While his brothers Mark and Donnie are in the entertainment industry, the only showbiz Paul really partakes in is his restaurant’s reality TV show Wahlburgers. Food has always been to main focus in Paul’s life.

While we inhaled a few items from the Wahlburgers’ TIFF special menu that features housemade Lobster Poutine, sweet potato tots, and popcorn jalepeno shrimp, we also had a chance to catch up with Chef Paul to chat about Toronto and TIFF.

So, why did you open the first restaurant outside of Massachusetts in Toronto?

Paul: I’ve been to Toronto a bunch a times so I know the city well. I love the city life and the energy here. Walking around it’s amazing. Everyone is so nice here. For us, you know Mark and Donnie film here so much and we have so many connections here in Toronto it just made sense for us. They have a huge fan base here in the city.

Do people recognize you too?

Paul: People are nice here and they don’t really bug me. Once in a while they recognize me and I can hear them whispering. Sometimes I hear “Oh look, it’s Donnie!” which is totally fine. I got chased out of a store once with someone yelling Donnie Wahlberg! Donnie Wahlberg! The funniest is when people come up to me and complain about my brothers. They don’t like a movie they’re in or something and I guess they think I’ll go back and discuss that with them. But what’s really funny is when people come up and tell me that they love my mother. So I tell my mom that people love her and that they say hello. But then she’ll ask me who they were.

Are you TIFFing while you’re here?

Paul: (laughs) I’ve been here a few times around TIFF and I like to walk around the area and along King Street and Spadina. I love all the pop-up places but it’s been a busy time for me here at the restaurant. I did walk over to get a porchetta sandwich down on King Street near here. It was pretty amazing. The crackling, the bread, it’s the perfect sandwich. Mark is here for TIFF. It’s a beautiful time of year to be here. (Mark is in town for the premiere of his film Deepwater Horizon)

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Mark Wahlberg speaks onstage at ‘In Conversation With… Mark Wahlberg’ during the 2016 Toronto International Film Festival at TIFF Bell Lightbox – and – “Deepwater Horizon” premiere screening party presented by Johnnie Walker at The Addison Residence on September 13, 2016 in Toronto, Canada.

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Home – Mark | Public Appearances – 2016 Toronto International Film Festival

Chinese star Zhang Ziyi also will participate in a conversation as the festival added 35 films by first- and second-time directors, more docs and virtual reality exhibits.

The Toronto Film Festival on Tuesday finalized the lineup for its 41st edition, adding onstage conversations with Deepwater Horizon star Mark Wahlberg and Chinese star Zhang Ziyi (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon) as well as 35 films from first- and second-time directors, more docs and virtual reality fare.

Toronto’s Discovery sidebar will feature world premieres of Wayne Roberts’ Katie Says Goodbye, starring Olivia Cooke (Me and Earl and the Dying Girl) and The Killing star Mireille Enos; Scottish director Hope Dickson Leach’s The Levelling, starring Game of Thrones’ Ellie Kendrick; and Rachel Lambert’s In the Radiant City, produced by Jeff Nichols.

Elsewhere, the TIFF Docs section added world premieres for Oscar-nominated director Nanette Burstein’s Gringo: The Dangerous Life of John McAfee, about the anti-virus pioneer who went on the run from authorities in Belize in 2012; Michelle Sinclair’s The Terry Kath Experience, about an original member of the pop band Chicago, directed by Kath’s daughter; and Mohanad Yaqubi’s Off Frame AKA Revolution Until Victory.

And Toronto on Tuesday unveiled its virtual reality lineup, having planned five VR exhibits, including Tracy Rector’s Ch’aak’ S’aagi (Eagle Bone); Maureen Fan’s, Eric Darnell’s and Michael Hutchinson’s Invasion!; Michael Beets’ Jafri; KA and The Battle Within, from Felix & Paul Studios and Cirque du Soleil Media.

[hollywoodreporter.com]