Thunder Bay Regional
Health Sciences Foundation
hosts dinner with Chef Lynn Crawford
Oh what a night! What a fabulous night, a fun and funny night. Lynn Crawford
is incredibly entertaining, and though her hit Food
Network programs display her character well, there’s nothing like being in
the room with her. She so obviously
enjoys people, food and bringing them together.
This was the second fundraising dinner hosted by the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences
Foundation celebrating local food and healthy diets. The meal was
outstanding but the night was so much more; I don’t think it was possible to be
in that room and not feel a part of Chef Lynn’s table, and it was just so much fun
to be a part of her party.
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| Chef Lynn Crawford and my daughter Hannah at the book signing symposium |
Her compassion is genuine. It was said during the night that
had Lynn Crawford not been a chef she would have been in the health care
industry. Touring patient rooms, she shared her fun, energetic spirit with
everyone – which is so healing, and so important. She said it was an inspiring
day, but I’d say that is mostly because of her.
This was one of our proud of our community nights, a chance
to celebrate locally grown and produced food in elegance and style. Imagine our
Hospital’s cafeteria decked out like a ballroom, with glimmering lights on
every silver clothed table, glassware, tucked napkins, and a four course
setting. In that gathering space it was –
magical, a fantastically culinary space for a while… move over cafeteria,
Thunder Bay has a function.
Danny Johnson on Piano, Jim Differ on Drums, and Dan Zadkovich playing the Double Bass filled the symposium with music while servers brought around trays of Grilled Lamb Skewers with Tzatziki Sauce and Smoked Fish served on Crostini. The Local Tomato and Goat Cheese Quiche were nice, the Leek Fritters with Fall Herb Aioli were good too, but I don’t think anyone would argue that the plums stuffed with local extra-old Gouda, wrapped in pancetta with honey and wine sauce were the most delicious morsels of local goodness.
Every bite was spectacular, Chef Lynn put on an amazing
spread – once again supported by Sodexo Canada and the chefs and staff of the
Regional Hospital. Apparently that wasn’t enough help though; Chef Lynn enlisted
the help of diners on the line, every course getting a few extra hands from the
dining room, some plating, others whipping cream (or was it milk, Lynn?). Even
my daughter, whose name Chef Lynn remembered throughout the whole night, helped
spoon the chutney on the entrée of Cider Glazed
Pork on a bed of Sautéed Collard Greens, with Sweet Potato Whip a la Citrouille. |
| diners on the line |
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| Chef Lynn Crawford feeds Rohan a bite of local beets & whipped goat cheese [best photo ever :D] |
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| Chef Lynn Crawford gets the line going (Hannah smiling near the back) |
Supporting our hospital matters to everyone here, where it’s
impossible to not be or know someone affected by healthcare issues in Northern
Ontario. This is personal. Support to the Foundation means better care for patients
in Northwestern Ontario, providing much needed equipment for cardiac patents,
diabetic care, and progressive cancer treatment. Eating fresh, healthy food
helps prevent chronic diseases, and events like these could not encourage us
more.
Lynn Crawford’s cookbook Pitchin’
In was clutched in hands all over, each signed with a personal message,
mine ending with “Cook with heart & lots of laughs.” As we all should.
We have an amazing community of growers and producers in the
Thunder Bay area, check them out!
Presented by partners Thunder Bay Insurance and Gillon
Insurance Brokers LTD, with wine sponsored by Whitewater Golf Club in support
of the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre.
published online in TheWalleye
13 October 2012
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