Chef Michael Stadtlander has rallied 100 chefs from across the country to cook a massive pay-what-you-can lunch in Honeywood, Ontario to help stop a proposed mega-quarry that would destroy valuable soil in the area.
If there’s a culinary equivalent to Bono getting a bunch of top musicians together to record a charity single, this would be it—and chef Michael Stadtlander would be playing the role of U2 frontman.
Stadtlander, whose tiny Eigensinn Farm restaurant in Singhampton was once ranked the ninth best restaurant in the world, has rallied 100 chefs from across the province (and a few from Saskatchewan, Nova Scotia and Nunavut) to cook a massive pay-what-you-can lunch on Oct. 16. The event, dubbed Foodstock, will be held at a farm located across the street from the site of a proposed limestone quarry in the town of Honeywood, just north of Orangeville near the Niagara Escarpment and the Ontario Green Belt.
Stadtlander says the construction of the quarry, built by US-based Highland Companies, would mean the loss of prime farmland.”It’s some of the best farmland in Ontario and it’s only 100 km away from Toronto,” he says, adding that he lives 20 km from the proposed development site. “We are really only at the dawn of local food right now. The human population is growing and we really have to secure places where we can grow food. That’s the most important thing for me.” Other chefs like Jamie Kennedy and Donna Dooher have also spoken out against the site.
Another issue Stadtlander raises is that the quarry—spanning 937 hectares (about 2,108 football fields) and 189 feet deep (19 feet deeper than Niagara Falls)—will need to pump 600 million litres of groundwater out of the pit each day, which then has to be stored before being reintroduced to the water supply. While Highland says the water quality will not be affected, opponents to the quarry are nonetheless worried.
The Ministry of Natural resources has since received more than 2,000 objections from the public, and videos from concerned residents have been uploaded on YouTube. Currently, the mega-quarry is undergoing an environmental assessment.
As for Stadtlander’s Foodstock, the daylong food festival will run from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Oct. 16; there will be shuttle buses from Toronto and diners are told to bring their own plates, cutlery, napkins and cups as well as boots (it is taking place on a farm after all). There’s a suggested donation of $10, which is a bargain considering most of these food events typically cost well over $100.
List of chefs that will be cooking at Foodstock (so far):
From Toronto:
Aaron Joseph Bear Robe, Keriwa Cafe
Adam Colquhoun and Trish Donnelly, Oyster Boy
Albert Ponzo, Le Select Bistro
Andrew Hunter, Buddha Dog
Anne Yarymowich, Frank Restaurant
Anthony Walsh, Canoe, Bannock
Anthony Rose, The Drake Hotel
Audrey Demers, Audrey Demers Catering
Bertrand Alepee, The Tempered Chef
Brad Long and Sara Kuntz, Café Belong
Carl Heinrich and Ryan Donovan, Marben
Carole Ferrari, The Bus Kitchen
Chris Brown, The Stop Community Food Centre
Christopher Palik, Paese Ristorante, L’Eat Catering
Daisuke Izutsu, Kaiseki Sakura
Dan and Kristin Donovan, Hooked
Daniel Muia, Mogette Bistro
David Kokai, Loic Gourmet
Derek Bendig and Colen Quinn, Pangaea
Derek Zavislake, Merchants of Green Coffee
Donna Dooher, Mildred’s Temple Kitchen
Evelyne Gharibian, Hearty Catering
Fabio Bondi and Michael Sangregorio, Local Kitchen and Wine Bar, Bar Salumi
Fawzi Kotb, Veloute Bistro & Catering
Giacomo Pasquini, Vertical
Graham Pratt, The Gabardine
Hiro Yoshida, Hiro Sushi
Jamie Kennedy, Jamie Kennedy Kitchens
Jeffery Claudio, Scarpetta at The Thompson Hotel
Joe Levesque, International Centre
John Higgins, George Brown College
Joshna Maharaj
Keith Froggett, Scaramouche
Kevin McKenna and Phillip Heilborn, Globe Earth, Globe Bistro
Lesia Kohut, LPK’s Culinary Groove
Lesley Stoyan, The Daily Apple
Lorenzo Loseto, George Restaurant
Lork Kirk, Ruby Watchco
Luis Valenzuela, Torito Tapas Bar
Matty Matheson, Parts and Labour
Michael Sacco, Chocosol
Nick Laliberte, Poutini’s House of Poutine
Olivia Bolano, All The Best Fine Foods
Patrick McMurray, Starfish Oyster Bed and Grill, The Ceili Cottage
Paul Boehmer and Milana Lise, Boehmer
Rob Gentile, Buca
Rocco Agostina, Enotica Sociale, Pizzeria Libretto
Rodney Bowers, Hey Meatball!
Steffan Howard, Palais Royale, Casa Loma
Tony Sabherwal, Magic Oven Pizza
Victor Barry, Splendido, The County General
Winlai Wong, Spice Route
Zane Caplansky, Caplansky’s
From Barrie:
Chef TBD, Barrie Country Club
Caesar Guinto, Cravings Fine Food Market and Catering
Daniel Hong and Anna Kim, Furusato Restaurant and Sushi Bar
David Jones and Matthew Flett, from Georgian College‘s culinary program
David Keenan, At The Five
Randy Feltis, Oscar’s Restaurant
Ron Stevenson, Executive Catering
From Durham:
Michael Shmidt and Carey McLellan, Glencolton Farms
From Shelburne:
Rob Uffen, Trout House
From Orangeville:
Alex Johnston, Hockley Valley Resort
From Thornbury:
Jennifer Vipond, Bruce Wine Bar
Ryan Crawford, The Stone Road Grille
Scott Chalmers and Andrew Barber, Simplicity Bistro
From Huntsville:
Rory Golden, Deerhurst Resort
From Ottawa:
Ross Fraser, Fraser Café
From Creemore:
Charlene Nero, Bank Café
Dave Nesbitt, Creemore Coffee Company
Michel Masselin, Chez Michel
From Collingwood:
Andrea Greyerbiehl, Azzurra
Christophe and Wispy Boivin, Tremont Café
Gareth Carter, Men with Knives
Jeremy Korten, O&B Café Grill Blue Mountain
Joelle Rogers, Tesoro Restaurant
Mark and Christene Krause, Espresso Post
Roger Genoe, Ravenna Country Market
Stacey Fokas, Freshalicious
From Singhampton:
Jorg Neth and Marita Gómez, Haisai Restaurant and Bakery
Michael and Nobuyo Stadtlander, Eigensinn Farm
From Orangeville:
Jason Reiner, The Mono Cliffs Inn
From Markdale:
Shawn Adler, The Flying Spatula Diner
From Burlington:
Tobias Pohl-Weary, Red Canoe Bistro
From Niagara:
Paul Harber, Ravine Vineyard
Janice Suarez de Becker, Cakewalk
From Parry Sound:
Philip Patrick, The Ridge at Manitou Golf Club
From Nova Scotia:
Stefan Czapalay, Culinary Design Solutions
From Nunavut:
Andrew Gilbutowicz
From Saskatchewan:
Moe Mathieu, The Willow on Wascana
