Eat to the Beat - 60 women chefs kick butt in the kitchen for Breast Cancer

 EAT TO THE BEAT

60 Female Chefs in Toronto come together to kick ass in the kitchen for the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation.  It's usually the male chefs that get all the attention in the culinary world so it was great to celebrate all the great female chefs we have right here in Toronto.  Some very highly skilled and very creative women who can match their male counterparts anytime.  It was interesting that an American Celebrity Journalist Chef was just down the street commanding a huge amount of money just to hear him talk, while the same amount of money for a ticket to Eat to the Beat would give you an endless supply of food and drink and help raise funds for the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation and help people living with Cancer and for research to save people's lives.  HMMM.. just sayin.

Eat to the Beat celebrates it's 21st year.  It would be nice to not have to raise money for Cancer one day and just have this event for something else.

A few of the familiar faces cooking up a storm at Eat to the Beat were Emily Richards, Home Economist and cookbook author and tv personality, Donna Dooher, owner of Mildred's Temple Kitchen and Vanessa Yeung of Aphrodite Cooks.

Some of the food included fancy grilled cheese, gougeres, duck, soup, ceviche, pear, cupcakes, chicken and waffles, noodles and so many things that I can't even list them all.  Imagine 60 different items to sample.  It's impossible to try them all.  I got through 3/4 of the savoury bites and then maybe had 2 desserts and I was done.  I scooped up some cookies to take home because I really wanted to try more sweets but just couldn't fit any more food in my gob.

Other fun things at the event were the requisite fun photo prop step and repeat and of course I took photos with 2 of my friends.  It's now a thing. I remember the events I go to that way.

There was also a silent auction with some amazing Kitchen Aid products, they were the main sponsor. There were special goodie bags for purchase and raffle tickets.

There was a female musical entertainer and also lively DJ music.

Then there were the ladies in special corsettes who represented the women going through Cancer treatments.  Some very fun costumes as you can see from the photo above and also on Cake Lady Vendor Vanessa Le Page.  She had a different outfit the last time I was there a couple of years ago.

Vanessa Le Page - The Cake Lady

 You know it's a great event when you bump into foodies every time you grab a bite and you also know a bunch of the volunteers too.  We all know what the best and most fun events are.

I really love this one for so many reasons.  The food is plentiful and amazing,  it's all women chefs who need to get recognized and above all it's all done for a great cause and will help a lot of people.   And it's just a whole lot of fun.  It is my pleasure to write about events like this because it's a win win event for everyone.

I thought it was funny that in the same building that I spend time in during TIFF there was this cool chocolate treat at the Succulent chocolate booth.  Nice touch.

For more info about Eat to the Beat check their website and make sure you get a ticket next year.

http://www.eattothebeat.ca/about-cbcf/

For More info on the Canadian Breast Cancer foundation and how you can donate:

http://www.cbcf.org/ontario/Pages/default.aspx

Eat to the Beat 2016 - 60 Female Chefs - 1 Great Event

EAT TO THE BEAT

TORONTO’S TOP CULINARY FUNDRAISER IN SUPPORT OF CBCF

Tuesday, November 1, 2016 | 7 pm – 10 pm | Roy Thomson Hall

The countdown is on to one of the hottest food events in Toronto! Join us for the 21^st annual Eat to the Beat presented by KitchenAid, a fundraiser for the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation (CBCF) that features 60 female chefs supporting people living with breast cancer.

Emily Richards - photo provided by Eat to the Beat

Eat to the Beat guests have the opportunity to enjoy specially prepared savoury and sweet dishes at 60 stations, along with wine, beer and a selection of non alcoholic beverages set up around Roy Thomson Hall’s outer lobby.

In addition to food and drink, colourful and whimsical one-of-a-kind corsets, inspired by food and created and modelled by breast cancer survivors, have become an integral part of Eat to the Beat.

photo provided by Eat to the Beat

Started 21 years ago by sisters Lisa and Abby Slater, Eat to the Beat has raised more than $3.9 million since its inception. Funds raised at Eat to the Beat will support the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation – dedicated to funding relevant and innovative research, supporting and advocating for the breast cancer community, and providing credible, unbiased information to help empower those affected by breast cancer or at increased genetic risk of developing the disease.

The 60 Participating chefs and select menu items that will be featured at this year’s Eat to the Beat include:

