As an Amex Ambassador I’ve had the opportunity to enjoy many perks with my family, from securing great seats for my daughter’s first concert to using my MembershipReward points to book a last minute weekend getaway. With the inaugural North American debut of Taste of Toronto it was time to share some of my American Express perks with my husband.
Food is important to us when traveling as a family and that stems from my husband and my love for great food. Dinner out is always a great date night idea and my latest American Express Front of the Line email provided the perfect opportunity in the form of a Taste of Toronto Foodie offer. Based on the success of this food festival overseas, having early access to tickets ensured I would be able to get my pick of nights in what was sure to be a sought after event in the city. From exclusive wine tasting experiences and dining opportunities to film premieres and family theatre performances, you too can be in the know by signing up for the Front of the Line updates.
My Cardmember perks didn’t just end at getting first pick at available tickets, it also got me to the front of the line when I arrived at the venue of historic Fort York. By simply showing my Card at the gate I was able to bypass the line to enter the park, just like a VIP.
Fort York was a great venue for the Taste of Toronto festival, giving everyone lots of room to move around and plenty of seating options. I loved that in one secluded area of the grounds they laid out picnic blankets for guests to enjoy alfresco dining. The lines at some booths were a little lengthy but they all seemed to move fairly quickly. The restaurants participating in the event were well organized and it was so nice to see the chefs and owners on-hand, talking to guests and handing out their food.
Food was purchased using Crowns as currency, accessible on a reloadable Card. This meant I didn’t have to worry about handling money and change, just tap the Card and enjoy my dishes. The Taste of Toronto venue had a few Crown banks on site in case you wanted to top-up your Card but I opted to avoid the line and load up at home with my American Express Card.
Along with sampling an assortment of delicious small plates, guests could enjoy cooking demonstrations, classes and tasting sessions, all as part of their admission ticket. American Express Cardmembers had the added benefit of having a select number of seats reserved just for them in each session.
Missed a tasting session? Not to worry. American Express offered its Cardmembers exclusive tastings within their own private lounge. That’s right. Between dishes we were able to duck into the American Express Lounge for some shade, comfy couches and complimentary snacks and water plus exclusive tasting opportunities just for Cardmembers. The night we were there Amsterdam Brewery was on hand to talk and provide samples.
For its first ever North American show the Taste of Toronto seemed to be a huge success with perfect weather, smooth operations and many happy participants. I know my husband and I walked or rather waddled away with full bellies and content souls. From One’s Fried Chicken to The Harbord Room’s Pistachio & Olive Cake, there’s not one dish that disappointed my taste buds and there were so many other dishes I wish I had room to try.
Great food aside, the added perks afforded me by my American Express Card, such as priority access, reserved seating, exclusive tasting experiences, and a private lounge took my date night to the next level. How can you not love a Card that gives you so much added value?
This post was sponsored by American Express Canada. The views and opinions expressed in this blog are purely my own.
Looks like a great event! LOVE the coconut drink!
It was fabulous Freda! Hopefully it will make a return appearance next year. And yes the coconut drink was a nice treat too. 🙂