We Eat To The Beat With 60 Female Chefs!

Sixty of Canada’s top female chefs donated their time and talent this past Tuesday for the 17th Annual Eat to the Beat, a culinary fundraiser inside Toronto's Roy Thomson Hall. The event benefits Willow Breast Cancer Support Canada, a not-for-profit organization that offers free peer support to anyone coping with breast cancer. For the price of a fancy dinner out, the $150 ticket gets you a charitable tax receipt and included ALL food and beverages in what was pretty much a culinary wonderland.

Eat to the Beat featured a mix of sweet and savoury foods, wines, beers and cocktails at individual stations. A few of our favourite restaurants with their star female chefs were there including: Mildred's Temple Kitchen, Frank Restaurant, Khao San Road and Crush Wine Bar.

A favourite element that we love about this event are the breast cancer survivors who model original food-inspired corsets that they have created. The evening also included music, a silent auction and a raffle draw for a chance to win some great prizes including a $5000 GE Monogram gift card! 

Eat to the Beat has raised more than $3.2 million for Willow and 80% of the proceeds from the event go right back to the organization. The money helps to fund initiatives like Willow's toll-free helpline and training women to run support groups in their communities in-person and online. 

"I have been participating in Eat to the Beat since its inception,” adds Donna Dooher, Eat to the Beat spokesperson, chef and owner of Mildred’s Temple Kitchen. "When my younger sister was diagnosed with breast cancer she embarked on a journey of surgical procedures, chemotherapy and radiation but through the support of her family and community she was able to gain a foothold on a positive attitude which was paramount to her healing. 15 years along the road she and I still discuss how important organizations like Willow are to helping women who are winning the battle against cancer."

An estimated 22,000+ women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in 2012 alone. The Hip + Urban Girl's Guide was there to show our support for all the amazing female talent under one roof and for the important work that Willow provides for women in need on a national level.

To see the full line-up of chefs visit: www.eattothebeat.ca 

If you are looking for breast cancer support for a friend or relative visit: www.willow.org