elevate is an unconventional series of small culinary gatherings intentionally focused on indulging all senses.
Festive Friday cocktails with Revel Cider Tepaché 2018 🍹
We were lucky to grab one of these babies before they sold out for the season. Don’t be sad though, you can check out their other incredible sounding products, they’re located in Guelph and deliver across Canada.
Tepaché 2018, made with apples and cherry plums and pineapple sage, and aged in Tequila barrels for 2 years. We’re excited for this one!
Happy Friday everyone 🙂
Revel Cider
Mentioned it before, but as we’ve been living through this past 8 months we really did learn how to make sourdough! Not an easy process but very enjoyable on a whole bunch of levels. Extremely satisfying when you get that p**f you want or good looking bubbles lol. If you’ve learned it, you know what we mean :)
Part of learning how to make it includes getting the right tools - we’ve worked with fluctuating kitchen temperatures, old-timey vs. electronic scale, less vs. more hydration and an oven that wouldn’t hold temp! All of it and along the way we’ve found some tools that are key to our success.
The Keeki Co wax lined bread bag is now included in our must-have arsenal! Made in Wasaga Beach! Simcoe County local biz and a portion of all sales is donated to Ontario Nature Protect Pollinators charity 🐝 win-win people. Give their page a follow!
Plastic free, keeps our bread fresh for days. Perfect gift for your favourite bread baker or bread eater! So obviously it’s a perfect gift for everyone :)
Keeki Co
we’ll be squeezing out every last drop of fall farm stand season - today’s local colourful bounty comes from The Fifty Acre Garden Farm ❤️💚🧡
> kohlrabi and carrot slaw to be making an appearance alongside tacos 💫
vacationing close to home finds majestic views to rival any international destination 💫
regram from Marc’s recent getaway to Haliburton 🤍💛💙
rg: Morning views.
Fall vibes, thanksgiving mode > Sunday cocktail hour features two Canadian producers; the ever-popular Dillon's Small Batch Distillers and our latest discovery, Gourmet sauvage out of Quebec.
Super inspiring company, Gourmet Sauvage was created in 1993 by Gérald le Gal. They sustainably harvest non-timber forest products (NTFPs) and offer more than 100 handpicked delights from all regions of Quebec, that they then artisanally process in their Laurentian kitchen.
A family business, committed to ethically sourced food and forest sustainability, we are excited to explore their products deeper.
The elderflower syrup is delicate and so refreshing! Compliments the botanical notes in the gin wonderfully 👌
Here’s what we mixed,
Fill glass with ice
2 oz Dillon’s Unfiltered Gin 22
1/2 oz Gourmet Sauvage Elderflower Syrup
1/2 oz lemon juice
Top with sparkling water or soda
Take out the gin for a delicious sparkling water!
Swipe to see the other two products we ordered, Wild Rose syrup and Lingonberry jam -
Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
happy weekend friends 🍂
We're missing travel to far away places... but so very happy to have local destinations opening and welcoming guests again! This pool view was found at a vibrant private home / art gallery located outside of San Miguel de Allende in Guanajuato, Mexico. The architecture and landscaping were works of art ✨ a big airy space that beautifully fused outside to inside 👉 for more of the outside⠀
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For now, we're happy to satisfy our wanderlust discovering new gems around the province, we love road trips!⠀
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👉 and .do.ontario always have good local getaway suggestions! ⠀
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San Miguel de Allende / / 2018
It hasn’t seemed right to post about all the things we love, during the biggest social upheaval we’ve witnessed in our lifetime.
elevate is love for sharing food and drink, with conversation, ideas, music and with a diverse group of people. We miss our friends, partners and all of the new people we were going to meet in 2020. What an incredible, challenging time this pandemic has been for all of us. It’s been anxious and uncertain. We’ve been honoured and amazed by the remarkable super humans who have taken care of all of us - the frontline workers who have sacrificed and put themselves in danger.
We’ve accepted this slow down as an opportunity for self reflection, for an unexpected chance to learn timeless skills like breadmaking and urban vegetable gardening. Fully cliché, we know. But we have actually done that.
We’ve thought about all of our things.
and why do we need so much?
