Dixonlicious 2018- Review

March 1, 2018

Daniels Spectrum

Dixonlicious had a fantastic fundraising event on March 1st at Daniels Specturm.  Dixonlicious is a fundraising event for Dixon Hall. Dixon Hall is a great Toronto non-profit organization that offers more than 60 programs for community members at different life stages. Dixonlicious fundraises for the agency’s food programs – including Meals on Wheels, meals for formerly homeless men and women living in transitional housing, and for March break and summer camps attended by youth in the Music School and Children & Youth programs.

This year's event was a great success with the event raising more than $80,000 through ticket sales and the silent auction and donations.  That will provide over 20,000 meals for people in need.

 The event had a fantastic lineup of musical artists that included a few of the music program students who were as talented as some great professionals so I think big things will come from them in the future.  The photo above is 2 girls from the band Monday Heart Attack,  a name you will probably remember and should because they blew everyone away.

The event had lots of great food from popular Toronto social enterprise café, the Show Love Café.

Some of the highlights for me were Paintbox's Gelato's and the Schnitzel and Choucrout from Biff's Bistro and I also really loved the Hokkaido Scallops from Hooked.  Some of the other dishes below included Smoothies from Freshed Right, Pasta from the Food Dudes, Coffee smoked chicken salad from Hawthorne Food and Drink, Cotechino sausage tacos from Skin + Bones, Guacamole from Barrio Cerveceria,  Hokkaido Scallops from Hooked,  Chocolate and strawberry gelato from Paintbox Bistro, Cabbage salad with satay dressing from Show Love Cafe,  Gnocchi poutine with braised short ribs from Daniel et Daniel, Schnitzel and sauerkraut from Biff's Bistro.

In the centre of the room were all the silent auction items with a whole variety of different things to bid on.  I bid on the 3 cookbooks but lost out but that's ok since they raised more money.

Dixonlicious is a fun event and you don't event and just by being there you help other people that are in need of assistance from seniors who aren't able to prepare their meals, to youth that are given music programs to give them budding careers for their future.

I would suggest if you have the time and some money to help out please check out their website for how you can help out and maybe you can go to next year's fun event too.

http://www.dixonhall.org

[Charity Event] Dixonlicious a delicious fundraiser for Dixon Hall

Event:  #Dixonlicious Fundraiser for Dixon Hall
When: Wednesday, March 29, 2017  
Where: Daniels Spectrum at 585 Dundas Street East
What: An evening of delicious food and beverage, musical entertainment, and a live and silent auction
Website:  www.dixonhall.org 
Why: Proceeds support vital programs that provide food for people in need

For over 85 years Dixon Hall agency has served many people with support to many community organizations.  With proceeds from fundraising events like #DIXONLICIOUS they are able to feed homeless individuals and isolated seniors and also provide help to in need youth.  They provide funds for Out of the Cold programs, HIV/AIDS, Summer camps and more.  They provided 66,000 meals to people in need last year. There is a growing need in this city as housing costs sky rocket and the gap between the rich and poor widens.  Dixon Hall is there to lend a hand so it's very important for them to raise as much money as they can for their programs.

I was very fortunate to attend their Dixonlicious 2017 event with some of my fellow Food Blogger friends.  One of my friends has been to this event before but it was new for the rest of us and we are all eager to spread the word about the great things they do and the great event that brought together very generous people who wanted to help make it a successful event.  Daniels Spectrum is a great venue and super easy to get to and reasonable parking underground too.

Photo by BKONTHESCENE (Mary, me, Natalie, Shuang)

It's always great to attend well organized events that happen to raise money to do good things.  That's a WIN WIN for everyone.

There was live entertainment and a silent auction and a great bunch of Food Vendors and Wine and Beer vendors spread around the room.   No bunching up in a crowd trying to get food.  It was well laid out for mixing and mingling and sampling food and drink.

One of the notable dishes we all went crazy over was the Chili spring roll stuffed with cheesy goodness from Daniel et Daniel.  

I was so full but they went back for seconds.

Hooked

We all really love it when the Hooked women are at all of these great Charity events because they bring delicious Oysters that are addictive.

And for the second day in a row we see our new Chef Friend Ricky Casipe from Hawthorne Food & Drink.  Ricky is a guy you want to follow because not only does he make great food but he trains future food industry workers in his Restaurant and does a lot of catering at a lot of local charity events and festivals.

There was also Longos who provided Cannoli, and George Brown College who made a couple of different dishes.  The Food Dudes made Macaroni and Cheese.

