. Tickets are $115 and include canapés, a specialty cocktail, entertainment and a four-course dinner with wine pairings. To purchase tickets, click here.


Chefs Ylfa Helgadóttir, Anthony Walsh and Michael Wilson.

Reykjavik Calling – Free Concert
Saturday, Nov. 14 at Adelaide Hall (250 Adelaide St. W.), 19+, doors open at 7 p.m.
The annual Reykjavik Calling concert returns, this year at the revamped Adelaide Hall. The Icelandic-Canadian collaborative lineup will feature Icelandic artists Samaris and Airplane and Spaceship paired with Toronto musicians Prince Innocence and RALPH. To RSVP to the free concert, click here.

Line-up:
8 p.m. – RALPH
8:45 p.m. – Airplane and Spaceship
9:30 p.m. – Prince Innocence
10:15 p.m. – Samaris


RALPH is a Toronto-based artist whose sound is a marriage between disco, synth, smooth soul and sultry pop. Ralph’s upcoming EP will be available spring 2016.

Airplane and Spaceship is a refreshing one-woman act whose electronic space-music is a mix of playful beats, cool bass and high-pitched vocals. Her new album, Nótt á Hafsbotni, focuses on the magic and darkness of the deep ocean.
Prince Innocence is a Toronto-based singer-producer duo known for their minimal synth pop, sleek R&B and soul blends.

Samaris is a trio that fuses glacial electronica and pulse-like beats with haunting vocals. The band won both the Icelandic Músíktilraunir and Kraumur Awards before the international release of their debut album in 2013.

Icelandic Films
Sunday, Nov. 15 at The Royal Theatre (608 College St.), starts at 1 p.m.
Presented by the Reykjavik Shorts & Docs Festival, this free event is open to the public on a first-come, first-served basis and will conclude with a Q&A session with Heather Millard, the director of the film festival.

About Taste of Iceland
Taste of Iceland in Toronto is presented by Iceland Naturally in cooperation with Icelandair, Reyka Vodka, Blue Lagoon, Icelandic Glacial Water, Promote Iceland, Brennivín, Iceland Airwaves, Luma and Adelaide Hall.

Iceland Naturally
Iceland Naturally is a cooperative marketing organization that promotes the tourism, services, products and culture of Iceland. It represents the true essence of Iceland, its creativity and spectacular natural wonders. The group is comprised of Icelandair, Icelandic Group, Islandsbanki, Reyka Vodka, City of Reykjavik, Icelandic Glacial Water, Blue Lagoon, Keflavik International Airport (KEF), Landsvirkjun, Ölgerðin Egill Skallagrímsson, Promote Iceland and the Government of Iceland.

Website:         www.icelandnaturally.com
Facebook:      Taste of Iceland Toronto
Twitter:          @IcelandNatural
Instagram:     @IcelandNatural
Hashtag:        #TasteofIceland

About the Author

Bryen Dunn is a freelance journalist with a focus on travel, lifestyle, entertainment, and hospitality. He has an extensive portfolio of celebrity interviews with musicians, actors, and other public personalities. He enjoys discovering delicious eats, tasting spirited treats, and being mesmerized by musical beats. Reach out - bryen@thebuzzmag.ca