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Annual tribute to late chef, Kurt Waldele,
moves to National Arts Centre
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Almost two dozen top Ottawa chefs
serve their best to help humane society
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AUG 07 13 – 12:01 AM — About this time each summer, during my laziest days ensconced in the shade of my neighbour’s majestic maple, the thought invariably occurs at least once that perhaps, just maybe, Ottawa has two or three too many festivals.
These kind of wacky notions usually indicate a more pressing unspoken concern, and once my friend Jim and I move on to lunch of tomato, bacon and lettuce between toasted slices of potato scallion bread, or brioche, such silly thoughts tend to vanish until next time, when frozen pizza may be the prescription. Let that serve as a warning to all about the deleterious effect creeping hunger can have on one’s mental acuity.
The good news is, I can readily think of one gastronomic event –undoubtedly among the very best this summer — in just a few days when everyone will doubtless be smiling, well-fed and thinking clearly, while helping a most worthy cause as a bonus.
And that is the 13th Annual Summer Garden Harvest Party, to raise money for the Ottawa Humane Society The event this year moves to the rooftop of the downtown National Arts Centre on Elgin Street from its previous venue at humane society headquarters on West Hunt Club Road. There, some 300 guests on Aug. 25 from 2 to 5 p.m. will nibble on food prepared by more than 20 of the top chefs in the nation’s capital, not to mention enjoying beer, wine and non-alcoholic beverages. It is a most delicious event, and a bargain at $125 a ticket, especially considering a $75 tax receipt is given by the charity. (Link below)
To date more than $400,000 has been raised; last year the party, including ticket sales and auction items, earned the society $40,000 — which organizers hope to double this time, to celebrate the society’s 125th anniversary helping more than 11,000 animals in distress each year.
“The Summer Harvest Garden Party is my favourite event,” says society executive director, Bruce Roney.
“The chefs always go all-out to make it memorable and delicious. It’s foodie heaven!”
“Funds raised by the Garden Party have been and continue to be a tremendous part of helping Ottawa’s animals. Summer is a very busy time for the OHS, when more animals need rescuing and our care than any other time of the year. This great event helps to ensure that we can be here when the animals need us.”
The garden party is a long-standing tradition originally hosted by the late Kurt Waldele, former executive chef at the National Arts Centre, with his wife Dr. Sizanne Beauchemin. Kurt died from cancer in 2009.
Three years ago Kurt’s friends resurrected the annual fundraiser in his memory.
Participating chefs/restaurateurs (some with vegetarian/vegan options) confirmed so far include John Morris of the NAC; Michael Blackie, NEXT; Dennis Luc, Mekong; Natasha Kyssa, Simply Raw; Simon Bell, Oz Kafé; John Leung, Modern Steak Sushi; Marc Lepine, Atelier; Gabriel Pollock, Grounded Kitchen; Kenton Leier, Westin Ottawa; Cory Haskins, Rideau Club; Tim Wasylko, 24 Sussex Dr; George Monsour, Back Lane Café; Joe Calabro, Pasticceria Gelateria Italiana; Heinrich Stubbe, Stubbe Chocolates; Nippi Chhatwhal, Ishina Indian Cuisine; Joshua Bishop, The Whalesbone; Frédéric Filliodeau, Sheraton Ottawa; Carl Baptisa, Real Sports Bar & Grill; Kyle Mortimer-Proulx, Zen Kitchen; Louis Charest, Rideau Hall, Big Easy’s Seafood and Steak House.
Big Rig Brewery is sponsoring the beer. Wines are from Coyotes Run Estate Winery provided by Roger Linton of Vintner Selection; and Crush Pinot Grigio from Nicholas Malboeuf.
Among items to be auctioned this year by Ryan Watson, of Raising the Bid auctioneers, photo above:
♦ Twelve $100 gift certificates from some of the city’s best restaurants;
♦ Dinner for 12 by chef Michael Blackie and chef friends at his new restaurant, NEXT;
♦ Six-course meal with wines prepared in your home by some of the city’s best chefs, to be announced.
“We are so grateful for all that Kurt Waldele, supported by his wife, Dr. Suzanne Beauchemin, did for Ottawa’s animals through the Garden Party,” Roney says.
“It started when the OHS had almost literally nothing and it has grown with the society to be the very special occasion that it is now. Many of the participating chefs worked with Kurt or volunteered alongside him at past garden parties. It is such an honour to continue to share in this legacy to this great man.”
“There was so much about Kurt I didn’t know until he passed away. I knew him as a tremendously kind supporter of the OHS. It was only at his funeral that I learned how much he had brought to Ottawa’s culinary community. The chef “guard of honour” at his funeral was among the most amazing and moving tributes I have ever seen.”
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Twitter: @roneade
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For tickets, click below:
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