Recipe for Change -30 chefs serve up good things

3 HOURS -30 CHEFS - 1 CAUSE

RECIPE FOR CHANGE for FOOD SHARE

It's a great thing when you get to attend a "PARTY FOR THE FUTURE OF FOOD" and it turns out to be a fantastic event that does a whole lot of good things for our local communities at the same time.

On February 25th, 2016 I attended Recipe for Change at the Temporary St. Lawrence Market Tent downtown for an event that raises funds for the Food Share charity by bringing 30 Chefs, Wineries, Breweries and other vendors together for a great feast of delicious food and drink.

FoodShare supports Food Literacy in schools with programs that include: Student Nutrition, Field to Table Schools, School Grown, Good Food Cafe, and Bulk Fresh Produce for Schools and Community Groups.

149,000 students enjoyed a healthy meal daily through 700 universal Student Nutrition Programs delivered in partnership with school boards and community agencies. I could go on about how many great things they do but I would prefer that you look into this great organization and become involved.  

A lot of local chefs and even some international ones love to support this charity and a few bloggers including myself like to as well.

DaiLo Chef Nick Liu

Pig Mac Bun

This great well run event was curated by a fellow food writer friend Mary Luz Mejia who really knows who the great chefs in Toronto are and brought some of these big hearted chefs and vendors to Recipe for Change.

Here's the other thing.  If you have read my blog you know that I really pay attention to how events flow and are run.  This one was top notch.  Details really made the difference.  The check in desk right at the entrance and a coat check beside it and on the other side you could pick up glasses and cutlery.  Ok check in.. hang coat, get utensils..ready...go..

My fellow food bloggers and I got there as soon as it opened up to us ready to snap away at everything before the crowds arrived.  We had a chance to chat with the chefs and vendors busy getting their food ready. As you can see from this photo we were the first ones there.  What you can also see is how nicely laid out it was with the cocktail tables in a row and on the other side there were a few tables and chairs.  This meant that you could pick up your food and drink and actually place it down on a table and eat it while strolling through.  Nothing worse than trying to juggle food and beverages while being bumped as people try and squeeze by.  The flow was fantastic.  The vendors displays were fantastic.  The food was fresh and hot. Sometimes not the case.  And the biggest difference that I noticed was the fantastic volunteers who literally came by and picked up the disposable plates as soon as you were done eating which left the place clean and comfortable.  I have been at so many events and even volunteer coordinated ones where the volunteers didn't step up to do this and garbages were overflowing making the event a total mess.  Not this one.  Thank you Volunteers I noticed.

The participating vendors included: DaiLo, Collette Grand Bistro, Biff's Bistro, Pork Ninjas BBQ, Cocina Espanola, Carmen, Mata Petisco Bar, Pizzeria Libretto, Hooked Inc., The Good Earth Cooking School & Winery, Lamesa Restaurant, Santo Pecado, Sweet Sammies, Soma chocolatemakers, Succulent Sweets and the Tempered Room.   VQA wine vendors like Southbrook Farms and Crema Coffee Co,  Propellor Coffee and more.

The food was fantastic and I tried really hard to try everything but I just couldn't eat it all.  There were a few things that I would have loved to go back for seconds if I had more room in my belly.

Pictured (l to r) : Joao Medina, Succulent chocolate, Hooked Inc, Beau Brewing Co., Sweet Sammies Choux with ice cream, Carmen tacos, Soma chocolates, Hooked French Kiss Oysters, Southbrook Vineyards Seriously Cool Wines, Santo Pecado Pork Pibil salbutes, Mata Bar Chicken croquettes, Lamesa's Coconut Pork Adobo on a shrimp cracker, Propellor Coffee Cappuccino, The Good Earth Smoked Beef shortrib tostados, Biff's Chermoula braised lamb.

The first thing I tried but have had before was Mata's Chicken croquettes which are mind blowing good.  I also loved Lamesa's Pork on a shrimp cracker and Santo Pecado's Pork Pibils and Hooked extremely fresh tasting oysters a highlight for sure.  I could only get as far as Sweet Sammies choux ice cream and Somas chocolates before I was full but I have to say that I had the best coffee I have had in a very long time with Propellor's Cappuccino.   I can't speak about the beer and wine but I thought it was cool to see Southbrook Vineyards launch of their Seriously Cool new wines that will be available at the LCBO next week.  The label is so pretty that it would make a great hostess gift.

I will leave the beer and wine reviews to my fellow bloggers.  

Oh and the fun thing in the back corner that I also loved was this great backdrop sponsored by Tangerine with some fun props and the other thing probably I am the only one that noticed was that it was lit properly to make everyone look good and the fact that there was a professional photographer there to take out photos instead of people spending 20 minutes trying to take a decent selfie they got a proper photo at the event that they could pick up in a frame on the way out.  I really loved this and the photo turned out fantastic as you can see.

Mary Tang, Vicki Cheung, Natalie Gomes and me.

It was also great to see a familiar face serving up some great food.  Fellow food writer Andrea Toole with her partner owner of Pork Ninja BBQ serving up some straight up BBQ love.

For more info on the event and Food Share please visit www.foodshare.net/recipeforchange

Follow along and see photos from the event using the hashtag #RFC16 

@FoodShareTO 

Tickets for the event were $150 so save your $$ for next years event. Your money will be well spent.

There was also a silent auction to raise funds with some amazing items.  

If you would like to make a donation to keep them going feel free to contact them at 416-363-6441.

www.foodshare.net