TORONTO — Visitors of Taste of Toronto will be offered an opportunity to see for themselves Etihad Airways’ signature Inflight Chefs. The Inflight Chefs will be on hand for cooking demonstrations, cooking meals they cook on actual flights for first-class and residence passengers.

The festival started last night and goes to June 26 at the Garrison Common at Fort York National Historic Site. In March, Etihad Airways announced a multi-year partnership with Taste Festivals Ltd, the organizers of the world’s leading restaurant events since 2014, having a presence at 14 Taste festivals scheduled in 2016.

Last night saw Chef Alex make an Indian inspired lobster tail dish for the crowd. The Italian Chef previously worked at a Michelin restaurant in London before deciding he wanted to travel the world. Etihad says this is not uncommon with the chefs going through a tough screening process with many coming from Michelin restaurants or 5-star hotels.

Etihad Airways currently has 235 Inflight Chefs and 495 Food and Beverage Managers, providing the acclaimed First Class and Business Class service for which the airline is widely considered the world’s best.

Taste of Toronto visitors can also enjoy the airline’s newly-released 360-degree virtual reality film starring Academy Award winning actress Nicole Kidman. The five-minute feature, titled “Reimagine,” offers viewers a journey through one of its new Airbus A380s flying between New York and Abu Dhabi.

“As part of Etihad Airways’ global partnership with Taste, we are proud to sponsor such an exciting, world-class culinary event,” said Shane O’Hare, Senior Vice President Marketing, Etihad Airways. “Toronto is an important destination for our guests, offering a diverse food and hospitality scene, and Taste of Toronto represents the ultimate occasion to promote our award-winning services onboard our aircraft and within our spectacular airport lounges.”

The airline will also host a “Taste the World” initiative to honor and celebrate rising culinary talents from each of the 12 Taste festivals outside of the UAE. The winners, including one Chef from Taste of Toronto, will earn a trip to Taste of Abu Dhabi where they will have the opportunity to test their skills against the airline’s Inflight Chefs.

“Etihad Airways is pleased to welcome guests attending Taste of Toronto Festival to enjoy firsthand a sampling of the unparalleled luxury, comfort and service our airline and our employees provide every day,” said Fatma Al Mehairi, Etihad Airways’ General Manager for Canada.”

Etihad Airways currently operates direct flights from Toronto to Abu Dhabi three times weekly with a two-class Boeing 777-300ER aircraft.