Why The Brewer’s Plate Matters

I like what I call the Rule of 3.  I first learned about it through a style of gardening/farming called Permaculture (actually, Permaculture is much much deeper than just gardening and farming, but that’s how I met it).  It’s a way of sustainable growing and there are a set of rules to it.  One of the policies is that anything you plant/grow has to have three purposes.  Yup, every plant; three purposes.  On the face of this, it sounds difficult, maybe impossible, but it’s easier than you think.  Corn, or instance, is a simple call: 1) You get corn to eat (or as feed) 2) The stalks can be turned into the soil as compost 3) By alternating rows, you can use the height of the corn as a shade for partial-sun plants.  See?  Simple.  I liked this idea so much, I decided to think of other things I could apply it to, and found many.  The kitchen, for instance.  While there are exceptions, I try not to buy any tool/utensil, if I can’t think of at least 3 different uses for it.

And this is at least part of why I like Brewer’s Plate so damn much (okay, that and the food and beer….)

Food from 2012 — Photo from http://www.torontolife.com/galleries/brewers-plate/

Food from 2012 — Photo from http://www.torontolife.com/galleries/brewers-plate/

You see, on the face of it, Brewer’s Plate is just a fund-raiser for a local charity right?  Indeed, they raise money for Not Far From The Tree, a great charitable organization here in Toronto.  And that’s good, and about it, right? Well, no, it’s not.

Having now been to the past two Brewer’s Plate events, I know that, in fact, it accomplishes so much more.

Funds Raised

As mentioned, Not Far From The Tree is the beneficiary this year. A cool group that partners with homeowners who, for whatever reason, have more produce growing than they can harvest.  It might be an elderly person who loves their garden but can’t keep up with it any more, or a person who bought a house that came with three mature fruit trees they don’t have time to harvest.  Whatever the reason, Not Far From The Tree connects volunteers who love gardening with these homeowners.  The way it works is the bounty is split in thirds, one to the home owners, one to the volunteer and one to a local food bank.  Actually, Not Far From The Tree also meets my Rule of 3 love.  So awesome.  While a big piece of their work is volunteer, they obviously have some administrative costs, and for that they depend on donations.  Brewer’s Plate helps them meet their yearly needs.

Ideology Taught

A huge part of the food (and the drinks, for that matter) is rooted (intentional pun) in the slow food movement/locavorism.  While we’ve come a long way in the past decade, still so many people only eat to survive, which I feel is a bit like only having sex to make babies.  The pleasures of the table are all but lost on so many; the sense of taking pleasure in what you eat, and who you eat it with.  But the chefs at Brewer’s Plate work hard to change that.  Preparing a range of dishes, often highly complicated (like Brook Kavanagh’s Five Game Bird Ballantine last year) using local ingredients, they encourage people to engage their senses.  Pretty much all of them, except hearing.  And it works.  I’ve seen people’s eyes pop as they taste a combination of ingredients that blows them away.

Ummmm, Another Ideology Taught

The reality of a $125 ticket, is that the attendees are often people who would generally think of this type of event as being perfect for a wine pairing.  Maybe they’re interested in beer, maybe they think it’s a novel idea to let the brewers play around, or maybe they’re mainly there for the food, but regardless of what notions they arrive with, one thing is certian: many (if not most) leave realizing that there are some amazing beers being made in Ontario, and that they actually pair remarkably well with a wide variety of foods.  If you read my reviews, you know this is a passion of mine.  Beer and food, paired well, will elevate both elements to heights they cannot reach on their own. And more people need to realize this.

Sort of See Above

While the chefs who participate in Brewer’s Plate are generally known in the wider foodie world, the brewers are not as well connected.  While I nearly have my complete set of OCB Brewer’s Trading Cards© (just need the ultra-rare Mike Lackey rookie card), craft brewers still have trouble breaking into the wider markets.  But Brewer’s Plate is not just a foot in the door, but a bye to the final interview.  Every plate of food is offered with an intentionally prepared pairing of beer.  Reps and brewers are on-hand to chat to the crowds.  Unlike a lot of beer events, where there’s lots of preaching to the choir, the discussions I’ve over-heard (and indeed had) at Brewer’s Plate are wonderful: people learning about brewing concepts and styles of beer and how to choose which for what occasion.  Really meaningful conversations, and ones that surely have an impact on the person involved.

So support Brewer’s Plate

Tickets are on sale right now, for $125+service fee.  The number might sound high, but it is actually a tremendous value.  You will undoubtedly happily leave the event uncomfortably full, having tried various beers and foods, and you likely won’t have been able to try everything on offer.  Even if it weren’t to benefit a charity, it would be a great value.  That you are supporting an awesome group seals the deal.

Full details and tickets here: http://www.brewersplatetoronto.org/

 

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