Food Day Canada - Putting Canada on the Menu on Aug 4, 2018

Celebrating Canadian Food with Top Chefs and Canada's Most Iconic Icon, the CN Tower  

On Saturday August 4th, Food Day Canada/ Journée des terroirs, Canadian chefs and all of our partners are sending out an invitation to Canada’s foodies, be they chefs or home cooks, no matter where you are,  to join the Party and PUT CANADA ON THE MENU!

I had the pleasure of being invited to join in on a great lunch at George Brown College for the launch of Food Day Canada.  Hosted by Chef John Higgins and Food Day Canada founder Anita Stewart.  The long harvest table was set up in the middle of the Atrium at George Brown's school of Hospitality.  The table was filled with a wide variety of Canadian Foods with a big global influence.

 

Anita Stewart -Food Day Canada Founder

Chef John Higgins

Food Day Canada / Journée des terroirs, which is a national celebration of local food (always celebrated on the August long weekend).

This year with our chefs’ community and producers across Canada, we will celebrate Food Day Canada’s 15th year anniversary by lighting the most recognizable - and tallest - beacon in the Western Hemisphere, Toronto's glorious CN Tower. 

Today we face similar, perhaps even graver challenges. As Dr. Owen Roberts, the President of the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists, states: “Our food system is under fire. No matter how the politics plays out nationally or globally, this is a time for fierce loyalty and coordinated action.”

So rather than lament, we challenge all Canadians to have a party and honour our own ingredients, with one simple goal, culinary sovereignty.  

What: Canada’s food community is coming together to declare Food Day Canada/ Journée des terroirs, as Canada’s Local Food Day.  Cook like a Canadian.

Who: Anyone and everyone; chefs, home cooks, farmers, fishers, writers, ranchers…anyone who loves Canadian ingredients.  

Where: Anywhere and everywhere in Canada!  Backyard BBQs, picnics, dine in, dine out.  Enjoy Canadian-grown, Canadian-made food.

When: All Day Long on Saturday August 4^th, 2018

                 How to Put Canada on the Menu!

Shop Like a Canadian! – Check out our patriotic shopping list.

Cook Like a Canadian!  - We even provide some recipes to get you started with the emphasis on those tariff-bearing foods we import.

Share Like a Canadian!  - Take some images of your local foods, drinks, ingredients (no lemons or bananas please) and add the #fooddaycanada on Twitter, on Instagram, on Facebook.

Then, Watch the Canadian Stories Unfold as YOUR posts are added to our National Culinary Scrapbook, A Food DAY in the Life of Canada. 

Website: fooddaycanada.ca  

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fooddaycanada/

Twitter: @fooddaycanada  

Facebook: Facebook.com/foodday

Check out all the great Canadian Food that we sampled at the launch.  The one thing I am going to make at home is the Molasses butter that was a huge hit slathered on delicious brown bread.

I really love supporting this and wish I knew about it sooner.  I only found out about it last year but it seems even more important this year with all the Tariffs being imposed on Canadian Farmers who are already struggling to earn a decent living.  They work hard for everyone so we should really make an effort to support local Canadian food and promote it as if it was like some expensive imported food that people go crazy over.  We have incredible food and we need to appreciate it more. 
The Menu is listed below the photos of the dishes and not in the same order but I think you can figure out which is which from the descriptions.  I hope it inspires you to make one of these dishes or something similar or find a great local restaurant that highlights local food.  Enjoy!

The Menu

MAIN
Grass Fed Beef and Wild Rice Cabbage Rolls
Solomon Gundy with Dark Harbour Dulse
Elote- Roasted Corn with Chili and Cheese Curds
Tomato Salad
New Potatoes, Creme Fraiche, Kozlik's Mustard and Herbs
Radishes with Butter
Pickled Beets with Honey and Goat Cheese
Molasses Bread and Butter

DESSERT
Raspberry Blueberry Tarts
Date Squares
Peaches in Ice Wine

Produce provided by Produce Made Simple
@OntarioProduce

Cook for New Lives Gala for the Massey Centre

What:      1^st - “Cook for New Lives” gala fundraiser

Why:        For Teen mom programs at the Massey Centre

When:     Wednesday, May 4, 2016 at 6 p.m.

Where:    Atrium, George Brown College Centre for Hospitality & Culinary Arts, 300 Adelaide Street East, Toronto

Website:  http://www.masseygala.com

Hashtag: #Cook4NewLives

I was invited to attend the first  “Cook for New Lives” gala fundraiser for the Massey Centre (http://www.massey.ca), a not-for- profit Children’s Mental Health Centre that helps pregnant and parenting adolescents and their babies was held at the George Brown College Atrium. 200-plus guests and moms from Massey Centre along with some of Toronto’s most famous and inspiring chefs for a one-of- a-kind cooking competition.

Four aspiring female student chefs will be mentored by well-known Professional Chefs:  Alex Feswick, Lora Kirk, Anne Yarymowich, and Susanne Barr, and their enticing dishes will be enjoyed by you and judged by celebrity Chefs:  Claudio Aprile, Chef & Owner, Orderfire Hospitality Group and Masterchef Canada Judge; John Higgins, Director George Brown Chef School and Chopped Canada Judge; and YouTube sensation, Sara Lynn Cauchon, Creator, The Domestic Geek.     

The evening was hosted by founder of Foodie and the Beast, and THE SOCIAL’s Digital Correspondent, Jess Allen. 

During the evening guests were invited to:

• Sample a tasting of the creations submitted by the duo chefs for judging.
• Enjoy complimentary wine, beer and canapés.
• Vote in the people's choice award for your favourite dish.
• Bid on the amazing array of silent auction items and a roaming raffle draw.
• Mix and mingle with friends, colleagues and fellow guests.

 The winning dish made by Haewon Choi was braised short rib with sweet potato perogies.  

Other dishes included a Cod and Shrimp fish cake, chicken on a cheese biscuit, vegetarian and goat bites.

There was a moving speech made by one of the Massey Centre residents who after dealing with a challenging childhood and becoming pregnant at a young age is now turing her life around and is looking to the future with a career in cosmetology and the ability to take care of her 2 year old son with strength and hope.

All proceeds from the Gala will support Massey Centre a Children’s Mental Health Centre that helps pregnant and parenting women and their babies who reside at the Centre and in the community. The young families benefit from a comprehensive range of programs, services and supports 24/7 that respond to their individual mental health, education and transitional housing needs.

The young women who call Massey Centre home are one of the highest-risk and most vulnerable groups in Canada.

Tickets were $99 per person and included a cocktail reception, gourmet cuisine, no-host bar and silent auction.

It's not too late to donate funds to help out the centre.  You can donate online through Canada Helps here:  https://www.canadahelps.org/en/Securities/DonateBasket.aspx

Follow the Massey Centre on twitter at https://twitter.com/MasseyCentre and on 

Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/Massey-Centre-for-Women-230785837035451/.  

They had a fun photo booth set up and as usual my Food Blogger partner in food crimes Mary's Happy Belly were there to get silly with hats.