“Food Brings People Together” — Chef’s Showcase Recognizes Women in Culinary

BY SELINA MacCALLUM

Food and wine were in each corner of the room for attendees to sip and savor. George Brown College Centre for Hospitality and Culinary Arts was full of enthusiastic and hungry people for the Chef’s Showcase hosted by The Junior League of Toronto (JLT). The event, now in its second year, took place on May 2^nd.

JLT is a women based community organization, partnering with the George Brown College Foundation to bring the JLT Chef’s Showcase. The event brings together many of Toronto’s leading chefs for a night in support of culinary scholarships for women.

The theme of the night was celebrating women in food and wine. Melissa Ostrosser, the president of the Junior League says that she is happy to support women.

“Anytime we can look at empowering individuals in society, I totally support that,” said Ostrosser.

The Junior League of Toronto partners with many community organizations to address needs in the community. They implemented the Junior League of Toronto George Brown Culinary Scholarship to help individuals who have come from the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) and have been referred into the program. The scholarship goes to a graduate who can use the money to buy culinary tools to enter the professional workforce.

JLT donates $5,000 which is then divided into smaller scholarships and given out to students at the school’s discretion.

“We really closed a gap. These students were graduating but when transitioning into the workforce, there were some barriers. So, our scholarships help to address those barriers,” said Ostrosser.

Donna Billeneube graduated in 2017 and now works at the catering company, Food Vendors. Not only did she share her Chicken Chow Mein with the hungry crowd, but her personal mental health story on how she struggled with anxiety. Something as easy as getting out of bed was hard for her most days.

She says that being in culinary school made her feel more confident and was a pivotal point in her life. “Being in this program turned my life around. If they didn’t have this program, people who have mental health issues or drug addiction would really suffer,” said Billeneube.

Billeneube says that this program defeats the stereotype driven into people’s minds that individuals with addictions or mental health issues cannot do anything.

“People with a mental illness still have a brain. We’re still just as good, we’re just a little different,” said Billeneube.

Canadian chefs, Christine Cushing, and Michael Fagan, who co-hosted the Chef’s Showcase pointed out that sometimes when people donate can still feel disconnected from the cause.

“Sometimes we are disconnected from what we are trying to support, but having a beneficiary speak shows what is the proof of what can happen. I was really moved by her,” said Cushing.

Christine, who is also a George Brown Alumni, has been teaching viewers how to cook for twenty years and was recently nominated for ‘Best Host in a Program or Series’ at the 2018 Canadian Screen Awards.

Michael’s thirty-plus years in the industry is backed by respected credentials such as the Wine and Spirit Education Trust Advanced Certificate and membership in the Association Internationale des Maîtres Conseils en Gastronomie Française.

“We often forget the value in supporting good causes because we often don’t hear from the people who benefit from them. To hear firsthand, your contribution to events like this has changed an individual’s life is amazing,” said Fagan.

Jenny Brizard, a Canadian actress known for her role in The Boys (2019), On the Basis of Sex (2018) and The Disappearance (2017) was in attendance.

“I wanted to come just to support the event and helping women with mental health issues. It’s incredible to have such an event,” said Brizard.

Linda Sparling and Carolyn Whiteside have supported JLT for over twenty years. Both are thrilled to be part of an organization that is determined to enhance women in the community.

“Women tend to do all the cooking. We’re in the kitchen all the time, but when it comes to the high-end chef industry, it tends to be dominated by males. That’s changing a lot and events like this are helping make that happen,” said Whiteside.

“Every time JLT holds an event there is a purpose, it’s not just to have a good time but to support a good cause,” said Sparling.

Marsha Brown is a member of the JLT and has been on the committee for three years.

“I am thrilled to be part of this committee because food brings people together. This organization is geared towards empowering women and we come together because we believe in supporting women who are experiencing mental health. It’s about encouraging women to be the best they possibly can be,” said Brown.