The world has been forced to pause. Our eyes and hearts are further opened to the obvious and vast inequalities that exist in society.
Racial injustice has rightfully demanded our focus. We can no longer ignore the racism and discrimination that exists in our country and here in our home region.
Anti-Black racism must end.
Anti-Indigenous racism must end.
The murder of Black and Indigenous people must end.
We are listening, reading, watching, learning and looking inward as to how we can do our part to create and sustain an equal society and what our better world contributions will be. These are priorities and they will guide us as we move forward.
It's hard to imagine what the future holds for elevate gatherings. One thing that is certain, we can't wait to see you again.
In solidarity. Take action against anti-Black racism in Canada and around the world at blacklivesmatter.ca and blacklivesmatter.com.
find sunshine wherever you can 🙃 cheers to friday 🥂
really feeling this today
What a full table full of beautiful people, eating incredibly delicious food served and prepared by more beautiful people ❤️
We can't wait to share a meal with everyone again.
Hoping you are ALL feeling safe, loved and finding ways to enjoy this downtime.
this past elevate moment was during Be My HIValen+ine, our last event held this past February, captured by .ca
Thank you for sharing this article Andree Hill!
"Bookshop is an online bookstore with a mission to financially support independent bookstores and give back to the book community."
We found From The Ashes on Bookshop!
https://bookshop.org/books/from-the-ashes-my-story-of-being-metis-homeless-and-finding-my-way/9781982101213
Independent bookstores, and booksellers, get a lifeline just when they need it most.
For our friends who were reading FROM THE ASHES for our *postponed* book club discussion, join the Canada Reads fb group to participate in a Q&A with Jesse Thistle, as well as the other 4 incredible authors and books.
Stay safe and let us know what you are reading during this time of isolation
Did you know we have a Facebook group dedicated to Canada Reads? Throughout the month of April, we are hosting Q&As with the authors! Up first: Jesse Thistle. Join the group or ask a question here and we will make sure he answers it!
https://www.facebook.com/groups/CanadaReads
Today’s sunshine was the perfect magnet to produce an unexpected - properly physically distanced – meet up with best friends in the neighbourhood, everyone was out for bike rides and walks 💗 and it was just what we needed.
We hope during this time of isolation you are all finding moments that fill your hearts, Happy Friday everyone!
this past elevate moment was during shoreside in 2019, captured by
It’s Wednesday but honestly, isn't Friday pretty much tomorrow on covid19 time?
SHOUT OUT to all of our local distillers and brewers - let’s hit them up and put the money into our people and economies with all the delicious home grown booze we have around here.
We DO NOT condone kissing right now, so Keep Your Distance and enjoy our Kiss, the cocktail we created for Be My HIValen+ine featuring Heretic Spirits gin or vodka 💋
KISS
rocks glass with ice,
1 oz Heretic gin or vodka
3/4 oz Lemon Juice
3/4 oz Raspberry Cranberry Simple Syrup
2 oz Soda Water or to fill
raspberry garnish
Way too many to hit up in one post but you all know how to google,
Breweries in Simcoe County
Distilleries in Simcoe County
Wineries in Simcoe county. You get our point ;)⠀
Also! Shout out to our incredible Bartender Melissa Giannone 💫
Stay Safe Everyone
photography: .ca⠀
The essence of elevate is to have people come together over food; to share experience.
We love all of you - everyone who has joined us, cooked for us, played music and sang for us, everyone who wanted to come but couldn’t make it - all of you. Out of that love, and with respect for everyone in our community, and to protect our families and friends we are practicing social distancing.
Our April elevate gatherings will be rescheduled. If you’ve reserved a place and would like a refund please contact us and we’ll issue it immediately.
Please stay safe everyone, please think of the most vulnerable in our communities.
so much love,
jane + marc
Love this photo from Studio 204 of the window decal for Be My HIValen+ine! Taken earlier in the day, during the media launch and prep time in lead up to the main event. It was a gorgeous sunshiney day, always a pleasure to be in the showroom ☀️
Shout out to Owen Signcraft for the decal work!
10 hands lovingly prepped, cooked and served 48 hungry, open minded wonderful people, Be My HIValen+ine was truly a night to remember.
