A Taste for Life 2012: Good Food, Good Cause
Steph Legari's Triple Pork Bites Ottawa’s service industries are facing a period of uncertainty as the primary employer in the city implements austerity measures, threatening the jobs of many government employees. To restaurants, tenuously employed public servants represent regular patrons. Already, many fine food shops and caterers have told us their customers are being cautious about how they spend what may be their last pay cheques. As carefully worded letters continue to be issued and cut backs are revealed, some restauranteurs and chefs predict the already conservative dining-out segment in Ottawa may become even more frugal.
So, in this challenging environment, why have 45 restaurants and caterers in the National Capital Region (Ottawa and Gatineau) decided to participate in the 14th annual “A Taste for Life” campaign, donating 25% of their sales for the evening of Wednesday, April 25th to Bruce House and the Snowy Owl AIDS Foundation?
For Chef Steve Wallace and his wife Gen, whose modern Italian restaurant Burnt Butter (1100 Wellington Street) is situated in the trendy Hintonburg neighbourhood, the reason is “community.”
“Since Steve and I opened 8 months ago, we have been overwhelmed by how supportive the Ottawa community has been to us.”, she wrote in an e-mail to us. “From the very start we knew that we wanted to give back to a community that has helped us and wanted to look for ways to do this.”
“We had been aware of ‘A Taste for Life’ through our years in the restaurant industry and really felt that it was such an important community fundraiser.”
Similar sentiments are shared by other chef entrepreneurs participating, including those who contributed to today’s event launch, which was hosted again by Urban Element (424 Parkdale Avenue). Burnt Butter, Epicuria (newly re-opened in Manor Park), and Pelican Fishery & Grill (1500 Bank Street) donated their staff, equipment, and food, to the media event. Wine and beer was provided by Barefoot Wine and HogsBack Brewery.
Burnt Butter's Goat Cheese Mousse, Caramelized Onion, and Poached Pear Bruschetta
According to Jim Foster of Pelican Fishery & Grill, who will be participating for the 6th consecutive year, “A Taste for Life” is a great event. There is no overhead. There is no marketing material to prepare. There is no event space to set up in. “We’re a fish shop with a restaurant…Patrons come to us.”, he said while deftly slicing cold smoked salmon for swarming media.
Freshly Sliced Pelican Fish & Grill Smoked Salmon
Smoked Salmon with Capers and Whipped Cream Cheese
Jim Foster
Besides cold smoking approximately 500 lbs of salmon a week, Pelican hot smokes rainbow trout, which Foster also laid out for sampling.
This year Steph “the Grilling Gourmet” Legari is the face of “A Taste for Life.” When asked why he accepted the spokesperson role, which was offered by Jill Woodley of Bruce House, Legari said it was an easy decision to make. “AIDS is tragic,” he explained. “‘A Taste for Life’ benefits AIDS causes. The event makes people aware of [the challenges and hardships] surrounding living with AIDS.”
Steph Legari
Any opportunity that arises that combines a good cause, food, and great chefs, “I’m all for it!”
Legari then politely excused himself to slice more pork for his “Triple Pork” bite, which disappeared quickly.
Individual Triple Pork Bite
[pulled pork (apple smoked pork butt finished in Kansas City red sauce), double smoked bacon from Lavergne Butcher Shop (3971 Navan Road), pork tenderloin (charcoal grilled), radish sprouts, Artisin Bakery (250 City Centre Avenue #112) Corn Bread]
The concept behind “A Taste for Life” originated in Philadelphia and has since been adopted by many cities in Canada and the United States. Bruce House and the Snowy Owl AIDS Foundation debuted Ottawa’s first event in 1999. In 2011, twenty-four communities hosted “A Taste for Life.” To date, $2.2 million has been raised for people in Ontario and Alberta living with HIV/AIDS.
The concept itself is simple:
- Book a table at one of the participating restaurants on April 25th.
- Have a dinner out with your friends or family.
