The Depanneur + The Bentway Communal Table 2023
Family-style dining in a unique urban setting. Communal Tables are seated, family-style meals, served and shared at 10 tables of 6, where you bring your own plates and cutlery.
THU August 17 | Mdaamiin Giizis (Corn Moon) | Dashmaawaan Bemaadzinjin
Strachan Gate at The Bentway • 6pm • Pre-order online until MON August 15
In August falls the ninth moon of Creation, Mdaamiin Giizis, the Corn Moon, during which time we learn about the cycle of life. Each cob of corn has thirteen rows of multicoloured seeds which represent all the spirits waiting to begin their Earth Walk. These will be the future generations for whom we must prepare. Join Dashmaawaan Bemaadzinjin (They Feed the People) for a shared meal as we tell a story through Indigenous ingredients, and offer an experience to see food as we understand it – a way to build meaningful relationships.
Dashmaawaan Bemaadzinjin will also be the recipient of all funds raised by this year’s Pay It Forward program, to support their mission to provide fresh, lovingly prepared food to vulnerable persons in Toronto’s Indigenous community.
—–
This dinner will feature a creative menu inspired by traditional indigenous foodways, featuring local, seasonal and wild-foraged foods sourced in collaboration with indigenous-led producers and suppliers.
August’s menu is inspired by a Mediterranean/Middle Eastern fusion; all vegetables used are seasonal.
Venison or Vegan (wild rice, mushrooms, walnuts and pumpkin seeds) Kofta
with Sumac Tahini Sauce
Wild Rice Biryani
with Summer Harvest Vegetables
Middle Eastern Corn Salad
Baked Peaches
with Maple Whipped Cream
—–
Meat or Vegetarian
Mdaamiin Giizis (Corn Moon)
$40 pp + HST
Toronto-based Dashmaawaan Bemaadzinjin (They Feed the People)is an innovative Indigenous catering company that has been working to support Indigenous seniors and vulnerable community members since June 21st, 2020. What began as a food security project for houseless Indigenous relatives is now a sovereign approach to raising funds and sharing much needed support for Indigenous seniors, families, and vulnerable community members in the city. Building relationships through food and honoring the role of Matriarchs in community by supporting the vulnerable are important pillars of what Dashmaawaan Bemaadzinjin does.
A portion of their profits from catering are used to support the right to food security and wellness for Indigenous peoples on their ancestral lands. Currently, they support the Seniors at Wiigwamen Terrace in Toronto with a bi-weekly produce and prepared meal market, a saturday breakfast program, social dances and celebrations and a weekly lunch meeting to help organize their own advocacy and projects. They work closely with outreach teams and frontline support in the city to share traditional foods with Indigenous people living houseless and bring food to families grieving from loss and traumatic experiences.
You can find the Dashmaawaan team throughout the city at various catering events, community gatherings, festivals and feasts, and at their weekly Indigenous Summer Food Market at the Historic Fort York Site serving their unique style of Indigenous fusions and street-style food.
Co-presented with Fort York National Historic Site, a place where past and present meet to spark discussions about shared futures. The site features Canada’s largest collection of original War of 1812 buildings and a Visitor Centre with engaging and immersive exhibition experiences. Fort York is part of Toronto History Museums, a collection of 10 historic sites owned and operated by the City of Toronto devoted to sharing this land’s diverse histories. General admission is free.
Pay It Forward
At check out, you will be invited to optionally contribute towards our Pay It Forward initiative. 2023 Pay it Forward funds go to Dashmaawaan Bemaadzinjin (They Feed the People) to support the food security needs of vulnerable persons in Toronto’s Indigenous community.
