Stella Artois Hot & Spicy Food Festival: The Island Soul Edition
Harbourfront Centre 2005 summer festival
Multiple venues (including the CIBC Stage)
235 Queens Quay West, Toronto, Canada
Friday July 29 to Monday August 1, 2005
Info: 416-973-4000 or www.harbourfrontcentre.com

The Stella Artois Hot and Spicy Food Festival: The Island Soul Edition heats up returning for its eighth cool year with the theme of Fire and Ice beginning Friday July 29 through Monday August 1st. During this popular festival audiences have the opportunity to observe and learn from celebrity chefs as they fire up the grill and spice up the dessert tray! Things get even hotter when music legends like The Last Poets (NYC) and the internationally acclaimed Lizz Fields (Philadelphia) and Charanga Cakewalk (Austin) ignite the CIBC Stage! Other highlights include a Toronto International Film Festival free outdoor screening of Bend It Like Beckham, an Iron Chef competition and much more! All events are free admission.

MUSIC: North American artists explore Pan-African and Caribbean music styles and movements. More acts TBA.

New York City's The Last Poets are African-American griot legends often hailed as the “godfathers of rap”. They bring their revolutionary blend of politics, music and spoken word to the CIBC Stage. Their latest release When We Come Together, The Tribute Album features guest appearances from wordsmiths like Dead Prez, Erykah Badu, Common and Kanye West.

Philadelphia's Lizz Fields was classically trained at the famed Philadelphia Creative and Performing Arts School with the likes of Amel Larrieux and The Roots. Fields bridges the gap between jazzy Soul and Electronica. Her captivating vocals have often been compared to Jill Scott, and her debut ByDayByNight features the hit single When I See Love. See her Toronto debut!

Multi-instrumentalist, studio whiz, producer and sideman extraordinaire Michel Ramos (John Mellencamp; Patty Griffin, Paul Simon, ex-Bodean and ex-Rembrandt) makes his Toronto debut with his Charanga Cakewalk band project. The first CD from Charanga Cakewalk, Loteria de la Cumbia Lounge is a pan-Latin American martini mixed with traditional instruments like Spanish classical guitar, accordion, horns; stirred with deep Urban grooves and shaken with a measure of Morricone. Ramos follows the unique road laid by contemporaries such as Sidestepper, Gotan Project, Latin Playboys and Manu Chao.

FOOD: Prepare to heat up and cool down on this fantastic food voyage! FIRE (in the Brigantine Tent all weekend) grills through global BBQ traditions including Korea (Korean Grill House), India (Dhaba Indian Excellence), Southern USA (Joe Mamas) and Barbados (featuring internationally acclaimed Chef Peter Edey). Cooking demos won’t be the only opportunity to burn your tongue, the Red Hot Market will be returning as a place for the public to sample and purchase an eclectic variety of spices, sauces, marinades and dips - all with a hot and spicy flair. After getting all fired up audiences can take in ICE (in the Lakeside Terrace all weekend) - which showcases savory spices including food demos by the Cheese Boutique, The Restaurant at Sasi-Gourmet Thai, and Carole's Cheesecake Company Ltd. Last but not least, the Hot and Spicy Iron Chef Competition – Round Two will pit two proven chefs head to head as our panel of food experts comment play by play and judge who will be crowned as Hot and Spicy Iron Chef 2005. Many more food events TBA.

FILM: This free outdoor movie screening serves as thank you to the City of Toronto’s hospitality during the Toronto International Film Festival. A Hot and Spicy Food Festival tradition! This year's film is the sleeper hit Bend it Like Beckham. A comedy about bending the rules to reach your goal, Bend It Like Beckham explores the world of women's football, from kick-abouts in the park to freekicks in the final. Set in Hounslow, West London and Hamburg, the film follows two 18 year olds with their hearts set on a future in professional soccer. Heart-stopping talent doesn't seem to be enough when your parents want you to hang up your football boots, find a nice boyfriend and learn to cook the perfect chapatti. More films TBA.

DANCE: The Carnival Dance Jam (commissioned for the festival in partnership with the Extravaganza! festival) will explore the history of carnivals of the world through movement, costume and narrative. Choreographed and created by DanzArte Artistic Director Pedro Salazar. More dance events TBA.

VISUAL ARTS: The Empty Bowls Fulfilled exhibition (in partnership with the Gardiner Museum of Ceramic Art and an extension of the Empty Bowls annual fundraiser by the Gardiner Museum) gathers some of Toronto's best and most generous chefs with the region's best and most generous ceramic artists. The exhibit will feature the beautiful ceramic Empty Bowls from the fundraiser and photography of the esteemed Toronto Chefs with the Empty Bowls by photographer Jennifer Givogue.
 
Media Contact: Shane Gerard, 416-973-4655, sgerard@harbourfrontcentre.com