Good foodies

YOUNG SPROUTS Yours truly, along with CBC’s Margaret Gallagher, hosted Growing Chefs Society’s ninth Farm to Forks Harvest Party, staged at the Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts. Guided by executive director Helen Stortini and development director Jaydeen

Williams, the Sunday night event drew some 120 supporters to the annual kitchen party. Joined by the province’s best chefs, bartenders, growers and producers, foodies enjoyed a fun-filled night of fine wine, craft beer, bespoke cocktails, and 10 delicious tasting stations sprinkled throughout the cooking school’s eight classroom kitchens.

The epicurean experience would ultimately raise more than $65,000 — a new fundraising standard for the charity’s classroom gardening and cooking program — giving children hands-on experience growing and preparing their own healthy, and nutritious food.

More than 100 classrooms across B.C. have benefited from the grassroots effort thanks to the support of more than 150 chefs, growers, producers and community volunteers. Monies generated will play a crucial role in helping the outfit’s goal to reach more than 1,500 children across the province annually.

CBC’s Margaret Gallagher welcomed party guests including Iron Chef Canada judge Mijune Pak to the annual Harvest Party, benefiting Growing Chefs Society.

Growing Chefs Society executive director Helen Stortini and Julian Bond, vice-president and COO of the Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts, thanked the 22 restaurants and 21 participating farms and growers for making the fundraiser the biggest yet.

Mary King of Hazelmere Organic Farms and Burdock and Co’s Andrea Carlson are among an army of volunteers that go into classrooms to teach kids about healthy eating and healthy food systems.

The Curious Oysters team of Richard Boucher and Ricky Alvarez were at one of 10 drink-paired food stations that greeted party guests at the Growing Chefs fundraiser on Granville Island.