Toronto's top female chefs rule the kitchen at The Dinner Party in October

Judy Chicago, Installation view of Wing One, The Dinner Party

The Dinner Party, happening in Toronto this October, is a feminist feast inspired by (and with expressed consent from the artist) Judy Chicago’s pioneering installation comprising an “an epic triangular table with sculptures representing each of the 39 female historical figures the artist envisioned gathered around it.”

The “immersive artistic and culinary experience” presented by The Drake’s Curator Mia Nielsen and Executive Chef Alexandra Feswick and will be held as part of Art Toronto.

In the kitchen, Chef Feswick will be joined by an esteemed list of fellow female chefs from across Canada to prepare a collaborative seven-course menu that will be served to diners by a roster of some of Canada’s most high-profile male chefs.

Judy Chicago, The Dinner Party

A representative from The Drake Hotel shared in an email to Daily Hive that:

Alex is quite vocal about her frustration with the lack of female representation in kitchens and at major festivals–often, there will be a token woman or two chosen to cook at a high profile event, while many equally deserving chefs go unrecognized in favour of their male peers. The male chefs tend to get top billing, more press attention, more opportunity.

So, she wanted to do something real to move the conversation forward about inequality in the F&B industry, and provide a platform for these chefs and artists to snag top billing. And above all, treat guests to an amazing, immersive, collaborative dining experience.

In addition to the feast itself, Toronto-based artists Ness Lee, Sandra Brewster, and Diane Borsato will be creating site-specific artworks for the event, while artist Jennifer Murphy will send attendees home with a commemorative piece.

Chefs contributing to the evening’s menu include:

Suzanne Barr, Kid Chocolate
Manal Bashir, Victor Dries Catering
Renée Bellefeuille, Art Gallery of Ontario
Jennifer Dewasha, Collette
Jane MacDonald, Collette
Rossy Earle, SupiCucu Diablo’s Fuego
Noureen Feerasta, Rickshaw Bar
Alexandra Feswick, The Drake
Trish Gill, The Twisted Apron
Nicole Gomes, Cluck N’ Clever , Nicole Gourmet
Elia Herrera, Los Colibris
Miriam Echeverria, Los Colibris
Missy Hui, Fabbrica
Charlotte Langley, Scout Canning
Veronica Mal, Scout Canning
Tara Lee, Eastbound Brewing
Leonie Lilla, formerly of Farmer’s Daughter
Laura Maxwell, Le Select
Paula Navarrete, Momofuku Daishō
Kamoy Nicola, Jal Gua Organic Café
Anne Novo, Gladstone Hotel
Amberlynne Plourde, The Drake
Meghan Robbins, Superpoint
Trista Sheen, Top Chef Canada
Olivia Simpson, Hawthorne
Alida Soloman, Tutti Matti
Miriam Strieman, Mad Maple
Katie Venables Lloyd, formerly Lbs.

Meanwhile, diners can look forward to being attended to by some of notable male chefs from across Canada including:

Bertrand Alepée, The Tempered Room
Romain Avril, Lavelle
Jason Bangerter, Langdon Hall
Ricky Casipe, Hawthorne
Ted Corrado, The Drake
Rocco D’Agostino, Pizzeria Libretto
Andy Eade, Drake Commissary
Robin Goodfellow, Bar Raval, Pretty Ugly, Harry’s Charbroiled
Craig Harding, Campagnolo, La Palma
Michael Hunter, Antler
Luke Kennedy, Chase Hospitality Group
William Kresky, Richmond Station
Trevor Lui, Kanpai Snack Bar
Taylor McMeekin, The Chase
Jon Pong, The Drake
Afrim Pristine, Cheese Boutique
Matt Ravenscroft, The Drake
Tyler Shedden, Chase Hospitality Group
Grant Van Gameren, Bar Isabel, Bar Raval, Harry’s Charbroiled, Tennessee Tavern, Victor Dries Catering
Hans Vogels, Momofuku Noodle Bar

The Dinner Party

When: October 29
Where: Drake Commissary,128 Steling Road, Toronto
Price: $150, available online

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The Dinner Party

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