On October 6th, we hosted our 10th annual From Farms to Forks harvest kitchen party at Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts. Our guests wandered from kitchen to kitchen to watch chefs in action, meet growers, and enjoy delicious tasting plates - each paired with a different wine from Mission Hill Family Estate.
Click here to relive the menu and the pairings!
More photos to come soon!
Photo Credit: Kai Mallari
From Farms to Forks is Growing Chefs’ biggest fundraising event of the year and we hoped to raise $70,000 this year to support our 2019/2020 Classroom Gardening & Cooking Program. Our supporters helped us to exceed our goals and expectations and together, we raised:
Over $84,000!
Each year, our founder and chair of the board, Merri Schwartz, writes and reads a thank you poem at the event. This is From Farms to Forks 10:
Gather ‘round guests, we’ve some thanks to attend to,
Don’t fret! They’ll be brief! Off to eat we’ll soon send you.
First, thanks to you for attending tonight,
To see you all here is a most welcome sight.
Thanks PICA, for hosting us each year with grace,
Our event would not work save your most special space.
Chef Marc, Yves and Sylvia, Jen, and the rest,
Our most sincere thanks. You are simply the best!
Our Silver Thyme Sponsors: Whole Foods! Mission Hill!
Bushel Sponsors, the thanks in our cups will soon spill…
… Over! For there are so many to thank,
Farmers, chefs, restaurants, your work fuels our tank.
The farmers whose toil and whose gifts make us grateful,
The chefs who create and bring magic to table.
The classic bar duo you’ve all come to adore,
Dear Ange and dear David, now go forth and pour!
Growing Chefs! staff, you know truly no bounds,
The work you put into this simply astounds.
Thanks Board of Directors, you shape our vision,
Thanks for attending and for all you’ve given.
50 volunteers came to help us this evening,
The effortlessness of it all is deceiving!
On bar and on wine, on auction and door,
On service, on fundraising, and still there’s more!
Robbyn—you’ve swooped in to save us as always,
You nail it each time, please accept our praise!
Dear Fred and Margaret, we thank you each year,
And each time, like angel emcees you appear.
Peter Blitz for the sound and the mic in my hands,
Stania and Devi, your ticket-selling record still stands!
For the many supporters among us right now,
Adopt-a-classroom donors, please take a bow.
CIBC, Whole Foods, Telus, SVP, SpencerCreo,
Les Dames, Christopher Family Foundation, we’re all such big fans.
Our Champion Radishes—29 here this evening,
All auction donors whose items you’re scheming…
… To win! Go ahead, take a look, place your bids,
Thanks our young growing chefs representing the kids,
Artona, your patience is truly abounding,
Thanks for the printing, our thanks is resounding.
Bella Wines for the sparkling and Fiodesigns for… design!
We’ve mentioned Mission Hill, but thank god for wine.
And beer! Thanks for beer, too. From Fuggles & Warlocks,
And cocktails. Long Table will knock off your socks.
More beer still, Strange Fellows, and Phillips the soda,
You ensure that refreshment will exceed our quota.
Thanks Terra, like many, you’ve been with us for years,
Edible and Scout ensured our event reached your ears.
Grounds for Coffee, we thank you.
Hives for Humanity, merci.
Mahalo, Mavreen David, Kai Mallari, and Leila Kwok Photography.
For cheese, we say danke, to our friends at Les Amis.
Mink Chocolates, grazie, for answering our call,
Namasthé, we’d say thanks but your name says it all. (ha!)
From Pedersen’s the rentals, our annual set,
For our sweet raffle prize, let’s not miss WestJet.
And lastly, let’s cheer for a decade of this!
You’ve made From Farms to Forks an event not to miss.