Is there anything better than good food for a good cause?

How about an unforgettable culinary experience simply called The Meal, prepared by some of the top professional chefs in London and area, headed up by Executive Chef Todd Pylypiw of the Hilton, all in aid of raising funds to find a cure for diabetes?

Over nine million Canadians live with diabetes or pre-diabetes, with 20 people being diagnosed every hour. This is a disease that touches almost everyone in some way. Organizing committee members Robert Adeland and Mina Thaler-Adeland’s daughter Shauna was diagnosed with the disease at the age of five. At the time they made a pact with her: if she would look after herself, they would do all they could to find a cure. Shauna, now 34 and working as a hospital social worker, has kept to her part of the bargain. And Robert and Mina are still fundraising to support research for a cure.

The Meal is one of London’s longest running fundraising events, with this year marking its 32nd anniversary. To date, it has raised more than $1.5 million for the Canadian Diabetes Association. It will take place at the Hilton Hotel on Sunday evening, April 27 and is expected to raise anywhere from $40,000 to $50,000.

Although the purpose of the event is fundraising, Robert says the event itself is only about the food, wine and drink. There will be no speeches or silent auctions to detract participants’ attention from the cuisine and libations.

This will be no ordinary meal, as you can see from the menu above. For those of us who didn’t get enough of the Winter Olympics, there will be an ice luge serving champagne and caviar martinis during the reception hour. An extensive amuse featuring a variety of seafood and hot canapés will accompany the cocktails and fine wines.

Pear and Almond Soup

Striped Bass

Sumac Sorbet

Roast Provimi Veal Striploin

Dinner begins with a pear and almond soup with avocado oil and tamarind drizzle, and then progresses to striped bass with Bhutanese red rice, green papaya and coriander salad with a ginger-coconut wine sauce. Diners will then enjoy a sumac sorbet to cleanse the palate, followed by roast provimi veal striploin with celeriac root gratin, zucchini ‘spaghetti’ and za’atar roasted tomato jus. Dessert hasn’t been announced, but it’s billed as an extravaganza. Considering the courses that precede it, I have no doubt that ‘extravaganza’ will be an apt descriptor.

The Meal truly will be an evening for food lovers who also want to support a good cause. Tickets are still available. Please consider attending for the satisfaction of helping find a cure for diabetes and the pleasure of the meal of a lifetime. If you’re unable to attend, see below for other ways you can help.

Details of The Meal

Sunday, April 27, 2014; Reception 5:00 pm, Dinner 6:00 pm

London Hilton

$175 per person. For tickets, call 519-673-1630, Ext 228 or themeal@diabetes.ca. You can also use this form: Order Form Final 2014

Net proceeds for diabetes research

Business Attire

How You Can Help

If you are unable to attend The Meal but still would like to help, please share this post on your Facebook page, Twitter or other social media. Every bit of publicity helps not only with fundraising, but with increasing awareness of the need to find a cure for diabetes.

You can also support the Canadian Diabetes Association in a variety of ways, as you can see here.

DISCLAIMER: I was asked by members of the organizing committee to blog about The Meal and assist in getting the word out about the event through social media. In recognition of this they are providing me a ticket to the dinner. I will be tweeting from the event. All food photos are copyright Steve Grimes and were provided for use in this post. They were taken at the pre-event tasting, which I did not attend.