This past rain-drenched Wednesday, over 500 well-heeled patrons of food trekked out to Moss Park to attend What’s On The Table, a benefit for The Stop. The proceeds from the annual fundraiser support the Stop Community Food Centre’s anti-hunger programs. Between ticket sales, a silent and a live auction the sold-out event managed to raise $280,000 to fight urban hunger.
For its ninth year, The Stop moved the fundraiser south of Wychwood Barns down to Daniels Spectrum, a Moss Park event space. The juxtaposition between a homeless man sheltering from the rain at an outside picnic table and the glitzy proceedings was a stark reminder that many of our fellow Torontonians are in need.
The event space, while less impressive than the high-ceilinged barns, was more intimate than previous years. And, for once, everyone present could actually hear the fast-talking auctioneer. The highlight of the live auction was the fervent bidding war that erupted over an Edward Burtynsky photo. The lucky winner snagged the pic for $8,700.
While many stargazers were content to rub shoulders with celeb chefs Lynn Crawford, Jamie Oliver and Carl Heinrich, Toronto poli keeners got a chance to mingle with MPP Jonah Schein and city councillor Joe Mihevc.
Over the course of the evening, foodies with a philanthropic bent noshed on bite-sized morsels prepared by some of Toronto’s best-loved culinary establishments (Cava, Shōtō, George and Parts & Labour to name a few). In addition to the 30 restaurants, seven Niagara wineries including Cave Springs and Coyote’s Run kept the red and white flowing late into the night.
