Toronto restaurants, bars, cafes and shops raising money for Ukraine
Photo: Heavenly Perogy.
🕘 8 min read
The hospitality industry is coming together for those affected by the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Ukraine. Discover the exciting initiatives - and delicious fare - offered by local chefs, eateries and hotspots supporting relief efforts in Ukraine.
AVLING
Boasting cheese, potatoes and garlic, Pierogies for Ukraine ($13/8, frozen) at Leslieville’s Avling (1042 Queen St. E.), are made from a family recipe. All proceeds will be donated to UNICEF’s Ukraine Emergency Fund. Note: Limited quantities available.
BARBERIAN’S STEAK HOUSE
Barberian’s Steak House (7 Elm St.) has added a side of Pierogies ($13) to the menu - $10 donated for each order. To date, over 150 orders have been sold. Owner Arron Barberian made the first donation to the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) a few days ago and donated 1,000,000 Aeroplan miles to Miles4Migrants to help refugees.
BARREL HOUSE KORCHMA
Ukrainian restaurant Barrel House Korchma (2385 Lake Shore Blvd. W.) in Etobicoke has set up a cash donation box on-site for the Friends of Ukraine Defense Forces Fund (FUDF Fund). Anyone wishing to donate can take a homemade Ukrainian Heart Cookie made by Sonia Kostiw, a graduate of the Humber Baking & Pastry Arts Management Program and owner of home-based bakery Golden Sunflour. Two weeks ago, she created Cookies in Support of Ukraine, a fundraiser with all proceeds from the cookies went to Guardian Angels Ukraine Fund, raising $3,200. Currently, with every cookie or cake order she receives, 50 per cent of sales will be donated to humanitarian aid in Ukraine.
THE CAKE SMITH
Natalia Shevtsiv’s specialty cake and pastry shop in Bloor West Village, The Cake Smith (2352 Bloor St. W.) is selling Ukrainian Flag Cookies with 50 per cent of sales going to donations for the Ukrainian Army. Just added in store: Flag Pins. Donate $5 or more and receive a pin. All money collected from pins with also go toward donations to the Ukrainian Army.
Photo: Collective Arts Brewery. Unite For Ukraine Export Lager.
COLLECTIVE ARTS BREWERY
Hamilton’s Collective Arts Brewing combines craft beverages with “the talents of emerging artists and musicians.” One of the their latest brews is raising money for Ukraine.
All proceeds from the sale of Unite For Ukraine ($5.95), an Export Lager brewed at the Toronto outpost with a one-of-a-kind label by artist Natalie Very B, will go to support humanitarian efforts in Ukraine through the Red Cross. Find it in both taprooms - Toronto (777 Dundas St. W.) and Hamilton (207 Burlington St. E.) - as well as the online store. Optional: Add an additional donation on top of the proceeds from your purchase on the website.
COOKERY
Kitchenware store and cooking school Cookery with three Toronto locations (303 Roncesvalles Ave. | 2302 Bloor St. W. | 2588 Yonge St.) is helping the Ukrainian war effort with a live online cooking class fundraiser on March 25. During the real-time Zoom with the store and Chef Sasha Gaponovitch, you will prep and cook a meal of traditional Ukrainian food - Chicken Kiev, fresh salad, Deruny (potato pancakes), and Biskvit (apple cake) - while enjoying a glass of wine or two from Amy McIntyre's pairings selected from the LCBO. All proceeds will go to the Ukraine war effort and local Ukrainian community Register by March 18 and be entered to win free wine pairings. Winner will receive two wines selected, and all participants will be entered to win one of several prizes.
DISTRICT PIZZA
In solidarity with Ukraine, District Pizza in The Distillery District (32 Gristmill Lane) created Pierogies for Peace, with 100 per cent of the proceeds supporting humanitarian relief efforts. Order Cheese & Potato Pierogies ($8) (caramelized onions + $1, bacon + $2, onions & bacon + $3) directly from the pizzeria’s website.
THE GRAND TRUNK
Alison Barrie, owner of Parkdale's cozy watering hole The Grand Trunk (1718 Queen St. W.) and The Queen's End Cafe & Emporium (1664 Queen St. W.) that debuted in November, is constantly supporting others. For every $6 a shot of Ukrainian vodka at The Grand Trunk, $3 will be donated to the Kyiv School of Economics for safety equipment. Booze not your thing? Cash and e-transfer donations are also being accepted.
Photo: Gusto 101. Mafalade Ai Funghi.
GUSTO 101
Buzzy Italian destination Gusto 101 (101 Portland St.) “stands in solidarity with the Ukrainian people during this humanitarian crisis,” and is donating $1 from each Mafalade Ai Funghi sold March 14 - April 14 to World Central Kitchen, a non-profit organization created by Chef José Andrés providing fresh and nourishing meals to Ukrainian families fleeing home, in addition to those who remain in the country.
HEAVENLY PEROGY
Ukrainian restaurant Heavenly Perogy inside St. Volodymyr Cathedral (400 Bathurst St.) is collecting donations for medical and humanitarian supplies with drop-off locations in Toronto and Oakville. You can also donate to the Ukraine Humanitarian Crisis Appeal and Friends of Ukraine Defense Forces Fund (FUDF Fund).
