What is Taste of Place?

When we talk about “taste of place,” we’re not simply referring to flavours and ingredients; it’s so much more. A true taste of place is a blend of the natural environment, tangible elements like the local produce, and intangible elements that make a place truly special, like the genuine hospitality that shapes a destination’s food and drink experiences.

But here’s the magic: There’s no one-size-fits-all taste of place for a region. Instead, each destination is blanketed in a colorful tapestry of flavours and unique experiences that are woven together to create a beautiful and distinct taste of place. When you savour the food and drinks of a destination, you’re immersing yourself in its history, traditions, and the heartwarming welcome of its people. It’s a journey that goes beyond the palate, transforming every bite and sip into a memorable story.

When you let taste of place guide your travels, you’ll go beyond tasting the food and drinks of a place; you’ll hear the stories, experience the traditions, and feel the warmth of the people who call this place home. This immersive experience is the true meaning of taste of place. This type of travel yields unforgettable insights into the heart and soul of a destination’s culinary culture.

About the Summit

A partnership established in 2023 between the Culinary Tourism Alliance and George Brown College resulted in the Taste of Place Summit, an annual event that takes place in different locations across Canada every year to showcase our unique tastes and emerging industry talent. Delegates travel to the Summit from across the country and around the globe. The 2025 Summit is taking place in partnership with Destination Markham, in Markham, Ontario.

This Summit brings together people who work on making destinations more exciting for visitors, like destination developers, tourism managers and marketers, business operators, and students. They attend the Summit to learn why and how to put their community’s food and drink culture at the front and center of their destination. It’s all about making tourism and local businesses better through food.

Summit attendees share a common goal: to give places and businesses the tools they need to create special and lasting culinary and agritourism experiences. We want to ensure that these experiences are not just fun for visitors but also good for the places and the people who live there.

Will you be a part of it?