- Each restaurant donates 25% of the cost of your meal (food and alcohol, before tax) to Bruce House and the Snowy Owl AIDS Foundation.
A list of the remarkable community-oriented restaurants and caterers, participating in “A Taste for Life” for 2012 follows:
[Please bear in mind seating may well be limited now, most establishments having encouraged their regulars to participate for a month.]
Absinthe
(613)761-1138
1208 Wellington Street West
Allium Restaurant
(613)792-1313
87 Holland Avenue
Atelier
(613)321-3537
540 Rochester Street
Black Thorn Café
(613)241-0712
12 Clarence Street
Brookstreet – Perspectives Restaurant
(613)271-1800
525 Legget Drive
Burgers on Main (BOM)
(613)695-3330
343 Somerset Street West
Burnt Butter
(613)792-4000
1100 Wellington Street West
Hintonburg
Café Paradiso
(613)565-0657
199 Bank Street
Canvas Resto-Bar
(613)729-1991
65 Holland Avenue
(613)567-4634
210 Somerset Street West
Epicuria
(613)745-7356
357 St. Laurent Boulevard
Farbs Kitchen & Wine Bar
(613)744-6509
18 Beechwood Ave.
Il Piccolino Ristorante
(613)236-8158
449 Preston Street
Il Primo Ristorante
(613)234-6858
371 Preston Street
Jak’s Kitchen
(613)230-2088
479 Bronson Avenue
Kasbah Village Moroccan Cuisine
(613)232-3737
261 Laurier Avenue West
La Roma Restaurant
(613)234-8244
430 Preston Street
Lapointe’s Seafood Grill
(613)241-6221
55 York Street
Lapointe’s Seafood Grill
(613)599-1424
60 Colchester
Lapointe’s Seafood Grill
(613)596-9655
194 Robertson Road
Lapointe’s Seafood Grill
(613)837-6221
2010 Trim Rd.
Les Fougères Restaurant
819-827-8942
785 Route 105 (Chelsea)
Murray Street Kitchen
(613)562-7244
110 Murray Street
Napoli’s Café and Grill
(613)836-7722
1300 Main Street (Hull)
OZ Kafé
(613)234-0907
361 Elgin Street
Pelican Grill
(613)526-0995
1500 Bank Street
Petit Bill’s Bistro
(613)729-2500
1293 Wellington Street
Siam Bistro
(613)728-3111
1268 Wellington Street West
Social
(613)789-7355
537 Sussex Drive
The Buzz Restaurant
(613)565-9595
374 Bank Street
The Clock Tower Brew Pub
(613)233-7849
575 Bank Street
The Clock Tower Brew Pub
(613)241-4788
89 Clarence Street
The Clock Tower Brew Pub
(613)744-4788
422 MacKay Street
The Clocktower Brew Pub
(613)680-5983
418 Richmond Road
The Foolish Chicken
(613)321-4715
79 Holland Avenue
The Whalesbone Restaurant
(613)231-8569
430 Bank Street
Thyme and Again/Exposure Gallery
(613)722-0093
1255 Wellington Street West
Todric’s Fine Dining & Catering
(613)321-0252
10 McArthur Avenue
town.
(613)695-8696
296 Elgin Street.
Trattoria Caffee Italia
(613)236-1081
254 Preston Street
Zen Kitchen
(613)233-6404
634 Somerset Street West
Zola’s Restaurant
(613)721-0227
194 Robertson Road
At each restaurant, lead sponsor TD Bank Group provides volunteers, including a host. Hosts explain where funds will go and how they will benefit those living with HIV/AIDS.
Last year, 4000 diners participated in “A Taste for Life.”
Where will you dine on April 25th?
Particulars:
The Urban Element
424 Parkdale Avenue
(613) 722-3332
Tags: A Taste for Life, Bruce House, featured, Snowy Owl AIDS Foundation, Steph Legari
Comments
[...] Calgary. Initially, Ottawa raised a respectable $65k. Last year, with almost four thousand diners, Ottawa raised $90k. The target this year is [...]