Toronto restaurants raising funds for Australian wildfire relief
đź•’ 11 min read
The devastating bush fires in Australia continue to rage on. Over 20 people and more than a billion animals have died to date.
Toronto restaurants, bars, cafes, and bakeries are raising money to help those in need.
Take a look:
Baddies Toronto
679 Landsdowne Ave.
Both the Aussie brunch spot at Bloor and Landsdowne and sister spot Cops Toronto, donated all coffee sales on Monday January 6th to NSW Rural Fire Service.
Bluestone Lane
Multiple locations
The “Australian-inspired coffee, café and lifestyle brand” with avocado toast, flat whites, and over 45 locations in the U.S., touched down for the first time in Toronto last April, and quickly launched another location in August.
Founder & CEO Nick Stone, grew up in the state of Victoria, so from Wednesday January 8th to Friday January 10th, all profits from all 48 Bluestone Lane locations will be donated to the Red Cross and their Australian Bushfire Emergency Relief Fund. Missed the window? Donations are being accepted all month long in-store and via their mobile app. They’ve also set up a fundraising page to “help with the emergency relief and recovery efforts made possible by the Red Cross.”
And on Sunday January 26th, the company is holding Australian Bushfire Appeal Events at seven locations across North America, including Toronto’s 40 King St. W, with all proceeds from ticket sales and fundraising initiatives being donated.
Hemingway’s
142 Cumberland St.
The Yorkville restaurant celebrating its 39th year is co-hosting an Australian Bushfire Relief Fundraiser on Sunday, January 26th, alongside The Toronto Rebels.
Kanga Aussie Meat Pies
Multiple locations
You have Kanga’s Megan Chan and Erynn Mayes to thanks for bringing a bit of Oz to the 6ix. They introduced their authentic Aussie meat pies to Torontonians back in 2014, and later expanded the menu to include other Down Under delicacies including Lamingtons, and for a too limited time, Chicken Salt.
Currently, they’re donating 50 cents from pie sales (meat and veggie $6.50-$6.85) to the Australian Red Cross, so dig in and do good.
Sanremo Bakery & Café
374 Royal York Rd.
For over fifty years, the Bozzo family has been wowing customers with their delectable savoury fare, drool-inducing fresh baked goods, and warm hospitality.
On Saturday January 11th and Sunday January 12th, the famous Italian bakery in Etobicoke is donating all coffee proceeds to the Australian Red Cross and WIRES, the largest wildlife rescue organization in Australia.
Woodhouse Brewing Co.
303 Lansdowne Ave.
While the Toronto brewery has been slinging suds since 2014, the new Woodhouse Brew Pub just debuted in Brockton Village two months ago.
On Friday January 10th and Saturday January 11th, they’re donating $10 for every pint of their Australian IPA sold to fire relief.
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ADDITIONS
The Bluebird
2072 Dundas St. W.
The cozy bar in the west end is hosting a a benefit for Australia on Sunday March 8th, 4-9pm. Enjoy an evening filled with art, live music, silent auction, and 50/50 draw. The event is PWYC (suggested donation: $10) with all proceeds being donated to the New South Wales Wildlife Council for wildlife rehabilitation and fire recovery.
Cafe Boulud and d|bar
60 Yorkville Ave.
Celebrity chef Daniel Boulud’s eponymous French brasserie and bar in the Four Seasons Hotel at the corner of Bay and Yorkville have long been fab spots to grab a drink.
Now more than ever, thanks to wine director Julie Garton.
She’s launched #raisingaglassforaus, with proceeds from all Australian wine sold ($1 per glass / $5 per bottle) at both the hotel restaurant upstairs and bar on street level, going to Australian wildfire relief.
The campaign runs until the end of February.
Canadian Association of Professional Sommeliers (CAPS) - Ontario Chapter
Terroni - 57A Adelaide St. E., 2nd Fl.
CAPS is putting on a fundraising Grand Tasting on Tuesday February 18, to benefit the the volunteer firefighters, wildlife, and reforestation efforts in Australia.
Food and wine purveyors include The Wines of Australia, Lifford Wine & Spirits, Terroni, Cumbrae’s, Stock TC, Barberian's Steak House, The Royal Hotel of Picton, Profile Wine Group, The Vine Agency, and Von Terra Wine.
Wines are being added daily. Confirmed wines include: Wakefield, Katnook Estate, Coriole Lloyd Reserve, Morambo Creek, Fowles Wine Ladies Who Shoot Their Lunch, Campbell Kind Wine, Brokenwood, Shingleback, Mitolo, Mitchell, Shaw + Smith, Thorn-Clarke, Cullen, and Yalumba.
