Evergreen’s Feast On BBQ brings cottage life to the city with annual fundraising event

Photo: Evergreen

Photo: Evergreen

Nothing says vacation like a getaway to the cottage. Campfires, flannel and lakeside cocktails — one of Ontario's favourite pastimes is coming to Toronto at Evergreen's Feast On BBQ

Evergreen, in partnership with the Culinary Tourism Alliance, will bring the best elements of cottage life to the city: local and sustainable fare, tasty drinks and epic outdoor fun at its third-annual fundraiser in support of its nationwide work in building flourishing cities.

The event is showcasing 10 marquee chefs — including the east end's Jesse Vallins from Maple Leaf Tavern and Elisa Corrigan from The Green Wood — who will serve up specialty barbecue made from locally sourced ingredients paired with signature cocktails, wine and Muskoka Brewery craft beer. 

Tickets for the third-annual event are $150 and that gets you all the food you can eat and drinks you can drink, plus a full program of live music and all the outdoor merriment you can handle. Cozy up to a crackling fire, roast ice wine-infused marshmallows, dance the night away to Canadian classics and go for a round of axe-throwing.

Here is a sample of what to expect from this all-you-can-eat-and-drink bonanza:

  • Chef Arron Carley from Stratford’s The Bruce Hotel presents spit-roasted lamb glazed with birch BBQ sauce on grilled bannock bread, served with Brick Works Cider slaw, roasted squash chow chow and a birch and black walnut danish
  • Chef Olivia Simpson of Hawthorne Food and Drink warms up the eve with a Hungarian Székely Goulash with caraway sauerkraut and a beet borcht
  • Chef Steffen Marin of Heirloom Food to Truck creates smoked chicken or tofu lollipops with homemade peanut satay sauce, toasted sesame seeds, ginger aioli and fresh Ontario herbs

Other participating chefs include: Raul Sojo of Bistro '67, Whitby; Tim Borys of Lancaster Smokehouse, Kitchener; Adam Ryan of Localista, Orangeville; Corey Duncan, Urban Pantry; Ami Dipasquale of Heirloom Farm to Truck, Toronto; Laird MacArthur of Café Belong, Toronto

Feast On BBQ will also feature airbrush tattoos for those that want a temporary keepsake and beard trimming stations for those who had no time to clean up prior to the event. 

According to organizers, most chefs will be offering a vegetarian option at their station and there will be lots of dishes that celebrate the beautiful fall produce in Ontario.

Check out the Feast On BBQ event page for more details and to buy tickets.