·         Sandra Abballe, Succulent Chocolates and Sweets
·         Vanessa Baudanza and Isabelle Loiacono, The Rolling Pin
·         Wanda Beaver, Wanda's Pie in the Sky - Grand Marnier Nanaimo bars
·         Renee Bellefeuille, Art Gallery of Ontario - cured whitefish, rye toast, tarragon crème fraiche and        pickled caperberry goat cheese and artichoke puff
·         Cathy Beneway, Creative Catering by Cathy
·         Emma Beqaj, Emma's Eatery Catering - lobster grilled cheese
·         Arvinda Chauhan and Preena Chauhan, Arvinda’s - spicy curry leaf infused chick pea dip with            tomato purée served on cucumber and zucchini rounds and garnished with noodles and curry leaf
·         Tiiu Christie and Tysa Christie, Marigolds and Onions
·         Felicia Derose Colette Grand Café
·         Donna Dooher and Michael Leary, Mildred's Temple Kitchen
·         Kyla Eaglesham, Madeleines
·         Rossy Earle, SupiCucu
·         Michelle Edgar, The Sweet Escape Patisserie
·         Alison Ferland, Byblos
·         Mali Fernandez, Xola Mexican Food
·         Alexandra Feswick, The Drake Hotel - Adobo pulled pork steam buns with daikon pickle
·         Trish Gill, The Emmet Ray
·         Bonnie Gordon, Bonnie Gordon College of Confectionary Arts - Macaron in a variety of flavours,          homemade chocolates, and langues de chat
·         Tamara Green, The Living Kitchen
·         Kimberly Humby, East & Main Bistro
·         Anna Janes, Cocomira Confections
·         Vanessa Le Page, Cake Lady - Edible Art - The Shortbread 
·         Tara Lee, Bar Hop - mini pork and ricotta meatballs with a tomato cream sauce
·         Jacqueline Lo, Ruelo Patisserie
·         Erin Marcus, Ace Bakery
·         Lynn Mendelson, Lynn Mendelson Catering - million $ bars
·         Joan Monfaredi, Park Hyatt Hotel - tuna tartar wonton tacos with pea shoots
·         Jennifer Mooers and Chris Brown, Citizen Catering
·         Lauren Mozer, Elle Cuisine
·         Catherine O’Donnell, Willow Cakes and Pastries
·         Christine Ostiguy, Yorkshire Pudding Catering
·         Angela Panigas, The Sultan's Tent & Café Moroc
·         Chef Véronique Perez, Crêpes à GoGo Spadina and Limonana
·         Jennifer Perusini, BerBer Social
·         Andrea Poirier, Inn on the Twenty
·         Karen Rachlin, Bite Catering
·         Regular Nuit, Pai Northern Thai Kitchen, Sabai Sabai Kitchen and Bar and Sukhothai Restaurant -     "Mee kra ti" – stir fried rice vermicelli with coconut milk and tofu
·         Caroline Reid, Scaramouche - house-cured duck pastrami with celery root salad, hazelnut purée 
·         Emily Richards, Professional Home Economist - balsamic roasted pear wedges wrapped in                prosciutto with gorgonzola dip
·         Dufflet Rosenberg, Dufflet Pastries - cookie bar
·         Barbara Rotberg, Lollicakes 
·         Gauravi Shah, Tilde - chorizo meatballs with lime aioli and grilled pineapple salsa, bean vegballs          with roasted tomato salsa and cilantro gremolata
·         Trista Sheen, Bar Begonia
·         Alida Solomon, Tutti Matti
·         Lili Sullivan, Waupoos Winery - cider braised lamb in a filo cup with spiked apple
·         Meghan Van Horne, Public Schoolhouse @ Jackson’s Falls - polenta crisp with smoked trout,              chèvre, wild spinach and walnut pesto
·         Karen Viva-Haynes, Viva Tastings
·         Elaine Wong, The Omni King Edward Hotel
·         Winlai Wong, The Badminton and Racquet Club of Toronto
·         Jeanne Da Silva, George Brown College Chef School - edamame falafels with a cultured                      vegetable slaw on whole wheat tortilla cups and vegetarian BLT with coconut bacon, roasted                tomatoes and a spicy avocado purée on whole grain baguette
·         Vanessa Yeung, Aphrodite Cooks
·         Eden Hertzog, New Moon Kitchen
·         Leyla Kizilirmak, Art Square Gallery and Café - organic and fair trade dark chocolate boobs
·         Carmen Jeffrey, President’s Choice Cooking School

Eat to the Beat at a Glance:

DATE:              Tuesday, November 1, 2016

TIME:                7 pm – 10 pm

VENUE:            Roy Thomson Hall, 60 Simcoe Street, Toronto (St. Andrew subway station) 

COST:  General Admission Ticket: $189 (a tax receipt will be issued for the maximum allowable amount) Tickets include dishes at 60 stations along with wine, beer and a selection of non-alcoholic beverages.

DRESS:            Smart Casual

CONTACT:        eattothebeat@cbcf.org or call 1 (800) 387-9816

FACEBOOK:     www.facebook.com/cbcf.ettb 

TWITTER:         @EattotheBeat_TO

HASHTAG:        #EattotheBeat

About the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation:

The Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation (CBCF) is a national community-driven charity. As the largest charitable funder of breast cancer research in Canada, CBCF’s vision is to create a future without breast cancer. Since its inception in 1986, the Foundation has invested over $360 million in breast cancer research, funding more than 1,400 scientific and community grants.CBCF’s investments in vital research, education, health promotion, support and information programs have led to progress in breast cancer prevention, diagnosis, treatment and care. For more information, visit cbcf.org.

