The Big Smoke
Toronto
THE GREATER TORONTO AREA has a population of 6.3 million, making it the biggest city in Canada. This metropolis has many different cuisines, a diverse music scene and is one of the most multicultural cites in the world. Before the skyscrapers of the Financial District, this land was a vital meeting place known as Tkaronto. In 1834, the town was incorporated as the City of Toronto. Over the next century, it transformed into a powerhouse of industry and rail. By the mid-20th century, Toronto began its rapid growth into a multicultural mosaic, eventually surpassing Montreal as Canada’s financial capital.
NAO In-Depth Toronto Music, Food & Culture
In this episode we dive into fun-facts, the Toronto Film Festival, MuchMusic and we discuss a very Canadian pastry.
The BeaverTail pastry is a reference to the Canadian Fur Trade. Grant and Pam’s family recipe of fried dough was turned into a business. Francesco shows us how to make homemade BeaverTails and we discuss the winter ritual.
MUCHMUSIC made a big impact on Canadian culture in the 80s and 90s. The cutting edge music television channel was unique with it’s journalistic approach. Loved by fans and appreciate by everyone in the music scene.
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Food
BeaverTails: Sweet Ontario Treat Demo
Hey, dessert fans! In this mouthwatering clip from Francesco is back with a bang, whipping up iconic Beaver Tails. A winter staple (no actual beavers harmed!), these seasonal delights are perfect for canal skating vibes.
The invention of BeaverTails pastries traces back to 1978 in the small town of Killaloe, Ontario, where husband-and-wife duo Grant and Pam Hooker first introduced them to the public. Drawing from Grant’s grandmother’s old family recipe for fried dough
Francesco demos it all live, from dough-stretching fails to fancy plating. Winter essential: Fresh, warm, and messy!
Music
MuchMusic’s BACKSTORY
In the 1980s and 1990s, MuchMusic was more than just a TV channel; it was the “Nation’s Music Station” and the undisputed cultural heart of Toronto. Unlike the highly polished MTV in the U.S., MuchMusic was celebrated for its raw, “guerilla-style” production and its unique accessibility to the public. The studio was famous for its open-concept, street-level environment. Passersby could literally press their faces against the glass to see VJs. By the early 2000s, MuchMusic began shifting toward reality programming, but for those who grew up in the 80s and 90s, it remains a symbol of a time when Toronto felt like the center of the music universe.
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