Panamfest Magazine 2023

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Welcome!

Welcome to the VIP Gala Opening Reception for the eleventh annual Pan American Food & Music Festival, Canada’s largest Pan American Festival. This unique Festival brings together all parts of the region and bolsters our shared Panamerican identity. During our free two-day festival at Nathan Phillips Square next weekend, on July 22 and 23, 2023, we will be presenting 30 countries.

It fills me with great happiness to be able to celebrate the 11 years of the festival - a great journey of faith, hard work, and enjoyment-. When I founded the Festival in 2012, we were still years away from the Pan Am Games and our communities were just starting to come together in Toronto. It seems incredible to think that since then we have welcomed over 250,000 visitors to date, presented 2,230 Latin American and Canadian performers, 154 chefs, 245 musical presentations, and recruited over 2,000 volunteers

Above all, I am most proud to show off our culinary, musical, and cultural diversity at the highest level. We are blessed to live in Canada and celebrate our folklore, music, recipes, chefs, dancers, live bands, and diversity.

I am very grateful for the support of our corporate and government sponsors, community partners, my fantastic planning team, the media, wonderful volunteers, my friends and family, and my partner Francisco. Without all this support, it would have been impossible to get here.

With so much diversity and fun, we know the Pan American Food & Music Festival will continue to be your favorite summer festival. Let the celebrations begin!!

July 22-23, 2023

Dear Friends:

I am pleased to extend my warmest greetings to everyone attending the 2023 annual Pan American Food and Music Festival This event offers a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the richness, beauty and diversity of North, Central and South America and the Caribbean. I am certain that the many performances and activities planned for this celebration will be enjoyed by everyone in attendance. I would like to commend the Pan American Food and Music Festival for its hard work in organizing this year’s event and for its commitment to promoting cultural exchange. Please accept my best wishes for a memorable festival

Sincerely,

SPECIAL THANKS

Pan American Food & Music Festival Team: Director/ Daniel García-Herreros

Chair/ Francisco Álvarez

Culinary Curator/ Mary Luz Mejia

Event Producer / Marcela Aranda

Administrative Assistant/ Andrea Hernández

Creative Director/ Joaquín Camargo

Website Administrator/ Carlos Bolívar

Social Media/ Karla Casanova

Volunteers Coordinator/ Sandra Bonet

Site Designer / Zulima Wesso

Videographer / Juan David Cardozo

Public Relations/ Vince Ciarlo

Accountant/ Tami Zguri

ArtsXplosion Board of Directors: Chair / Francisco Alvarez

Alan Abuchaibe

Berenice Corral

Idalia Obregon

Alicia Galarza

Luz Madronero

Thank to all our fabulous volunteers and the following special people:

Barbara Finch

Bernardo González

Brittany Lynn Martin

Candice Keast

Caridad González

Carlos Castro

Carmela Sabatini

Ciro Alquichire

Claudia Falquez

Claudia Montoya

Cheryll Diego

Daniel Martínez

Daniel Velez

Daniela Ferreira

Debbie Fernandes

Debra Mansillo

Eduardo Urueña

Eldy Ampuero

Elvira Sanchez de Malicki

Erin Nolan

Felicia Grigore

Franklin Guzman

Fredy Caldas

Gabino Espinosa

Gloria Grillo

Gord Hintze

Hemah Shanmugam

Isabel Inclán

Jai zhao

Jaime Gonzalez

Javier Lopez

Jose Velez

Juanita Dorado

Julian Carvajal

Laura Marin

Leanna DaCunha

Lola Adeniyi

Lorena Suarez Balkowski

Luis Bricen

Luis Felipe Bocanegra

Luis Fernando Velasquez

Luis Ibarra

Lupe Ledesma

Maria Elena Figueroa

Mario A Griffiths

Mario Stojanac

Marlon Moreno

Marta Elena

Marta Garcia-Herreros

Martha Checa

Mauricio Ospina

Miriam Contreras

Monique Forster

Monisha Bhanot

Oscar Avendano

Pablo Velez

Paola Castano

Paola Gomez

Rebeca Batres

Sandra J Cardenas

Sarah Desouza-Coelho

Sasha Villoza

Shalini Srivastava

Susana Garcia-Herreros

Vilma Filici

OPENING RECEPTION gala

CHEFS

Coffee based cocktails Nicolás

Colombian desserts

ARTISTS

COFFEE TASTING

Saturday July 22nd / 2:00 pm

Gabino Espinosa / Coffee Specialist

MONTAÑE R O S COFFEE

Wilmer Hernandez / Coffee Specialist

THE MOUNTAIN ’ S M AGIC INA CUP

EMPANADA EATING COMPETITION

Saturday July 22nd / 5:00 pm

Empanadas! a delicious Spanish or Latin-American pastry turnover filled with savory ingredients! They come in different sizes and are filled with cheese, meat and more! They can be fried or baked and can be served as appetizers, breakfast, lunch, and dinner. So many options! Make sure you try them!

