The Distillery Winter Village is becoming a popular winter destination, similar to the CNE's summer food offerings. Now in its 16th year, the Winter Village features over 40 vendors serving a mix of traditional holiday dishes and creative culinary twists.

Rik Ocvirk, director of experiences and events at the Distillery Historic District, emphasized the importance of food in creating connections and memories. "Food is all about creating connections and memories. It’s about how we can elevate the food and bring in chefs and vendors that complement the existing restaurants," he said. Ocvirk has been involved in food programs at the Distillery District for 13 years and has expanded the variety of food and drinks since taking over the Winter Village four years ago.

The Winter Village runs until January 4 and is open daily, except on Christmas Day. Admission is free during the day, but tickets are required for busier evening hours, which can be purchased online.

Among the diverse food options, several standout dishes have been highlighted. Chef Nuit Regular offers a Tom Yum Soup for $14, which she describes as a comforting dish for cold weather. "When I’m walking in the cold, I’m thinking of the aroma of tom yum," Regular said. The soup features macaroni made from rice flour instead of traditional rice.

Chef Eric Chong presents a Spicy Mala Poutine for $16, combining classic Canadian poutine with a spicy mala gravy infused with Sichuan peppercorn, ginger, and scallions. "I wanted something Canadian but with an Asian twist, something that’s spicy and warm," Chong explained.

For dessert, Chef Bruno Feldeisen has created a Candy Cane Cheesecake Lollipop for $14, which is dipped in chocolate and offers a festive flavor without being overly sweet. Chef Claudio Aprile’s Aprile Holiday Feast, priced at $19, is a burger that includes roast turkey, smoked brisket, and cranberry chutney, topped with a crispy ring of smoked provolone.

Another popular item is the Yorkie Burrito from Spirit of York, priced at $20. This dish features a Yorkshire pudding filled with shredded braised beef, roasted potatoes, and vegetables, wrapped like a burrito. Simon Ho, president of Spirit of York, noted that they made 500 of these on peak days last year.

Cluny’s S’Mores hot chocolate, priced at $12, has gained popularity, with café manager Brendan Sharp estimating over 50,000 sold last winter. Each cup is topped with toasted marshmallow, whipped cream, and graham crackers.

Danny Wu’s WuBa Eats offers a Jingle Bao for $16, a steamed bao filled with roasted turkey and cranberry aioli. Wu noted that the tangy cranberry sauce complements the turkey well.

Japan Taco features a Simply Perfect veggie taco for $15, which uses a panko-crusted fried nori shell filled with jackfruit, mango, and teriyaki sauce. Craig Pike of Craig’s Cookies offers a White Christmas cookie for $3.75, filled with Hershey’s cookies and cream chocolate and crushed candy canes.

Pike expressed his fondness for the Winter Village, stating, "The Winter Village is just so iconic in Toronto. I’m originally from Newfoundland, but there’s something about this place that makes me feel like I’m at home."