Ottawa Humane Society Summer Harvest Garden Party

From chef Michael Blackie of Le Café – pineapple, marshmallow, peanut crumble, caramel and drunk cherries.

This past Saturday over 200 people crammed into the Ottawa Humane Society in their best garden party garb to help raise money and celebrate the memory of Chef Kurt Waldele.  Attendees were treated to wine from Colaneri Estate Winery, beer from Beau's All Natural Brewing Co. and delicious creations from 20 of Ottawa's best restaurants, caterers and bakeries.

With so many talented chefs in attendance and the abundance of kittens, puppies and rabbits this event is quickly becoming one of my favourites.  My food highlights included Chef Blackie's multi-component pineapple on a stick, the Cake Shop's seemingly endless amount of cupcakes and Chef Lepine's smoked duck tongues (I apologize for eating so many and making it awkward).

Besides the wonderful food there were also some amazing Ottawa foodie themed packages auctioned off - like dinner for 8 with Gay Cook, dinner for 12 from Chef Carmichael, Christofferson, Larkin, Lepine and Wilson or a weekend for 4 in Prince Edward County (to name a few).

Congratulations to the Ottawa Humane Society for putting on a wonderful event and a fitting tribute to Chef, and animal lover, Kurt Waldele.

Take a look at last year's Ottawa Human Society Garden Party photos.

Freshly shucked oysters from the Whalesbone Oyster House.

From Chef Luc Doiron of The Pine Restaurant at the Monterey Inn - cones of creamy smoked salmon.

 

From Chef Robin Bowen of the Southway Inn - smoked salmon on corn pancake w/ cilantro and crème fraîche.

From Chef Michael Hay of Back Lane Cafe - gazpacho.

From Big Easy Seafood & Steak House - shrimp gumbo.

From Chef Gabriel Pollock of Grounded Kitchen - corn and black bean empanadas w/ chili salsa.

From Chef Kyle Christofferson of Brookstreet Hotel - sweet corn and chorizo soup w/ pork dumpling.

From Chef Marc Lepine of Atelier - crispy smoked duck tongues.

From Chef Ian Carswell of KW Catering - deconstructed sushi w/ pickled ginger, sesame crips, yuzu foam and sesame snow.

From Chef Ben Baird of The Urban Pear - flank steak, daikon w/ a fermented black bean and corn emulsion.

Real Sports Bar & Grill Executive Chef Robert Bartley was on hand to give a preview of their lime salt and bacon maple mustard coated wings.

Platters of assorted cupcakes and shortbread from The Cake Shop (pictured is my favourite, Red Velvet).

The best cannoli in Ottawa from Pasticceria Gelateria Italiana.

Perfect presentation from the Algonquin College Culinary Arts Program.

One of many chocolate delights by Stubbe Chocolates.