A little on the meal, Chef Suzanne Barr created a menu that was vegan forward with an emphasis on local food. The 2nd course offering; Shrimp Etouffee or vegan option Okra & Oyster Mushroom Etouffee ✨
Shout out to Planet Shrimp Company, Chef's local choice for "Ontario farm-raised Pacific White Shrimp. ForeverFree™ of antibiotics, pesticides, hormones, chemicals, and environmental waste." Amazing!!
photography: Studio 204
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everyone involved:⠀
Randy Davis, True True Diner, Suzanne Barr, Gilbert Centre, Elevate, drors, Matt Shaw, Richard Birch, ViiV Healthcare, Professionals In Practice, The PrEP Clinic, Heretic Spirits
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We're still thriving off the good vibes of Be My HIValen+tine 🙌
L > R: Stacey, Kelly, Randy, Guy, Carla & Suzanne
photography: Studio 204
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everyone involved:⠀
Randy Davis, True True Diner, Suzanne Barr, Gilbert Centre, Elevate, drors, Matt Shaw, Richard Birch, ViiV Healthcare, Professionals In Practice, The PrEP Clinic, Heretic Spirits
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Thank you to all our guests. Elevate concept 7 - brunch with author Jesse Thistle is sold out.
mc marc, nbd, just doing his thing ✨
♥️ Be My HIValen+ine ♥️
Marc Hill Elevate
photography: Studio 204
Be My HIValen+ine moments
Sous Chefs Kelli and Carla 👊
♥️ Be My HIValen+ine ♥️
photography: Studio 204
Be My HIValen+ine moments
Chef Suzanne Barr 🙌
♥️ Be My HIValen+ine ♥️
photography: Studio 204
Scenes from the Be My HIValen+ine Media Launch ✨
SO wonderful to have community and media come out to preview the food being served later that night, and to learn about why this pop-up dinner was so incredibly important.
Randy Davis, based on his experience with the magic of June's Eatery, knew Barrie and area needed this night.
HIV cannot be transmitted through food preparation or sharing of food, yet a recent survey shows that only half of Canadians would knowingly share food with, or eat food prepared by someone who is living with HIV.⠀⠀
And more than that > HIV+ people who are on treatment, engaged in care, and have an ongoing undetectable viral load:
- do not transmit HIV to their sexual partners
- do not transmit HIV to their baby during pregnancy and delivery (if they maintain an undetectable viral load throughout pregnancy and childbirth)
- have a greatly reduced chance of transmitting HIV through breastfeeding
- have a greatly reduced chance of transmitting HIV to people they share injection drug use equipment with⠀
We hope everyone who attended, either the media event or the fabulous dinner, carried the message beyond Feb 14 and shared it with friends and family.
Randy is involved with this year's June's HIV+ Eatery - being held this week Mar 3, 4 & 5. You can find info and tickets on www.caseyhouse.com/junes-hiv-eatery-2020/
photography: Studio 204⠀
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everyone involved:⠀
Randy Davis, True True Diner, Suzanne Barr, Gilbert Centre, Elevate, drors, Matt Shaw, Richard Birch, ViiV Healthcare, Professionals In Practice, The PrEP Clinic, Heretic Spirits ⠀
This beautiful little sampling from the Be My HIValen+ine menu was prepared for everyone who attended the media launch on the morning of Feb 14.
Prepared by Chef Suzanne Barr and 4 HIV+ Sous Chefs, Guy, Kelli, Carla & Randy. The main point of this incredible event was to amplify the fact that HIV cannot be transmitted through food preparation or sharing of food.