HOTBLACK COFFEE
Purchase a Ukrainian Cookie ($2) made with all-natural blueberry and lemon flavouring and colouring and/or a Blue & Yellow Duckie ($4 ea.) at any HotBlack Coffee location (1921 Yonge St. | 245 Queen St. W. | 2196 Bloor St. W.). All proceeds from sales will be donated to Humanitarian Efforts for the People of Ukraine, via the Ukranian Canadian Social Services Toronto. Founding partner Jimson Bienenstock said in a phone interview with Toronto Restaurants, “It’s not about being pro-Ukrainian or anti-Russian, Far from it. it’s about being pro-humanitarian.”
ISSHO BAKERY
Issho Bakery may be a virtual venture in the 6ix, but the talents of baker Martin Yeung and pastry chef Yuka Watts are real - The dynamic duo worked and trained in Michelin-starred restaurants, chocolate and pastry shops, and bakeries in North America (Vancouver, New York) and abroad (Melbourne).
Using 100 per cent certified organic flour milled in Ontario, free from GMOs, pesticides or herbicides, the members of global organization 1% for the Planet created Bake for Ukraine Box ($20), with all proceeds going to World Central Kitchen. Each box contains six Mantulky (honey cookies), one Flourless Poppy Seed Cake with Bay Leaf Chantilly (served on the side), and one Sernyk (curd cake with caramelized apples). Preorder for delivery on Saturdays and Sundays starting April 9. Pickup is also available at RGLR (548 Annette St.).
Photo: Janchenko's Bakery. Ponchiki with Traditional Plum Jam.
JANCHENKO’S BAKERY
Janchenko's Bakery (2394 Bloor St. W.) in Bloor West Village specializes in Eastern European comfort food and creative desserts inspired by old European traditions, Owner/founder Maria Janchenko is donating proceeds from in-store sales of Borscht (beet soup) and Ponchiki (homestyle donuts) filled with traditional plum jam or raspberry and vanilla custard filling to the Canadian Red Cross Ukraine Humanitarian Crisis Appeal Fund. She has already raised over $4,200.
LARRY’S FOLLY
In support of Ukraine, Larry’s Folly (1462 Queen St. W.) is hosting a night of live music with Tiz McNamara on Friday March 18. All funds raised - cash and card donations - will be “donated directly to the Government of Ukraine,” says owner Stephen Schweighardt. “It’s a small way we can stand together with Ukraine from our tiny corner of Parkdale.”
RATION BEVERLEY
For the month of March, find a special dish on the menu at contemporary Canadian restaurant Ration Beverley nestled inside the Beverley Hotel (335 Queen St. W.) added. Order Feel Good Latke ($10) - Latke with beets compressed in rosemary oil, koji fermented potato soubise, castelfranco, cress oil & pear vinaigrette - a la carte or as an add-on to the current tasting menu. All proceeds from this dish will be donated to the Canadian Red Cross Ukraine Humanitarian Crisis Appeal Fund.
Photo: Terrace Take-Away. Patychky (pork on a stick).
TERRACE TAKE-AWAY
Terrace Take-Away located inside Oakville’s St. Joseph’s Ukrainian Catholic Church (300 River Oaks Blvd. E.) specializes in homemade Ukrainian fare. Think: comforting fare such as soup, crepes, pierogies, cutlets, cabbage rolls, sides and desserts. Until April 15, ten per cent of all food sales will be directed towards humanitarian aid for Ukraine.
#CHEFSFORUKRAINE
Chefs Matt Dean Pettit and Tom Milosz Malycha are hosting a #ChefsforUkraine fundraiser at Pearl Diver (100 Adelaide St. E.) Monday, March 14 at 6-9pm. The event is drop-in (visit anytime, no RSVP or ticket required in advance). Enjoy a “Taste of Ukraine” plate and one drink (alcoholic or non-alcoholic) for $30 and purchase raffle tickets (3/$10) for a chance to wine great prizes. There’s a cash bar. Donations for humanitarian relief (coloured duct tape, construction gloves, emergency blankets, flashlights, sleeping bags, tents, candles, and new thermal clothes) will be accepted on-site. All donations (both monetary and relief items) will be delivered into Lviv and dispersed to relevant Ukrainian relief organizations with a support of Ukrainian Orthodox Church of St. Sophia. Can’t make the event? Donate via e-transfer: anna.voblaia at gmail.com.
Photo: 1 Kitchen Toronto. Orange Hope Cocktail.
1 KITCHEN TORONTO
ISO of a new cocktail? Head to newly opened 1 Hotel Toronto’s zero-waste restaurant 1 Kitchen Toronto for the Orange Hope, a riff on a Vesper Martini boasting Grey Goose Orange, Bombay Sapphire, Dry Vermouth, and orange bitters, garnished with a lemon twist. For every libation sold, a donation will be made to Save the Children's Ukraine Crisis Relief Fund, supporting humanitarian programs aiming to reach 3.5 million children and their families.
Note: Menu items, prices and availability subject to change. Please contact establishments directly for information.
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Are you or someone you know in hospitality raising funds and/or collecting donations for Ukraine? Get in touch.