Please join us for an evening of modern Scottish cuisine at the annual Spring Dinner. This year’s event will see us returning to The Chefs’ House on Friday, June 16. This innovative restaurant operates as part of the Hospitality & Culinary Arts Program at George Brown College (GBC). The Society is proud to book the venue as part of our mission to support post secondary education. 

The Spring Dinner will begin with a cocktail reception at 6:30pm. Attendees will be seated for dinner at approximately 7:15pm. The three-course menu is listed below. A vegetarian option will be available at checkout for the same price as the featured option.

• Appetizer: Cold-smoked Salmon with Fennel, Grapefruit, Aioli
• Main course: Roasted Lamb Loin with Toasted Barley, Asparagus, Onion Soubise
• Dessert: Sticky Toffee Pudding with Vanilla Ice Cream

This is not a formal event. Kilts and tartans are always welcome but not mandatory.

Tickets are $80 for Society members and $90 for non-members. The deadline to purchase is Tuesday, June 6 (while quantities last). Only 60 seats will be available for this event so get yours today via the link below!

The Chefs’ House location has at least two interesting historical connections to the Society. The college that the restaurant is a part of  was named after George Brown, one the most famous Scottish-Canadians in history. Brown was a Father of Confederation and the founder of The Globe newspaper (a predecessor to the Globe & Mail). He was also the President of the St. Andrew’s Society on two occasions.

The restaurant is also connected to William Allen, the first President of the St. Andrew’s Society. The structure sits on the exact location of Allen’s first shop in the late 1700s at the southeast corner of Frederick and King Street East . The location also included the town’s Post Office as seen in this sketch from John Ross Robertson’s book, “Landmarks of Toronto,” (p.252).

Allen was born in 1770 and raised near the town of Huntly in Aberdeenshire. After immigrating to Montreal at the age of 17, he eventually settled in York (the future Toronto). Although Allen lacked much formal education, he was revered for his honesty and work ethic. As a result, he prospered as a merchant and government official. By the time York became Toronto in 1834, Allen had amassed a fortune. When the Society was founded in 1836, the accomplished Scotsman was a natural fit to become the Society’s first President.

We look forward to seeing you on June 16th whether you are coming for the food or the history. Get your ticket today!