+100 reasons to attend Terroir Virtual Symposium 2020

🕒 5 min read

Like most things this year, the Terrroir Symposium has moved the festivities online, but don’t let that squash your excitement. If anyone can make a virtual experience come alive, it’s Terroir and the Culinary Tourism Alliance.

This year’s theme - COLLABORATION: The Power of Partnership - explores the unexpected partnerships that make the collective industries so unique and “look at how collaboration can support stronger, sustainable, vibrant food systems across the globe.

From September 13 to 15, join more than a dozen virtual Terroir Talks, a series of concurrently run interactive workshops, and dynamic networking spaces “designed to help you create lasting relationships in the food tourism and hospitality space.”

If those aren’t reason enough, check these out: 

Next level speakers + presenters

The speaker lineup is always next level at Terroir. Chefs, changemakers, producers and purveyors from across the globe share their wisdom and knowledge. You get a chance to hear from folks passionate about food and change that might just change your mind, never mind your life. This year’s exciting lineup includes: 

- chef/author/artist/activist Elizabeth Falkner
- first female executive chef at Wanuskewin Heritage Park, Jenni Lessard
- creator of Beer. Diversity., Ren Navarro
- writer Eden Hagos of Black Foodie
- Dr. Sylvain Charlesbois, Professor: Food, Distribution and Policy
- Belgian butcher and restaurateur Hendrik Dierendonck
- Cheyenne Sundance, organic farmer
- Senior plant breeder Dr. Dustin Herb
- Chef and social entrepreneur Mark Brand

Exciting events

The jam-packed schedule includes everything from a talk on trends in the current food landscape to a breakout session on sustainable winemaking in Ontario.

Learn how to make mozzarella and discover how to source sustainable seafood. Watch a digital demo on whole animal butchery and take part in a whisky tasting.

These unique opportunities to watch and hear from experts and engage with people in the industry are moments that will stay with you for years to come.

Take a closer look: Day One | Day Two | Day Three

Networking rooms

The 2020 virtual facilitated networking program gives participants a fascinating and unique opportunity to speak with the program committee and an array of industry experts. 

The intimate experience designed to “spark conversations and create meaningful connections based on common interests,” includes the moderator and just four attendees. 

Ticket holders can sign up for one session per day, so choose wisely.

Taste of Terroir Box

The inaugural Taste of Terroir Box was created to help continue the work of the organization “built by the support of the hospitality and travel industries - the two industries hit hardest during this time of crisis.”

A small sampling of local products in the ‘Taste of Terroir’ box.

Designed to bring the 2020 Symposium to life, contents will be called upon and used throughout tutored tastings, cook-along classes and workshops. Cooking pasta with Elizabeth Falkner? SIGN. ME. UP! 

The thoughtfully curated box valued at $350 boasts an array of swoon-worthy products and ingredients including SWO (Sustainable Winemaking Ontario Certified) VQA wine, Ontario artisan cheese, small-batch spirits, locally roasted coffee, and other items that are great additions to both your pantry and home bar, elevating your work from home offerings. Proceeds from the sale of these boxes will go directly to support the continued operation of the Culinary Tourism Alliance and existence of the annual Symposium.

The zero-waste event not only packaged the contents in a recyclable, compostable and corrugated box. Did you know? As a biodegradable product, corrugated cardboard can be disposed of more sustainably than many other types of material and because of it’s sturdiness, can be repurposed and used many times over. And how cool is this? Instead of packing peanuts, items are cushioned by pages of cookbooks that had been discarded. The Terroir team rescued the books and turned the pages into beautiful, meaningful confetti.

The box also includes a second ticket to this years’ event for someone in need –i.e. junior staff, new farmers, students or those who are unemployed – assigned on a first come, first basis.

Sign up now

There are hundreds of reasons to attend Terroir. These are just a handful. So get your tickets now for Terroir Virtual Symposium 2020, taking place September 13-15.

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