Taste of Jewish Toronto
From bagels to blintzes to the newest nosh in town, it’s a taste of tradition – with a twist!
Date: Tuesday, May 27, 2025
Time: 7:30 PM
Location: Toronto (Details will be provided to registered attendees prior to the event.)
Tickets: $36 per person
Join us for a Taste of Jewish Toronto, a delicious celebration of the dishes, traditions, and culinary voices that make our city unique.
Moderated by Avrum Rosensweig, this special Jewish Heritage Month event brings together three beloved figures from Toronto’s vibrant Jewish food scene.
Featuring:
- Shlomo Assayag – The Kosher King
- Ruthie Ladovsky – Owner of United Bakers Dairy Restaurant
- Judy Perly – Founder and Owner of Free Times Café
Pull up a chair as our guests dish on their deep connections to Jewish food, the inspirations behind their kitchens, and how their restaurants have become cornerstones of community life for generations.
And yes—food will be served! Kashrut will be observed.
Limited seating is available, so reserve your spot today!
Featuring Toronto Jewish Foodies:
Shlomo Assayag
Shlomo Assayag, aka The Kosher King, is a prominent figure in the kosher culinary scene, particularly within Toronto’s Jewish community. Since launching The Kosher King platform in December 2015, he has cultivated a vibrant online presence, amassing over 55,000 followers across his social media platforms. His content spans restaurant reviews, product spotlights, and engaging food-related discussions, all aimed at promoting kosher cuisine and establishments.
Beyond his digital endeavors, The Kosher King actively participates in community events. Notably, he joined the Reena Foundation’s 50th Anniversary celebrations, underscoring his commitment to community engagement. His influence in the kosher food industry has been recognized nationally; he was listed among the Top 35 Canadian Jewish Influencers in 2025.
The Kosher King’s contributions extend to media appearances, including an interview on CORCast by the Kashruth Council of Canada, where he discussed his journey and insights into the kosher food world.
To explore his latest culinary adventures and recommendations, follow him on Instagram at @thekosherking or join his Facebook group @thekosherking for store specials and promos.
Ruthie Ladovsky
Ruthie Ladovsky’s roots are well established in Toronto’s Jewish community. For 113 years, Torontonians have enjoyed the hospitality of United Bakers, the restaurant that has been owned and operated by her family since 1912. Ruthie is an active volunteer in the Jewish community, having served on many committees at Jewish Federation, and the boards of Reena and Jewish Family and Child Services. At Temple Sinai, Ruthie frequently serves as a ‘shaliach tzibur’, leading morning minyan services. Ruthie has been a Jewish Foundation of Greater Toronto ‘Book of Life’ honouree, as well as a State of Israel Bonds, ‘kesher’ award recipient…..keeping that connection strong, she co chaired an event honouring Israel’s Lone Soldier community (a community of over 7000 young men and women who leave their diaspora families to go to Israel and serve with the Israel Defence Forces).
With United Bakers now in the very capable of hands of the fourth generation of the Ladovsky family, Nathan Ladovsky, Ruthie has the best way of being retired… Every day she’s grateful to be able to spend a few hours in the most joyful and wonderful community….meeting and greeting longtime UB customers and always welcoming new ones!
She loves sharing a story from the past, schmoozing about the present, or meeting the next generation, and she also loves adventure travel, hiking and biking!…one of her latest adventures was sharing a tent with 24 women while volunteering on an Israeli army base!
Judy Perly
Born at women’s College Hospital in 1950 Judy was brought up on Eglinton above her parents business Perly‘s maps. She went through the Forest Hill school system. York University Uof T became an artist and a high school art teacher.
Her hobby was always cooking and she was part of the post, hippie natural food, revolution, and was involved in making healthy food and alternative cooking & had a small catering business in 1979 from her home after she left teaching. She needed a way to establish herself economically and on the encouragement of a friend decided to buy an existing lunch restaurant called Free Times Cafe.
She has become a prominent figure in Toronto’s cultural and culinary scene, best known as the founder and owner of Free Times Café, a beloved local institution located at 320 College Street. She established the café in 1980, transforming it into a vibrant hub for live music, comedy, spoken word, and diverse cuisine. Over the past 44 years, Free Times Café has become renowned for its nightly entertainment and its menu featuring Jewish, Middle Eastern, and Canadian dishes, including popular items like latkes, blintzes, and brisket.
Beyond her role as a restaurateur, Judy Perly is celebrated for her contributions to Toronto’s arts and culture community. She has provided a platform for numerous artists, including notable performers such as Ron Sexsmith, Emm Gryner, and Sarah Slean. The café’s “Bella! Did Ya Eat?” Sunday brunch buffet, accompanied by live Klezmer music, has been a staple for nearly three decades, reflecting Perly’s commitment to preserving and sharing Jewish culinary and musical traditions.
Judy Perly’s dedication to fostering a welcoming space for both artists and patrons has solidified her status as a key figure in maintaining and enriching Toronto’s diverse cultural landscape.
Moderated by: Avrum Rosensweig
Avrum Rosensweig’s journey from a Kitchener, Ontario upbringing steeped in Eastern European Jewish cuisine to a celebrated food and media personality is remarkable. Raised in a rabbinical home with kugel, brisket, and matzah brie as staples, Avrum’s culinary roots were hearty and traditional. His pivot to a broader, worldly culinary perspective came through co-hosting Marty & Avrum: The Food Guys on CFRB and Talk 640, where he and Marty Galin focused on the stories of restaurateurs, chefs, and winemakers. Their quirky, people-centric approach led to unique on-air events like a wedding, Passover Seder, and Shabbat meal, alongside producing TV shows like Beer Buddies and The Moveable Feast. Interviewing luminaries like Harry Belafonte, Jose Feliciano, and Canada’s top chefs, Avrum carved a niche in food media.
Beyond media, Avrum’s impact extends to founding Ve’ahavta, Canada’s only Jewish humanitarian organization of its kind, reflecting his commitment to social good. His podcast, The Avrum Rosensweig Show, continues this ethos, celebrating human inspiration through interviews. His multifaceted career blends food, culture, and compassion seamlessly.
