© 2019 TorontoArtsandEvents
The twenty-fourth annual Eat to the Beat fundraiser was held on Tuesday, October 22nd, 2019 at Roy Thomson Hall. It’s the only culinary event in Canada to exclusively feature the talent of sixty female chefs, coming together to benefit the Canadian Cancer Society. Founded twenty-four years ago by sisters Lisa and Abby Slater, Eat to the Beat has raised more than $4.5 million since its inception. The funds raised will support the full spectrum of breast cancer care—research, services, and support for all who are affected by breast cancer and make sure that no one faces this illness alone and unsupported.
This year’s Eat to the Beat was certainly a fabulous night of high-calibre food and the most delectable libations. Some of the sixty chefs present at this year’s fundraiser have been with Eat to the Beat for more than ten years. These chefs included the Executive Chef of the AGO Renee Bellefeuille, President/Author/Owner of Wanda’s Pie in the Sky Wanda Beaver, and Chef Jacqueline Lo from Ruelo Patisserie.
There were tons of opportunities to donate funds and receive fantastic prizes. This year’s raffle prizes were a set of appliances the presenting sponsor Kitchen-Aid, a stunning 18K gold, green tourmaline, and diamond ring from Anna Sportun Fine Jewellery, and a series of cosmetic treatments from V Line Cosmetic Clinic. The silent auction was sprawling with amazing and one-of-a-kind prizes. Along with a great variety of appliances and gift cards, some of this year’s silent auction prizes featured fun experiences like free use of a BMW and an accompanying $1000 Fairmont Hotels gift card. There was also a live auction where the prize was an all-expenses three nights vacation package to Fogo Island Inn, including full board and roundtrip flights, courtesy of Fogo Island Inn and West Jet.
The fundraiser’s drinks purveyors provided stellar choices for alcoholic and non-alcoholic libations. At this year’s Eat to the Beat, Beau’s Brewery and Steamwhistle offered a great selection of ales, lagers, and IPAs for the beer enthusiasts while Galleon Fine Wines served a beautiful selection of rosé wines from France and Italy. Temperance Cocktails was a huge hit among the guests who truly enjoyed the floral and refreshing specialty non-alcoholic craft cocktails. The Community Garden cocktail, a mixed drink composed of hibiscus, rosebud, verjus rouge, and garnished with flower petals was opulent in appearance, smelled like a flower garden in full bloom, and had the perfect balance of sweetness and tartness.
As for the food, none of the guests were starved for choice (pun intended). There were fifty-four food and beverage stations that would appeal to and satisfy even the most fastidious of palates. Chefs Lauren Mozer & Alison Scheuermann from Elle Cuisine prepared rich and luxurious dishes of beef carpaccio with black garlic aioli and beet carpaccio for the vegetarians. Hala Soliman of The Sultan’s Tent & Café Moroc, made a savoury dish called The Sultan’s Beets – whole wheat pita pockets stuffed with roasted red beets, ricotta, cucumbers, and walnuts. The passion fruit white chocolate mousse with hibiscus jelly and butter shortbread made by Catherine O’Donnell of Willow Cakes and Pastries was stunning! Guests were also enjoying the raspberry marshmallow bear pops that were simply too cute to eat. Some even took these marshmallow treats home to give to their children. Other culinary favourites of the night included the gingery rose chai tea and rosewater chai Indian style shortbread from Arvinda’s, Rickshaw Bar’s batata sambar with rice chips and coconut chutney, and Merrill House’s warm duck confit profiterole. The night concluded with live music from Bellosound who was joined by a live violinist.
About Canadian Cancer Society:
The beneficiary of Eat to the Beat is the Canadian Cancer Society, a community-based organization of volunteers whose mission is the eradication of cancer and the enhancement of the quality of life of people who have cancer. Funds from the event will be directed to the organization’s breast cancer support services. For more information, please visit the: Canadian Cancer Society.
© 2019 Article by Aleka Allen, Photos and layout TorontoArtsandEvents. All Rights Reserved. Editors please contact us for use.