Proceeds will be donated to Wildlife Emergency Fund and Firefighters of Victoria, New South Wales.
Civil Liberties
878 Bloor St. W.
On Sunday January 26 - Australia Day - you’ll want to be at the popular Bloor + Ossington haunt for four drink specials that are either modern classics by Australian bartenders or popular in Australian watering holes. For each drink sold, a few bucks will be donated to NSW Rural Fire Service. Bonus:: there’s a also a sausage sizzle, raffle, and some of the staff will be donating tips, so drink up, mates. It’s all for a very good cause.
Cluny Bistro and Boulangerie , El Catrin, Madrina Bar y Tapas, and Pure Spirits
Distillery District
On Friday, four Distillery restaurants kicked off initiatives to help Australia’s bushfire crisis:
- $1 for every table will be donated to the Australian Bushfire Relief Campaign
- The French, Mexican and Spanish eateries are offering a special wine list supporting Australian wineries , with $20 from each bottle donated to the WWF and Australian Red Cross.
Lamingtons, Pavlovas and Anzac Biscuits will be available for purchase Cluny’s café.
The campaign continues until Monday February 3rd.
Golden Gecko Coffee
282 Jane St.
The cozy café nestled in Toronto’s west end Baby Point neighbourhood is throwing an epic Australia Day weekend bash to raise money to help Australia recover from the fires.
On Saturday January 25th and Sunday January 26th, expect quizzes and challenges for kids - complete with prizes! - and menu items including Anzac cookies, Tim Tams, Vegemite sandwiches, Lamingtons (fingers crossed), and Bundaberg Ginger Beer.
Grape Witches
Milk Glass - 1247 Dundas St W.
Australia and Austria both produce some of the best natural wines, so why not bring them together for an entire weekend in support of a vital cause.
Thanks to the natural wine enthusiasts Nicole Campbell and Krysta Oben - aka Grape Witches - you can enjoy them side by side at Austr(al)ia!, their exclusive Austrian and Australian wine bar taking place in the west end, Saturday January 25th and Sunday January 26th, noon to midnight.
They’re donating $1 per glass/$5 per bottle sold to NSW Rural Fire Service. And they’re offering various courses to learn more about these amazing wines, so you’ll be an aficionado come Monday morning.
Marben
488 Wellington St. W.
On Monday January 27th, the farm-to-table eatery will host a fundraising dinner featuring five guest chefs and four bartenders in support of WIRES (Australian Wildlife Rescue Organization) and RSF (Rural Fire Service).
Chefs
- Resident Chef Chris Locke | Marben Restaurant
- Chef Miriam Echeverria | Greta Solomon's Dining Room
- Chef Michael Lam | Ascari
- Chef Devan Rajkumar
- Chef Tom Salvo | The Chase
Bartenders
- Blaise Couturier | Patois
- Luke D'Ath | Project Gigglewater
- Zac Strevens | Trinity Commons
- Julie McLeod | Marben Restaurant
Details
6pm - Oyster hour
7pm - 5-Course dinner
Hosted by Tasha the Amazon, the dinner will include a silent auction, raffle, and music by Beverly Pills.
Get tickets for Australian Bushfire Relief Dinner now.
Montecito
299 Adelaide St. W.
General Manager and Sommelier Heather McDougall is launching a glass and bottle pour program at the restaurant and upstairs at By The Glass, with a portion of sales going to support the Australian Red Cross and the Adelaide Hills Wine Region Fire Appeal.
In addition, she’s hosting a “festival style” wine tasting in support of the same causes on February 20th, so get tickets now for the Australian Fire Relief Wine Mixer.
Stay tuned for more details.
The Oxley
121 Yorkville Ave.
The cozy British gastro pub in Yorkville is raising a glass for Australia this winter.
A portion of proceeds from sales of Kingston Estate Shiraz ($13/gls, $62/btl) will go to the Australian Red Cross.
The campaign runs until the end of February.
West Queen West
Frisaca Bar -592 Queen St. W.
West Queen West have put together a fabulous fundraiser in support of WIRES, with music bingo, a raffle, and Australian-themed food, music, and trivia.
It all takes place on Australia Day, Sunday January 26th at the Latin and Mexican restaurant located at Queen and Bathurst.
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Organizations you can donate to:
- Red Cross Australia Fires Appeal
- CFS Foundation Supporting Volunteer Firefighters
- The Salvation Army Australian Bushfire Relief Efforts
- WIRES
- New South Wales Wildlife Council
- Koala Hospital Port Macquarie NSW and their GoFundMe page for Thirsty Koalas
- Currimbin Wildlife Hospital and their GoFundMe campaign to Save Koala Bushfire Victims.
- Adelaide Hills Wine Region Fire Appeal
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