When I first heard that YELLOWEEK was coming to Toronto I was thrilled. A week-long celebration of the world’s most luxurious and coveted champagne brand… it sounded wonderful! But, I had NO idea this would be the most lavish 7 days of my life, complete with sumptuous dinners, unique cultural events and fashion presentations, all enjoyed with a glass of bubbly in hand. The first #Yelloweek experience in my itinerary was an intimate media tasting at Teatro Verde Cucina. Here’s what I learned:

1. Cool stuff happens North of Eglinton. Case and point: the tasting took place in Bayview Village, a hidden gem of a mall with excellent shopping and eats. We spent close two hours in Teatro Verde Cucina, an exquisitely curated kitchenware and lifestyle store which is also a licensed retailer of Veuve Clicquot!

2. Champagne goes with EVERYTHING. I’ve always thought of champagne as a dessert accoutrement, so you can understand why I feel terribly misled. We tried two savoury dishes over the course of night—first was a toasted brioche, foie gras and a grape chutney paired with the Veuve Clicquot Brut. Next, La Société chef Romain Avril paired a scallop ceviche with coriander cress and toasted almonds with the Veuve Clicquot Brut Vintage 2004. Both were spectacular.

3. The only thing better than a macaron is an EXTRA LARGE macaron. Chef Romain Avril created GIGANTIC rhubarb and lavender macaroons for the occasion, which he paired with Veuve Clicquot’s Rose, for one of the sweetest and most memorable experiences my mouth will ever have. If I don’t have another chance to consume one of these treats I will declare the rest of my life a failure.

4. It’s time to toss your champagne flutes. We were all a little surprised to see the table set with wine glasses commonly associated with red wine. It turns out that the wider glass shape helps release bubbles and maximize delicious champagne taste. AND, you can fit more bubbly in a regular wine glass than a narrow champagne flute. Win-win!

5. Once you try Veuve Clicquot’s Demi-Sec (or semi-sweet) you’ll never want to drink anything else EVER again. We tried it, and we’re hooked! It’s fresh with the most subtle hints of ripened fruit, honey and apples. Perfectly balanced, it tastes amazing on its own, or paired with dessert. We paired it with a caramelized mini pear tatin with granny smith sorbet. YUM!

6. Veuve Clicquot’s iconic orange label is actually yellow! And, the colour was inspired by a freshly cracked egg in the early 1800’s. (This will come up in a round of trivia one day and you will thank us.)

Check out the full #Yelloweek Toronto itinerary HERE!