Eat Well Culinary Workshop: World of BBQ

Event Date: Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Location: Dine Alone Records' Backyard (290 Gerrard St E)

The Eat Well Culinary Workshop 'World of BBQ' event featured a 4-country BBQ menu put together by Chef Matt Basile of Fidel Gastros with Canola Oil at the heart of each dish. This was a 6-part series of Canola Oil-inspired FARM TO FOOD experience. I had an amazing time at this unique networking, education and culinary event!

This private event was held in the Dine Alone Records' Backyard. With the BBQ theme in mind, I arrived in plaid as with quite a few of the other guests. Hay was even brought in for guests to sit on! Talk about attention to detail. This night provided me an opportunity of a lifetime to learn Canola experts from Manitoba and even connect with one of the Canola Farmers. A "Canola Crush" hands-on workshop took place allowing us to make some Canola Oil from Canola Seeds. Really fun stuff!

Alright, let's talk about the food! An incredible meal was put together by Chef Matt Basile and we're talking about a feast for the phone. It was literally meat heaven (beef ribs, pork chops, shaved brisket and chicken wings)! I learned that using Canola Oil on a barbecue is good for its high tolerance to heat. One of the highlights of the night was his Chimichurri and Grilling Demo with canola oil and just getting to see him in action in his outdoor kitchen! "The neutral taste of canola oil lets the rest of the ingredients shine".

(an action shot of me trying to capture the meat in all its glory)

mmm, I'm already salivating about this meal enjoyed with Dine Alone Food's BBQ sauce

BBQ Menu by Chef Matt Basile:
Argentina - Chimichurri Miami Beef Ribs
Philippines - Adobo Grilled Tomahawk Pork chops
Texas - Cowboy Tacos & BBQ sauce
Portugas - Churrasco Smoked Chicken Wings with Hot Sauce
Sides - Roasted Corn with Salsa Verde, Kale Salad with Crumbs, Lemon, Capers & Parmesan
*All recipes were made using Canola Oil*

I also enjoyed my fair share of Dine Alone 100% Organic Ontario Rye in the form of their signature Rye Mule cocktail, Dine Alone's Beau's Beer and Traynor Vineyard's wines.

This dinner would definitely not have happened if not for Dine Alone Records. It was a fantastic space to host this event and I can't wait to cross paths again with them in the future.

This was truly an event to remember and I enjoyed every moment of it! For more info you can visit www.canolaeatwell.com.

Just in case you didn't know, only 2% of Canadians are farmers. Canola Growers plant on average over 20 million acres of canola each spring with plants growing to a height of one to two metres sprouting yellow flowers that produce seed pods 5 cm in length. Canola is grown for us by more than 52,000 Canadian family farmer. Let's remember to choose Canola Oil because it's local, healthy, versatile! #EatWellCanolaOil

Photo credits: Jeffrey Chan Photography