The first-ever Barn Burner Chef vs. Chef hockey game will be held on February 4, in Wellington’s Essroc Arena (located 10 minutes from Picton, Ontario). This event is a nod to the classic Montreal – Toronto hockey rivalry, featuring special guests and former NHL'ers Ken Dryden and Mike Krushelnyski.
This fun game will be followed by a delicious ‘strolling’ dinner at the Drake Devonshire Inn created by some of Canada’s top chefs.
Tickets for the game are $20 and kids 12 and under are free. The event organizers decided that all of the proceeds of the ticket sales will be donated to Community Food Centres Canada – a charitable organization focused on addressing food security in communities across Canada.
And this is not your normal hockey game. With culinary talent skating on the ice, they are making sure that the bundled up fans enjoy gourmet bites during the game too created by Bar Isabel, DaiLo, Beast, Flock, Cheese Boutique, The Drake. Did I mention, these tasty treats are included in the ticket price. And to top it all off, there will be samples of cocktails featuring Lot 40 Rye Whisky and Moosehead Lager as well. All included in the $20 game time ticket.
The two teams will be stacked with culinary talent, while their hockey skills is uncertain.
The Drake’s Corporate Executive Chef Ted Corrado will head up the Toronto Grinders team, with chefs like John Horne (Canoe), Carl Heinrich (Richmond Station), Cory Vitiello (Flock), Jamie Kennedy (Jamie Kennedy Kitchens), Afrim Pristine (Cheese Boutique), Grant Van Gameren (Bar Isabel), Nick Liu (DaiLo), Scott Vivian (Beast), Brent Maxwell (NAO Steakhouse), special East Coast ringer Jeremy Charles (Raymonds), and in a pre-game trade, goalie Cassady Sniatowsky (Nora Gray) will jump ship from time to time from Montreal to Toronto.
Heading up the Montreal Mashers is Derek Dammann (Maison Publique), with Chuck Hughes (Le Bremner, Garde Manger), Antonio Park (Park), Anthony Walsh (Oliver & Bonacini), Marc-Alexandre Mercier (Hôtel Herman), Nick Giambattisto (Liverpool House), Chris Merrick (Garde Manger), Mitch Laughren (Le Bremner), Anthony Benda (Café Myriade), Dave McMillan (Joe Beef), Emma Cardarelli (Nora Gray). And there are still new recruits being added to the team line ups.
As these chefs are transforming for the day to be hockey players, former Montreal Canadien goalie Ken Dryden (six-time Stanley Cup Champion, NHL Hall of Fame) and former Toronto Maple Leaf Mike Krushelnyski (three-time Stanley Cup winner) will be the team coaches.
And it is still top secret who will be singing the national anthem.
After the game, the chefs shower and head to the kitchen (there might be a post game brewskie involved) at the Drake Devonshire Inn. This one-time only multi chef dinner will be feature restaurants including Raymonds, Joe Beef, Garde Manger, Park, Le Bremner, Maison Publique, Richmond Station, Nora Gray, Oliver & Bonacini, The Tempered Room, Jamie Kennedy, Hôtel Herman, Tuck Shop, The Drake and more. Lot 40 Rye Whisky, Moosehead Lager, Norman Hardie and Rosehall Run winery will provide refreshments, including a post-dinner fireside whisky chat with Dave Mitton and Ken Dryden.
This all takes place on Saturday February 4th.
Hockey Game – 2 p.m., $20
Strolling Dinner – 7 p.m., $110 per person.
Tickets to the game and the dinner are on sale now at www.thedrake.ca/hockey
