Taste for Hope brings Ottawa’s culinary talents together

Eating is fun. Eating with a larger noble goal in mind, makes things just a little more convivial and loosens the purse strings.

Shepherds of Good Hope provides a series of supports and services to the unhoused and marginalized, generating more than 300,000 meals a year as well as much needed temporary and permanent supportive housing.

This was an opportunity for the public to become familiar with so much of our fine homegrown culinary talent and the energy was positively electric. So electric in fact that this event, with 550 people attending, generated $335,000. Ottawa can be proud.

This year's Taste for Hope was held at the Shaw Centre where Patrick Turcot works his magic as executive chef. While he’s a whiz at savouries, this time he offered a trio of desserts that were a highlight for many.

The chef and owner of Wakefield’s Nikosi Bistro, Wapokunie Riel-Lachapelle, offered one of the highlights of the evening with her maple marinated cold-smoked trout and too many other ingredients to list. Suffice it to say it was delicious and generous in layers of flavour.

Kanata’s Aperitivo was on hand, ladling out delicious gazpacho topped with smoked fish. Owner Riley Gilchrist was particularly keen to share his new wine tasting club venture with his next tasting being held on June 23.

Opened just late last year the Katha team has quickly made waves as a leading purveyor of elevated Indian cuisine in Ottawa and while I enjoyed their creations as one of the highlights of the event, they were not listed in the event passport. I will have a review of Katha in the near future.

Another well-loved spot for fine dining, Stofa, gave attendees a memorable bite in the form of smoked barramundi, with white asparagus and rhubarb preserves topped with fried strips of taro.

Local legends, the team from Les Fougeres were all smiles enjoying the atmosphere and introducing their new chef Simon Beaudry to the public.

Formerly of Cocotte Bistro, chef Stephen LaSalle has made a bit of a career change and now works with the charitable organization Lionhearts which services both Kingston and Ottawa.

Lionhearts repurposes foods from businesses such as Cobs Bread, Heartee mushrooms, Mary Brown’s chicken and many others, to help feed those in need. 

This evening LaSalle had created a very good mushroom toast courtesy of the two businesses listed above. Not only is Lionhearts doing good for the community and environment, they’re providing deliciousness for everyone.

As always, please support those talents that give so generously to the life of our city and to the Shepherds of Good Hope and Lionhearts who help our less fortunate brothers and sisters.