10 Things to DO at the CNE

I went to the Canadian National Exhibition (CNE) on a quiet wednesday in the first week of the EX.  I prefer to go midweek before crowds of families go.  It's much easier to walk around and the lines are shorter.  The weather was perfect.  Sometimes it rains for days during the EX so you have to pick a good day to go.  I had a jam packed day of a bunch of different things to do.

Here is a list of 10 things to Do at the CNE

1. EAT THINGS YOU KNOW YOU SHOULDN'T EAT

I didn't eat as much stuff as I hoped I could but I did manage to pack in a couple of days worth of calories from what I did eat.  I split a Collossal Onion with one of my friends and had to find the new Frosted Flakes coated chicken on a stick to try.  Anything fried and on a stick is popular at the CNE. The chicken was great and so was the onion.  Why does fried stuff have to taste so good?  I had to get one of my favourite yearly tradition foods and got the hot off the waffle press Waffle Ice Cream Sandwiches.  Cool vanilla ice cream wrapped in warm waffles. what's not to like and you can walk and eat it.  There was a couple of new things I couldn't find and then it was too late to get it so I hope I get another chance to get back to the CNE before it's over to find them.

2. SEE FREE MUSIC SHOWS

I must admit that I was never a huge General Hospital fan so Rick Springfield as Noah Drake doesn't mean much to me but I was around for the music of the 80's plus so I remember when his hit JESSIE"S GIRL took off.  I wasn't a huge fan of his music but he has 17 top 40 hits so I was familiar with some of them.  But I became a fan when I read his book and saw the documentary about him and learned about his crazy life.  Since the shows are free at the Bandshell I had the opportunity to go see his show while I was at the CNE.  I sat in seats at the back with my friend and his friend but I got annoyed with the couple in front of us making out while standing. All I could see was them, so I got up and left my friend and moved closer to the stage and stood in the area in between the bench seating.  Because I did this I was able to take this photo and be there for when he decided to do some crowd surfing and actually walked as far as I was in the crowd.  I actually was able to touch his arm as he tried to climb down to the ground from the bench beside me.  Yeah I wouldn't have been able to do that if I had just sat in the crappy seats at the back so I was glad I did that.  I had a great time while on the other hand my friends sitting at the back had a horrible time and hated it.  I must say that my friend isn't really a fan of his music but he isn't exactly the demographic that Rick Springfield sings to either.  It's more my demographic.  By the way he is now 66 but has the energy of a 26 year old so you have to be inspired by what he has accomplished.  Heck he is starring in a movie with Meryl Streep right now where he plays an ageing musician.. not much of a stretch but his character is a good guy in the movie to Meryl's messed up character.    Morale .. don't sit back... go for it.

3. SEE CELEBRITY CHEF DEMOS

Everyday during the festival there are celebrity chef demos in the Enercare building.  I checked out Zane Caplansky (owner of Caplansky's Deli} and also TV personality and more.  Zane is a good Jewish Ambassador and has lot's of stories about his customers and his passion for the Deli business.  He is also featured in the documentary Deli Man which is a must see Documentary.  He was talking about brisket and burgers at the demo and then he did a trivia question giveaway after his demo.
Some chefs that I would recommend going to see are Bob Blumer, Chuck Hughes, Matt Basile and Matt Dean Pettit.  There have already been a few great ones and some new ones this year.

4.  WIN STUFF

I won a jar of Caplansky's mustard without even trying too hard.  Zane Caplansky asked the trivia question "What's Zane's favourite condiment?"   too easy when he sells mustard for his smoked meat.  So I got a jar of mustard.  Good way to try it.  Now all I need is some good smoked meat to slather it on.

5.  GO ON RIDES

Well I didn't go on rides.  I don't do rides but I do like to take photos of them but I would have to say make sure you go on the rides before you eat any of the crazy CNE foods.

6.  TAKE SILLY SELFIES

There are always opportunities to take silly selfies at the CNE.  I stumbled on a section of the Enercare building where there was a whole display of Sherlock so I took this fun selfie with Benedict Cumberbatch since I can't do this if I see him in person at TIFF.  

7.  SHOP FOR ALL KINDS OF STUFF

I need some good luck so I found this evil eye bracelet in the International building for $5 and hopefully it will drive away any evil spirits but either way it's pretty and it was inexpensive and will remind me of the CNE.   So it's a good thing.

8.  MEET UP WITH FRIENDS

I met up with one of my friends during the day and we shopped and ate and walked around and then I met up with my other friend after he finished work to go see Rick Springfield at the Bandshell.

9.  STAY HYDRATED

Maybe having the new Coffee and donuts Shake from Fran's isn't the best way to stay hydrated but it is something new to try.  But I do recommend bringing a bottle of water because some of the building can get pretty hot, especially the food building and a bottle of water can cost about $3 sometimes.

10.  HAVE FUN

It's only once a year so splurge.  Shop, eat, play games, go on rides and do whatever you want to try at the CNE because you only live once so go for it.


*disclosure  Entrance to the CNE was complimentary but all opinions and photos are my own.