Attention Vancouver Foodies: This Urban Farm Fundraiser’s Dinner Menu Looks Spectacular

Vancouver nonprofit Fresh Roots is best known for their farming-focused youth programs—summer camps, in-school workshops and other organized educational activities that encourage kids to get their hands dirty. So you probably wouldn’t expect their fundraiser to include rainbow trout ceviche, wine-macerated figs and burnt onion charcoal hummus.

But the urban farm society’s annual fundraising dinner isn’t made by the kids (there must be some kind of legislation around children and wine-macerating, anyway). It’s done in partnership with local chefs, and this year’s spread includes dishes by Robert Clark and Julian Bond of Organic Ocean, TJ Conwi of Ono Vancouver and Brockton Lane of Sirius Eats food truck. Plus, there’s goods from 33 Acres, Wards Cider, Edna’s Non-Alcoholic Cocktails, Earnest Ice Cream and Kafka’s Coffee. 

A snapshot of the 2019 dinner.

The event, called “Before Sunset,” is on Thursday July 7 from 4:30pm to 7:30pm. Eventbrite tickets are priced from $134 for adults and $28 for children under 12. Here’s the full menu:

Drinks:
33 Acres of Sunshine French Blanchè and Ocean West Coast Pale Ale
Wards Hard Apple Cider
Edna’s Paloma and Mojito Cocktails 

From chefs at Organic Ocean: 
Spot Prawn Carpaccio, Hokkaido Scallop Ceviche on cedar planks 

From chef at Sirius Eats food truck: 
Beet Ceviche
(marinated Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU) Farm beets and carrot aguachile) 

Sirius Veg Burger
(Oyster and King Farm mushrooms, mini bun) 

Rainbow Trout Ceviche
(chlorophyll aguachile, KPU farm herbs) 

Farmcrest Chicken Slider
(crisp chicken, pickled KPU farm radish)  

From chef at Ono Vancouver: 
Rainbow Trout Roulade (smoked salmon mousse, Haida Gwaii kelp dust, nori, rhubarb wild-berry jelly, bannock crackers) 

On the grazing table: 

Bannock flatbread 

Wine-macerated figs and fruit 

Squid ink soil and burnt onion charcoal hummus 

“Textures of Fresh Roots Farm” veg, and lacto-fermeted veg 

Pickled, roasted and raw KPU Farm veg 

Oyster and King Farms mushroom conserva 

Crackers, olives, vegan charcuterie, cheese and spreads  

For dessert: 

Earnest Ice Cream sandwich  

Kafka’s Coffee Roasting Horchata Cold Brew 

Of course, you can donate to the nonprofit any time of year, but this is an extra-special (and tasty) way to show support. It’s the first time that Fresh Roots has hosted the dinner in-person since 2019, thanks to the COVID pandemic.

The dinner takes place outdoors on the urban farm at David Thompson Secondary, so guests can walk around and see the grounds for themselves. There’s live music from Sam Parton of the Be Good Tanyas and art activities for the youth (and young at heart) too. Get your tickets here. 

OTHER THINGS TO DO THIS WEEK: Contemporary Dance, Craft Beer and More