I don't know how much money they raised at the event but I hope it was a lot and I hope it brought some attention to help them receive more donations in the future.

If you can support them they have some great new ways to team up with your partner and be part of the Board of Directors with a say in what they do.

Please donate, volunteer or do whatever you can to help them out.  Every little bit helps.  I hope my little scribbles on this post inspire you to step up and do a bit of good for people that need a hand.

Facebook www.facebook.com/DixonHall1929/
Twitter https://www.twitter.com/dixon_hall
Website: https://www.dixonhall.org
Instagram:  www.instagram.com/dixonhall_toronto

*Disclaimer:  The ticket was complimentary but all of the opinions on this post are my own.

#Dixonlicious 2017 for Dixon Hall

DIXONLICIOUS 2017

A Culinary Celebration in support of Vital Food Programs

When: Wednesday, March 29, 2017 from 6 PM – 9 PM
Where: Daniels Spectrum at 585 Dundas Street East
What: An evening of delicious food and beverage pairings, musical entertainment, and a live and silent auction
How: Purchase Early Bird Tickets up until March 8th at special prices -- $90 per ticket, $60 for youth (under 30). Tickets include food, drinks, entertainment, and a charitable tax receipt. Purchase online via www.dixonhall.org or by phone at 416.863.0499 x 2066.
Why: Proceeds support vital programs that provide food for people in need

Join Dixonlicious 2017 and experience a delicious food event featuring chefs and restaurants from around our neighbourhood.

Guests will sample mouth-watering cuisine from an array of diverse and creative food stations set up around Daniels Spectrum.

Food offerings are paired alongside a selection of fine wines and refreshing craft beers carefully chosen to compliment each scrumptious bite.

All proceeds support our food programs including Meals on Wheels, Summer Camp, Homeless Shelter Programs, Out of the Cold, AIDS Programs and more.

Buy your tickets today and help provide nutritious meals to those in need!

Dixon Hall is excited to announce the return of Dixonlicious, a culinary event featuring some of Toronto's best local restaurants, chefs, and caterers. Now in its third year, the event raises funds for Dixon Hall's vital food programs and supports vulnerable populations in the city's downtown east. Dixonlicious 2017 takes place on Wednesday, March 29th from 6 pm – 9 pm at Daniels Spectrum.

Dixon Hall's food programs provide over 200,000 nutritious meals each year, serving a diverse mix of vulnerable populations. All proceeds from Dixonlicious benefit these vital food programs including Meals on Wheels, homeless shelter programs, Out of the Cold, March Break and summer camps, seniors programs, and HIV/AIDs programs.

The number of people accessing Dixon Hall's meal programs continues to increase, and demand remains high, especially from homeless and vulnerably housed individuals. Dixon Hall's two emergency shelters, Heyworth House and Schoolhouse, remain at 99% capacity and have maintained this rate consistently for three years. The Out of the Cold program, focused on providing shelter during winter months, has seen an 11% increase in occupancy since 2016. The Out of the Cold program serves over 15,500 meals from November through January. As community members continue to face tough decisions daily, juggling financial responsibilities of paying rent vs. purchasing healthy groceries to feed their families, the need for food programs remains constant.

"Dixonlicious is community helping community. It's local culinary experts reaching out to their neighbour offering their talents in exchange for hope where there is food insecurity. Food has always been the way cultures unite as a community." said Dixon Hall CEO Neil Hetherington. "There are far too many people in our community who don't know where their next meal is coming from and now thanks to Dixonlicious we can answer that unknown."

Dixonlicious 2017 will feature delicious bites by Food Dudes, Hooked, Longos, and social enterprise restaurants Show Love Café and Hawthorne Food & Drink. Guests will also experience live entertainment, and get to bid on a selection of silent and live auction prizes including gift baskets, restaurant gift cards, theatre tickets, and home accessories.

Last year, proceeds from Dixonlicious helped bring more than 20,000 healthy meals to people in need – homeless men and women, frail and isolated seniors, Regent Park youth, and many more. This year's goal is to raise $75,000 and increase the amount of meals served to 25,000.

About Dixon Hall

Dixon Hall is a multi-service agency located in the heart of east downtown Toronto.

For more than 85 years, Dixon Hall has offered a variety of supportive programs and services to seniors, at-risk youth, homeless men and women, the unemployed, and other vulnerable populations in Regent Park, Moss Park, Cabbagetown, St. James Town and surrounding neighbourhoods.

SOURCE Dixon Hall