Sunday, May 4, 2025
River Café hosts Chef Amanda Cohen of Dirt Candy and
Chef Ned Bell of Planetary Health
TERROIR SYMPOSIUM SIGNATURE DINNER
River Café’s Chef Kristen Livingston welcomes Chef Ned Bell, Culinary Director at Planetary Health and
Chef Ambassador at Ocean Wise and Chef Amanda Cohen of New York City’s Michelin-starred Dirt Candy restaurant,
to collaborate on a tasting menu exploring the rich local terroir of Canada.
Join us for an unforgettable Terroir Symposium dinner at River Café, where culinary innovation meets sustainability. This exclusive evening celebrates the finest Canadian ingredients, spotlighting vibrant, plant-based dishes crafted by visionary chefs dedicated to reducing waste and promoting regenerative practices. From farm-fresh produce to thoughtfully sourced flavours, each course tells a story of sustainability, creativity, and the future of food. Experience how the restaurant industry is pushing boundaries with eco-conscious techniques, ensuring a delicious and responsible dining experience that nourishes both people and the planet.
Kristen Livingston, Executive Chef, River Café
Amanda Cohen, Chef Owner, Dirt Candy
Ned Bell, Culinary Director, Planetary Health
Sunday, May 4, 2025
6:30pm
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Welcome Cocktail & Canapés
Five Course Dinner with Wine Pairings
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Menu will highlight a of mix of seasonal produce, ranch specific protein and Ocean Wise seafood.
$225.00 per person
Ticket price includes Chef Ned Bell’s Cookbook, “LURE: Sustainable Seafood Recipes from the West Coast”
as well as canapés, multi-course meal, cocktail & wine pairings, gratuity and taxes.
River Café is one of Calgary’s most revered restaurants, beloved both for its beautiful location in Prince’s Island Park and for its philosophy of celebrating top-quality regional and seasonal ingredients with a taste of place. Leading the talented kitchen is Executive Chef Kristen Livingston, a passionate advocate for sustainability and a champion of Canadian cuisine. Her coast-to-coast culinary journey has taken her from the shores of Prince Edward Island to the kitchens of St. John’s, deepening her appreciation for Canada’s rich food culture. Sommelier and Cellar Manager Bruce Soley has been a savvy guide to River Cafe’s terroir-driven wine list since 1999. Year after year, River Café continues to win international awards, is currently No. 23 on Canada’s 100 Best and was named Canada’s Most Eco-Friendly Restaurant.
ABOUT TERROIR SYMPOSIUM
Terroir Hospitality is transforming global food systems through gastrodiplomacy - giving chefs, producers, restaurateurs and industry leaders a valued platform through which to connect, learn and interact within their own industries & communities, as well as others all across the world.
Gastrodiplomacy is rooted in the belief that food is one of the most unique ways to communicate a region’s culture. Food has always played a significant role in shaping the world, creating the trade routes, economic & political power plays, and commerce opportunities that formed the basis of many modern-day nations. Weaved throughout all these interactions is the fabric of the resulting society as well as their collective tastes, palates and food culture. By interrogating national traits and cultures through unique, immersive learning programs, Terroir creates international delegations of culinary advocates who communicate their experiences and deeply tangible newfound connection to audiences all across the globe.
Culinary Director, Ned Bell, Planetary Health
Ned Bell is a well-known Canadian culinary talent who has forged a path as a chef, sustainable seafood advocate, keynote speaker and educator. As one of the country’s leading chefs, he uses his voice, outgoing personality, and indomitable spirit to stand up for the world’s lakes, oceans, rivers, in addition to hyper-local farming sustainability through brand ambassador roles. Based in British Columbia, Ned is the co-owner of Hatch Hospitality, Culinary Director at Planetary Health, Chef Ambassador at Ocean Wise, Buy BC Champion, Board Member and Co-Chair of Sustainability at the Chefs Table Society, and as culinary and restaurant consultant at Hatch Hospitality Inc.
Executive Chef, Kristen Livingston, River Café
Chef/Owner Amanda Cohen, Dirt Candy
Amanda Cohen, a James Beard-nominated chef and Iron Chef Canada competitor, is the owner of Dirt Candy, a Michelin-starred, vegetable-focused restaurant in New York City. A pioneer of the vegetable-forward movement, Dirt Candy was recognized in Paul Freedman’s Ten Restaurants Changing America Now and was the first NYC restaurant to eliminate tipping in favor of profit-sharing. Originally an 18-seat space, it became the first vegetarian restaurant in 17 years to earn two New York Times stars. Amanda was also the first vegetarian chef on Iron Chef America, and her graphic novel cookbook, Dirt Candy: A Cookbook, is in its seventh printing. Dirt Candy has won numerous awards, including being named "The Absolute Best Restaurant on the Lower East Side" by New York Magazine.
Canadian Seasonal Cuisine
Supporting regional and local purveyors, farmers and coastal fishermen practising responsible stewardship of the land, rivers and sea.
All seafood selections are the best sustainable choices as recommended by Vancouver Aquarium’s Ocean Wise Program.