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MushFest Niagara at the VHC – GreenBelt Fundraiser
Choose the number of tickets and purchase them below to support. MushLove!
March 25, 2023 @ 11:00 am – 2:30 pm
MushFest – A Summit on Food, Wine, Soil, and Mushrooms – A fundraiser for the Greenbelt.
Join us for a unique culinary and educational experience at one of the best vegan restaurants in Niagara, where you’ll enjoy a delicious three-course mushroom brunch paired with inspiring talks from three passionate speakers.
Learn about the many ways that mushrooms can help save the world, from their ability to improve soil health and sequester carbon to their potential role in treating mental health conditions through micro-dosing.
Our speakers include a forager, mushroom farmer, and experienced passionate nurse, who will guide us through a fascinating exploration of the world of food, beverage, foraging, and medicinal mushrooms.
Don’t miss this opportunity to discover how mushrooms can be a powerful force for positive change in the world!
Guest Speakers And Supporters
Andrea Bjel, BScN, RN
Lotus Petals Health and Wellness
Andrea Bjel is one of my personal real-life heroes. Her compassion is only equaled by her ability to engage in debates, especially in the fields of science and philosophy. To fully appreciate her brilliance, you’d have to witness her in action, but simply meeting her or listening to her speak is enough to get the gist of it. Andrea is a Registered Nurse who is very passionate about the healing powers of mushrooms. You won’t want to miss this MushFest to learn from the best.
Scott Daly, The Seasonal Locavore.
Scott is one of the best foragers in Ontario. He is a man of deep ethical integrity with an amazing healing message. He teaches how to reconnect yourself with nature. Scott specializes in finding and using wild mushrooms and anything useful that grows in our forests. He cares so mush about Niagara’s soil and plants, and can answer any foraging question you have.
Craig Adams, Mushroom Farmer
Hey there, I’m Craig Adams, a mushroom farmer and advocate for sustainability. With 7 years of experience in the industry, I’ve come to believe that mushrooms are more than just a tasty addition to your plate – they’re a key player in building a better future. That’s why I founded MushFest, an event that brings together experts in food, wine, medicine, and foraging to celebrate and explore the incredible potential of mushrooms.
I’m passionate about the environment and our connection to it. From the basics of farming and nutrition to the science of soil and mycoremediation, mushrooms have so much to offer. They’re not just delicious – they’re also a powerful tool for healing and regeneration. That’s why I’m on a mission to teach everyone how to harness the incredible potential of these incredible fungi.
So, join me on this journey to a better, more sustainable world. Let’s harness the power of mushrooms and create a brighter future for all.
Mandy, AKA “Vegan Hippie Chick”, One of the best Vegan Restaurants in Niagara
Mandy is a super star Vegan Chef. I’m so proud to have her support. I’ve watched her grow over the last 7 years and overcome obstacles that nobody should have to overcome. If you think she’s incredible now, keep your eye on this Niagara culinary genius.
Putting your fundraising to expert use.
Vera from the Ascension Foundation enjoys tree planting, long walks cleaning up the beach and anything that can help save the world. She’s going to help see that the funds we raise really help the greenbelt. I’ve been volunteering to inoculate half her tree plantings, saving the other half as a control group for study, by funding the Ascension Foundation, we can really make a difference locally.
MushFest Menu Description
Mushrooms on Toast Classic
Start your meal off on a high note with our delicious mushrooms on toast with vegan cheese. We’ve taken hearty mushrooms and sautéed them to perfection, then paired them with crispy toast and a rich and creamy cheese melt. Each bite is bursting with savory umami flavors that will leave you wanting more.
And to make this course even more special, we’ve paired it with a unique and flavorful Turkey Tail and Chaga Chai Tea, spiked with Spirit In Niagara’s Local Pear Eau de Vie. This delightful beverage features the earthy and soothing flavors of turkey tail and chaga mushrooms, blended with fragrant cinnamon spices and topped off with a splash of refreshing Pear Eau de Vie. It’s the perfect complement to the bold flavors of the mushrooms on toast, and will leave you feeling warm and content.
Southern Fried Mushroom and Waffles
Complete with a kick of spicy honey Sriracha sauce that has just the right heat, this vegan-friendly dish features hearty mushrooms coated in a crispy and flavorful Southern-style breading, perfectly complemented by our waffles cooked to golden perfection.
Paired with fruit based Escarpment Kombucha and Spirit In Niagara’s Juiced up Vodka made from Niagara peaches.
Chef Mandy’s Secret Mushroom Dessert
This indulgent treat features a carefully crafted blend of rich and decadent ingredients, including delicate mushrooms and a velvety smooth finish. Each bite is a heavenly fusion of sweet and savory flavors, balanced to perfection by Chef Mandy’s expert touch.
To complement the bold and complex dessert flavours, we’ve paired it with a botrytis-affected sweet white Semillon from Niagara’s Stratus Estates Winery. Botrytis, also known as “noble rot,” is a natural fungus that grows on grapes and helps concentrate their sugars and bioflavonoids, resulting in a lusciously sweet wine with a distinct complexity. And just as Chef Mandy has expertly incorporated mushrooms into her dessert, this Semillon showcases the unique character that botrytis fungus can bring to a wine.
| Subject To Change | ||
| Course | Food | Pairing |
| Course 1 | Mushrooms on Toast Classic | Chaga Chai/Turkey Tail Tea with Spirit’s In Niagara’s Pear Eau de Vie |
| Course 2 | Southern Spicy Breaded “Chicken” (Mushrooms) on a Waffle with Sriracha Honey Sauce | Escarpment Kombucha with Spirits In Niagara’s Juiced Up Vodka |
| Course 3 | Chef Mandy’s Secret Mushroom Dessert | Botrytis affected sweet white Semillon from Stratus Estates Winery |