Thank you to everyone who joined us in eating all the deliciousness prepared by these extraordinary folk 💫
Thank you to Chef Suzanne Barr from True True Diner, for giving us her time, sharing her expertise and training the chefs. Such a remarkable couple of days!
photography: Studio 204⠀
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everyone involved:⠀
Randy Davis, True True Diner, Suzanne Barr, Gilbert Centre, Elevate, drors, Matt Shaw, Richard Birch, ViiV Healthcare, Professionals In Practice, The PrEP Clinic, Heretic Spirits ⠀
this moment is brought to you from the gorgeous sunshine pouring through the front windows at drors 🙌 the showroom is one of our favourite places to spend time. because gorgeous. but also because the hosts are +++ 💛
this moment also comes to you from the media launch that was held on the morning of Feb 14, before the Be My HIValen+ine dinner later that night
invited attendees got the chance to taste the appetizers being prepared for our later guests, the next few posts give you some more delightful moments from the launch :)
shout out to Matt Shaw for providing the perfect musical backdrop to the entire day!
photo: Studio 204
Just a few tickets left for Elevate 7 - book club brunch with Jesse Thistle http://show.ps/l/ba62b819/
Country music star George Canyon is defending From the Ashes by Jesse Thistle for Canada Reads 2020.
Join True North Aid once again as we celebrate the rich and diverse culture of Indigenous peoples in Canada!
Live and in person, Elevate 7 - book club brunch with Jesse Thistle
You can catch the latest episode of The Next Chapter today at 4pm, on CBC Radio One - Jesse Thistle joins Shelagh Rogers to discuss From The Ashes
If you can’t listen today at 4, you can find it here,
https://www.cbc.ca/radio/thenextchapter
CBC Radio's Shelagh Rogers travels the country, conversing with authors and readers of all kinds. A new episode every Monday.
we've been craving the first course from Be My HIValen+ine since it was removed from the table to get ready for next up! ⠀
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Bagna Càuda dip served with raw Heirloom Carrots, Rutabaga, Fennel ⠀
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Heirloom Carrot Hummus⠀
Pickled Mushrooms, Poached Grapes, Calabrian Peppers⠀
Eggplant Caponata⠀
and a special appearance by Homestead Bread ⠀
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swipe to see some of the prep; Chef Suzanne Barr and the 4 Sous Chefs {Guy, Kelli, Carla & Randy} began the work the day before. Huge appreciation for everything they accomplished in lead up and during the dinner 🙌⠀
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you might hear this again, but wow. what a night :))⠀
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photography: Studio 204
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everyone involved:⠀
Randy Davis, True True Diner, Suzanne Barr, Gilbert Centre, Elevate, drors, Matt Shaw, Richard Birch, ViiV Healthcare, Professionals In Practice, The PrEP Clinic, Heretic Spirits ⠀
“The table is a meeting place, a gathering ground, the source of sustenance and nourishment, festivity, safety, and satisfaction. A person cooking is a person giving; even the simplest food is a gift.” - Laurie Colwin ⠀
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So. Much. This. ⠀
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That quote, to us, embodies the essence of what elevate gatherings are. Eating with others is truly sharing an experience, and when someone prepares it for you, they really are giving you a gift. A small piece of their heart. It’s a universal feeling, and it brings people together. Perhaps the only other closely intimate comparison would be a shared romantic moment ❤️⠀
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When Randy Davis came to us with his desire to host a meal with 4 HIV+ Sous Chefs, without hesitation, we said yes. What an opportunity to flip it! It would offer guests a chance to give a gift to their Chefs, just by being there, open and welcoming. ⠀
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Be My HIValen+ine was created to amplify inclusion and acceptance. And to smash stigmas. HIV cannot be transmitted through food preparation or sharing of food, yet a recent survey shows that only half of Canadians would knowingly share food with, or eat food prepared by someone who is living with HIV. The need for education on HIV, and on how people are living and thriving with the virus, is huge. With treatment, people living with HIV can have long and healthy lives and they will not pass it on. Science is winning!⠀
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Thank you so much to everyone who joined us at the table, what an incredible night! ⠀
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Thank you to our four incredible Sous Chefs, and to these WONDERFUL people who helped us to make it all happen:⠀
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Randy Davis, True True Diner, Suzanne Barr, Stacey Brookes, Gilbert Centre, drors, Matt Shaw, Richard Birch, ViiV Healthcare, Professionals In Practice, The PrEP Clinic, Heretic Spirits
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Heads up! This photo is just a start, Studio 204 captured the event so beautifully, we have many great moments to share! ⠀
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If you want to learn more, this website has really good information: https://www.avert.org/hiv-transmission-prevention/myths
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Tickets are going very quickly.
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