Celebrating its 5th year, Communal Table is a delicious dining series you won't want to miss. Created by The Bentway in collaboration with The Depanneur, the seasonal event aims to delight guests with diverse and delicious dinners enjoyed in a unique urban space.
Kicking off on June 21st, Communal Table 2023 will see more than a dozen meals served to hundreds of guests under the gentle hum of the Gardiner Expressway. A public space where the city becomes site, subject and canvas, The Bentway works to ignite the urban imagination year-round. With programming that includes public art installations, musical performances, festivals, communal dinners, and more, the area has become a hub for city dwellers keen to maximize their enjoyment of their environs.
Coordinated with The Depanneur, "a place where interesting food things happen," this year's Communal Table series will feature cuisines from around the world guaranteed to inspire. On Wednesday, June 21st, Dashmaawaan Bemaadzinjin (They Feed the People), a Toronto-based Indigenous food sovereignty program, will celebrate the summer solstice and honour National Indigenous People's Day with a deluxe Indigenous feast. In the following weeks, dinners will move to Thursday nights, and the lineup will see Dali Chehimi hosting Moroccan Flavours, Tuba Tanc presenting Turkish Delight, Maria Polotan featuring Filipino Favourites, and more.
Dinners take place at the Strachan Gate, at the west end of The Bentway (250 Fort York Blvd.) beginning at 6 p.m. Guests are asked to bring their own plates and cutlery, and will be seated at communal tables. Meat and vegetarian options are available, though other customizations cannot be accommodated.
In the spirit of community, guests will be invited to donate to Communal Table's Pay It Forward program, with funds raised going to Dashmaawaan Bemaadzinjin. This year, donations will help provide food to vulnerable persons in the city's Indigenous community.
Tickets will be made available to purchase up to 48 hours before each event. To purchase yours and view the full line-up, visit Thebentway.ca.