CHEVICHE COMPETITION

Sunday July 23rd 4:00 To 5:00 p.m. – Chef’s tent

Back by popular demand is our Serious Ceviche Lovers Only Competition featuring some of Pan America’s heavy-hitting ceviche-making countries. Buy 1 plate, and get all 6 sensational ceviches from Perú, Ecuador, Panamá, Colombia, México, and more. This year, the chefs are out to impress so come hungry and vote with your palate!

FOOD DEMO

TASTE OF PANAMA CHOCOLATE TASTING

Sunday July 23rd

1:00 to 1:30 p.m.

Chef’s tent

Join us for a taste of Panama on Sunday, where chefs Leda and Lizka prepare one of the country’s most beloved dishes- the Salmorejo de Yuca and Chicharron. It’s a simple dish made of boiled cassava, pork crackling, cilantro, and garlic. Learn how to make this iconic dish so you can replicate it at home.

Sunday July 23rd

2:00 to 2:30 p.m.

Chef’s tent

This year, we’re featuring our very own culinary curator, Mary Luz Mejia, who also happens to be Canada’s first (and so far, only) IICCT Level III Chocolate Taster. Join her for a taste of some of Pan America’s finest cacao beans turned into fine craft chocolate by Canadian bean-to-bar makers on Sunday afternoon.

PROGRAM

12:30

1:00 PM

1:45 PM

2:00 PM

2:45 PM

3:00 PM

3:15 PM

3:30 PM

3:45 PM

4:00 PM

4:15 PM

4:30 PM

5:00 PM

5:30 PM

6:00 PM

6:30 PM

7:00 PM

7:15 PM

7:30 PM

8:00 PM

9:00 PM

9:15 PM

10:00 PM

SATURDAY 22ND

DJ ALEJO

Los Lokos Band

Sombrero Azul - El Salvador

Coffee Tasting

Sentir Venezuela

LLasas & Kantuta from Bolivia

Yerko Calderon

DJ ALEJO & Ritmo Caliente

Ballet folklorico Puro Mexico

Rosario Arce

Salsa & Sabor - Colombian Dance Academy

Salsa competition

Empanada eating competition

Sounds of Latin America - Imbayakunas

DJ ALEJO & Ritmo Caliente

Papaya Sound Band

Colombia Entre Las Venas

Caribbean Show - Carnival Spice

Xtravaganza Show

Panamerican Parade

DJ ALEJO

Latin Swing Orchestra

DJ ALEJO

JAZZ XTRAVAGANZA

JANE BUNNETT & MAQUEQUE BAND

Sunday July 23rd 5:00 p.m.

Five-time Juno Award winner, Jane Bunnett has turned her bands and recordings into showcases for the finest musical talent from Canada, the US, and Cuba. She has been nominated for three Grammy Awards, received The Order of Canada, The Queen’s Diamond

Jubilee Medal, and, most recently, The Premier’s Award for Excellence.

With Maqueque, Bunnett has created something new and phenomenal in the world of jazz. What started out five years ago as a project to record and mentor young brilliant Cuban female musicians, has become one of the top groups on the North American jazz scene.

PANAMERICAN PARADE

Saturday July 22nd, 8:00 p.m.

A celebration of color, music and the beautiful costumes from the Panamerican countries.

Imbayakunas ECUADOR

PROGRAM

SATURDAY JULY 22ND

Papaya Sound Band/ LATINAMERICA

Salsa and Sabor Dance Academy / COLOMBIA

Colombia entre las venas / COLOMBIA

Latin Swing Orchestra LATINAMERICA

Ritmo y Danzas del Perú / PERÚ

Kantuta BOLIVIA

PROGRAM

SATURDAY JULY 22ND

Lokos Band

LATINAMERICA

Xtravaganza Show

CUBA

Puro México Ballett

MÉXICO

Llasas

BOLIVIA

Martin Samuels Ritmo Caliente

Sombrero Azul

EL SALVADOR

Dj Alejo

COLOMBIA

Yerko Calderón

CHILE

PROGRAM

SUNDAY JULY 23RD

Capoeira Bamba BRASIL

ECUADOR

Yambeque COLOMBIA

OUR MCs

THE NEXT PANAMERICAN STAR

Sunday July 23rd 3:30 p.m.

A space to promote new child and youth talent, an opportunity to demonstrate and share their achievements and creativity

IN PARTNERSHIP WITH

SALSA COMPETITION

Saturday July 22nd, 4:30 p.m.

When we play together, we win together!

OLG is proud to

#1 ETHNIC DISTRIBUTOR IN CANADA

, Distributors of Great Latin Brands

We’ve set the stage for connection.

TD is proud to support festivals that help bring people together. Find the festivals we support at TDMusic.com/festivals