Les Toques Blanches Ottawa - Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario

4^th Annual Culinary Auction

The Toques Blanches of Ottawa/Gatineau and the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario again joined forces in our 4^th annual Culinary Auction to raise money for the Children’s Miracle Network.

We held a gala reception featuring a Live and Silent Auction on Wednesday, November 10th, 2004 at 6:30p.m. in the Victoria Ballroom of the Ottawa Marriott Hotel. During the evening guests bid on dining packages such as gift certificates, hotel stays, picnics, private dinners for 2 to 10 people and catered meals by the chef of your choice in your own home. Guests also had the opportunity to sample numerous culinary creations prepared by famous local Chefs, and wines and beers donated by Inniskillin, Jackson Triggs Vineyards and Sleeman’s Brewery. One lucky person won a door prize of a trip for 2 to Vancouver from Westjet Airlines including a weekend hotel stay.

Bidding paddles for the live auction were hand made by the children at C.H.E.O. Live auction items included:

• Hotel stays at the Aristocrat Hotel, Hampton Inn, Quality Hotel, Albert at Bay Suites, Fairmot Royal York (Toronto), Westin, Lord Elgin, Marriott Eaton Centre (Toronto), and the Bloor Marriott Hotel Toronto (with a car rental from National), many with breakfast or other meals included;
• Multi-course menus for 4 to 6 people at Eighteen, Crowne Plaza, Theo's Greek Taverna, Domus Café, West End Station Bistro, Brookstreet Hotel, Four Points Sheraton Hull-Ottawa, Sheraton Ottawa, and the Rideau Club, many with matching wines;
• Custom-designed meals in your home for 6-10 people prepared by renowned local chefs such as Mathieu Bedard, Kenton Leier, Nelson Borges,and a team of students and Chef instructors from Algonquin College;
• A beautiful Reidel Crystal decanter from C.A. Paradis;
• Wine appreciation courses from Algonquin College;
• A show and private dinner for 6 at the NAC;
• A night under the stars at the Congress Centre;
• A culinary package from Nelson Borges for 6 people including a weekend deluxe stay at the Ottawa Marriot, shopping in the market with the Executive Chef, cooking lessons, breakfasts, dinner at Merlot's Chef's table, and spa therapy from Vivianna;
• and always a hit with the ladies: a spaghetti dinner prepared and served by local firemen - ride the pole!

A silent auction was also held, featuring items such as:

• Gift certificates for meals from: Buffalo Charlie's, Hooters, Suisha Gardens, Bay Street Bistro, Café Spiga, Empire Grill, Kinki, Darcy mcGees, Luxe Bistro, La Roma, Blue Cactus Bar and Grill, Casa do Churrasco, Mamma Teresa, Victoria Trattoria, Clair de Lune, Rideau Carleton Raceway, Yangtze, Denny's, Courtyard Restaurant, Giovanni's Fine Italian Cuisine, Trattoria Italia, Les Fougeres, Café Baci, the Capital Dining Room, Noah's Fresh Market Cuisine, Hy's Steakhouse, Le French Quarter, Coasters Restaurant, Vineyards Restaurant, Juniper Kitchen and Wine Bar, and El Meson;
• Hotel stays at: the Radisson Hotel Ottawa Parliament Hill, Les Suites, Hilton Lac-Leamy, Courtyard by Marriott, Wakefield Mill Inn, Cartier Place Suites, Minto Place Hotel, Embassy West Hotel, Fairmont Chateau Laurier, and Holiday Inn Select;
• Cordon Bleu cooking school cookbooks and demonstrations;
• Portuguese cheeses and a bottle of 5 year old Maderia;
• Empire Crockery wine glasses in a basket;
• Carved glass punch bowl from MCL Hospitality;
• Take-home Christmas dinner for 10 with all the fixings from the Sheraton Ottawa;
• Two dozen one-pound lobsters from the Wholesale Fish Market;
• A personalized ice carving from Ikou Kanbayashi

Chefs from a number of great local establishments provided delicious food to sample throughout the evening:

• Medallions of pork with wild mushrooms (Algonquin College)
• Flambéed Crepes, assorted petit fours, pastries and cakes (Pasticceria Gelateria Italianna)
• Elk Ragout with Forest Mushrooms and Spaetzle (Crowne Plaza)
• Great selection of fresh sushi station (Museum Of Civilization)
• An international selection of fine cheeses with artisan breads and biscuits (Marriott Ottawa)
• Appetizers from Merlot’s Tasting Menu (Marriott Ottawa)
• Lentil Donuts (Coconut Lagoon)
• Flambéed Essence of Tomato "Gordon Gin" Smoked & peppered Duck Breast on red Lentil Ragout with a red Currant and Orange coulis (Congress Centre)
• Butternut Squash Ravioli with Wild Mushroom Ragout (Rideau Club)
• Warm Roasted Banana Strudel, Maple Pot au Crème, Godiva Chocolate sauce (Rideau Club)
• Braised veal cheek, creamy goat cheese polenta, choke cherry gastrique (Brook Street Hotel)

Tickets were purchased in advance for only $50 or 2 for $80 from any of our members or at MCL Hospitality and Hendrix Kitchen Supplies.

For more information, contact:
Nelson Borges, Executive Chef
Toques Blanches International
783-4210 or 723-0577
nelson@lestoquesblanchesottawa.com.