Taste of Culture

Culture, the unmistakable collection of characteristics that shapes who we are, is powerful. Rooted in history, tradition and shared experience, it forms the foundation of identity and belonging. Woven through every aspect of life, culture is the heartbeat of communities, connecting people to the places they call home. It is an innate language of connection, guiding how we gather, celebrate, communicate and share.

In Toronto, one of the world’s most multicultural cities, culture is contagious. It lives in our neighbourhoods, colours our communities and finds its way into the everyday rituals that bring us together. Our differences may shape us, but our shared experiences create connection. And few experiences are more universal than gathering around culture.

Taste of Culture: Travel the Diaspora, an immersive cultural festival celebrating African, Caribbean, Black American and Latin food, music and community, was a natural extension of that spirit. Held at the trendy STACKT Market, the event invited guests to journey across the diaspora through authentic cuisine, curated cultural hubs and a lively marketplace of local vendors. Live DJ sets kept the energy moving, while an interactive passport-stamp experience encouraged exploration from one cultural stop to the next.

Drawn by the promise of a curated cultural experience and, of course, the prospect of eating my way through it, I found myself at Taste of Culture, ready to embark on a culinary adventure.

With the last days of summer slipping away, the scramble to make them memorable was on. Panic picnics, stolen beach days, and last-minute concerts filled calendars as everyone tried to salvage the season. Sadly, I was among them, determined to capture a few more summer moments before time expired.

The invitation to cover Taste of Culture arrived at a time when I needed to fill the void left by the festivals I hadn’t attended this summer. I was ready for a refreshing interlude from the dining experiences I tend to cover, and the timing felt serendipitous.

I spent the morning fussing over festival attire. I had options, probably too many, and that abundance was precisely the problem. After an unreasonable amount of swapping skirts for shorts and dresses for denim, I finally decided. A light pink maxi dress with silver hardware ended the struggle. I kept the accessories minimal: simple gold drop earrings that echoed the gold detailing on my sandals.

Wafting aromas and sounds marked my first encounter with Taste of Culture, setting the tone for what was ahead. As I stepped further into the space, the festival's energy made the transition from arrival to exploration feel immediate.

Set against STACKT Market’s recognizable backdrop—a layout of shipping containers in concert—the festival details felt unforced. Instead, functionality fueled the atmosphere.

Colourful tents, food trucks, string lights and vibrant murals softened the industrial surroundings, creating a space that felt both temporary and alive. Beneath the Toronto skyline, culture had found room to breathe, and people had found a place to gather.

In an ideal world, Bao and Jerk Chicken would be a match made in heaven. This attempt wasn’t perfect, but it was beautifully presented. The Bao was wonderful—fluffy and airy with a cotton-like chew. The Jerk Chicken, however, was lacking; the depth of flavour wasn’t there. The accompanying sauce and garnish married well with the dish, making the attempt admirable. Tasty, but not quite perfect.

As charismatic as its creator, this fish cake isn’t so much reimagined as perfected by Chef Shea. The perfect crunch, the right level of salt, and just a hint of spice. What a revelation.

A tale of true balance, this combination was the highlight of my Taste of Culture visit. The crisp, fluffy exterior of the bake paired wonderfully with savoury, spiced, salty cod flakes. A beloved Caribbean comfort food, this pairing is familiar, but in the right hands, familiarity can feel like discovery.

A refreshing break for my palate, the subtle sweetness of guava and pineapple commingled with the more pronounced flavour of condensed milk to create a cool, creamy reprieve. Bright and tropical, it was a welcome pause between the more savoury offerings.

I’m not usually a dessert girl, but reputation drew me to these puffs. Warm with a subtle sweetness, they were elevated by the chocolate drizzle, which added just enough richness without overpowering their delicate character. A simple treat, but one that understood the assignment.

The perfect ending to my Taste of Culture visit, this latte gave me life. A balanced espresso finish anchored the drink, while the sweet, toasted notes of s’mores brought just enough indulgence to make the final sip feel like a fitting farewell. Warm, comforting, and unexpectedly satisfying—a sweet ending to a flavour-filled afternoon.

Festival service usually lands somewhere between casual and coping. With crowds to manage and orders coming in from every direction, the occasional detail can get lost in favour of keeping things moving. At Taste of Culture, however, the service was relaxed, leaning comfortably toward casual rather than chaotic. Vendors were warm and witty, and the marketplace moved at a steady pace, keeping a fluid rhythm.

Festival fare is typically wallet-friendly, with most people spending somewhere between $30 and $100 per day, depending on the festival. For this occasion, I didn’t set a specific budget. I simply wanted to sample as much of the food and drink on offer as possible. While I didn’t have one consolidated bill to share, I thought it was still worth breaking down what I spent on each bite and sip: JERK CHICKEN BAO — $9 BAJAN FISH CAKE — $11 BAKE & SALTFISH — $18 ISLAND ICEE — $12 CHOCOLATE PUFF — $9 S’MORES LATTE — $7.50 TOTAL — $66.50

Overall, my Taste of Culture experience was an enjoyable one. While the interactive passport-stamp experience could have been better executed, it didn’t diminish the event's broader appeal. There was still something compelling about moving from booth to booth, discovering new flavours, encountering different cultural expressions, and allowing curiosity to lead the way. More than anything, I had a blast eating my way through it. And perhaps that is the beauty of an event like this. Culture has a way of beckoning us beyond the familiar, inviting us to taste, explore, and experience something beyond our everyday surroundings. When culture calls, the undeniable move is to answer. And when you do, be bold. Bring your curiosity. Bring your appetite. Better yet, make it a culinary adventure.