Sheltered Girl Meets World

Go: 8th Annual Carefor Chocolate Brunch and Competition

(2011 Carefor Chocolate Competition Champ - Pasticceria Gelateria)

Last March I bought tickets to the Carefor Brunch and Chocolate competition.  I'd like to say I bought the tickets to support Carefor's home health care and community service work but the only thing I was supporting was my love for chocolate.  I wasn't disappointed either - chocolate was everywhere; mini chocolate bars were piled high in the center of each table, a chocolate fountain was flowing and this was before the ten competitors started serving their decadent chocolate desserts!

This year I am very excited to be joining Executive Chef Michael Blackie of Le Café, Chef Christian Faure of Le Cordon Bleu, Ottawa Citizen Food Editor Ron Eade and fellow bloggers Don and Claire from FoodiePrints to help judge the entries.  The competition will be tough as 2011 champions Sucré Salé and Pasticceria Gelateria look to defend their title from past competitors Fratelli, The Joy of Gluten Free, Todric's Fine Dining & Catering and new competitors Brookstreet Hotel and Hilton Garden Inn.

Tickets can be purchased online for $75 (adult) or $40 (child, age 4-12).  It is being held at the Centurion Conference & Event Centre located at 170 Colonnade Rd. on Saturday, March 10 from 10am to 2pm.  More information can be found at http://www.careforchocolate.com.

Not going but want to follow the event?  Check out #CareforChocolate on Twitter!

Go: Celebrate Wine, Food & Art at La Vendemmia

La Vendemmia refers to the fall grape harvest - when grapes are at the peak of their ripeness.  At that time the focus is on getting the grapes off the vine and into the vats.  When the hard work is done, tables are filled with food, wine and friends coming together for the best meal of the season.  Ottawa's Preston Street is celebrating La Vendemmia with a four day festival filled with wine, food and art from Thursday, September 22 to Sunday, September 25th. 

"We wanted La Vendemmia to reflect the more international flavours of the evolving Preston Street," says Lori Mellor Executive Director of the Preston Street BIA.  The popular Moveable Feast, which kicks off the festival on Thursday evening, has diners moving from restaurant to restaurant enjoying signature dishes from Preston Street restaurants and wines expertly selected by Savvy Company Sommeliers.  On Friday, Trattoria Caffe Italia is host to a Sommelier led wine tasting with hors d'oeuvres and a charity wine auction benefiting the Music & Beyond Festival.  On Saturday Preston Street is host to its weekly Farmers' Market featuring local produce, crafts and backed goods.  There will also be cultural seminars as well as walking tours that touch on the street's history, art and food.  Finally, on Sunday, Sala San Marco is host to the signature closing event - Taste of Preston Street Food & Wine Show - celebrating the abundance of Preston Street's restaurants.

In addition to the fantastic food and wine Preston Street is also host to one of the best charity races I've heard of - The Sakto's Corporation Grape Stomp.  Teams of four compete for the best time in a relay race that includes stomping grapes, tossing a pizza, rolling pasta and setting a table - oh and two of your teammates are blindfolded!  The event benefits the Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundation who work towards breakthroughs in research, treatment and supportive care.  Ottawa food bloggers, foodiePrints, will be 'running' the race and I encourage you to donate to help them reach their fundraising goal.

Update: La Vendemmia is hosting a tweetup at Pub Italia on the evening of September 20.  They'll buy your first draft beer or cider and you'll have a chance to win tickets - sounds like a good time.

 

Go: Chef Kurt Waldele Memorial Garden Party

Chef Kurt Waldele, Former Executive Chef of the National Arts Center and owner of KW Catering, had a passion for animals that rivalled his passion for food.  Over the years he volunteered his time and culinary talent by hosting garden parties in his Cumberland estate and prepared menus for the Ottawa Humane Society Furballs.  Sadly, he passed away in 2009 and in his memory friends have teamed together with local Chefs to present this fundraiser.

For $100 donation to the Ottawa Humane Society guests will have the opportunity to sample food from more than 20 Ottawa area Chefs and sample wine from Ontario's great Niagara and Prince Edward County regions.  With some of the city's most prominent restaurant Chefs as well as Chefs from hotels and embassies preparing food it will be a fantastic way to pay tribute to Chef Kurt Waldele and celebrate the new OHS shelter.

The event takes place on Sunday, August 28, 2011 from 2 - 5pm at the Ottawa Humane Society at 245 West Hunt Club Road.

Participating Chefs:

• Josh Bishop - Whalesbone
• Michael Blackie - National Arts Centre
• Robin Bowen - Spin Kitchen
• Matthew Carmichael - Restaurant 18 / Social / Side Door
• Louis Charest - Governor General's Residence
• Joe Calabro - Pasticcerria Geleteria Italiano
• Kyle Christopherson (representing his fundraising event Allure)
• Frederic Filliodeau
• Michael Hay - Courtyard
• Trish Larkin - Black Cat Bistro
• George Laurier
• Marc Lepine - Atelier
• Johnny Leung - KW Catering
• Clifford Lyness - Brookstreet Hotel
• Dino Ovcaric - United States Ambassador's Residence
• Gabriel Pollock - Grounded Kitchen Coffee
• Steve Price - Algonquin College
• Amir Rahim - Grounded Kitchen Coffee
• Jud Simpson - Parliamentary Dining Room, House of Commons
• Ken Skidmore - Liam Maguires
• Karen Von Merveldt - Von's Bistro / Flippers
• Tim Wasylko - Prime Minister's Residence
• Russell Weir - Sheraton Hotel Ottawa
• Sarah Charbonneaux - Buffet Charbonneaux

Tickets can be purchased online at the Ottawa Humane Society or by contacting Anna Silverman at 613-725-3166 ext. 279.

Go: Baskets with Panache @ Canada Agriculture Museum

 

(One of the basket being offered, filled with PEC wine!)

Last week I was invited to the media preview for the Canada Agriculture Museum's annual fundraiser Baskets with Panache. I was excited to go, not only to learn more about the event and who it benefits or to sample the tasty offerings by Thyme & Again but to see the farm and it's animals - something I haven't done since grade school. Baskets with Panache is in it's fifth year and subsidizes the costs for over 10,000 underprivileged children to attend the Agriculture Museums school programs and summer day camps. These programs show children where our food comes from and why agriculture is important. The event is being held on Wednesday, June 15 at a heritage barn at the Agriculture Museum. For $75 you will be treated to Prince Edward County Wines presented by Savvy Company and a selection of tasty hors d'oeuvres from Thyme & Again Creative Catering.  You'll also have a chance to bid on a selection of baskets that have been created by community leaders and reflect a variety of tastes and interests.

(Strawberry chocolate mousse tarts by Thyme & Again)

If you'd like to attend you can purchase tickets for $75 by calling 613-991-6271 or by sending an e-mail to foundation@technomuses.ca.