TORONTO — Drake Hotel Properties celebrated the launch of its new offsite catering division with a launch event at the Burroughes Building in Toronto, last night.
Drake Catering now takes the company’s food program beyond the four walls of its restaurant and event spaces as a one-stop event-planning concept headed by chef Matt Ravenscroft.
The evening featured a variety of food stations hosted by Drake chefs — including charcuterie and cheese, pasta, seafood and Chinatown-inspired fare — alongside a variety of passed apps and a curated bar offering signature cocktails. Offered bites included buffalo cauliflower with buttermilk ranch, sesame and half-sour pickle; Korean grilled cheese with blue cheese, kimchi and tomato compote and braised octopus tostada with salsa verde aioli.
In addition to food-and-beverage services, Drake Catering offers curated “cultural menus” with fully customizable music, art, design and entertainment. Led by Ashley Arvai, head of Sales + Catering, Drake Catering events can be enhanced with a roster of art installations and artist-designed décor, as well as a line-up of DJs and bands to create unique parties, weddings and galas.
For the launch, the Burroughes Building housed a graphic streamer installation by Toronto-based artist Paddy Leung.
The new catering division will be based out of the company’s forthcoming Drake Commissary, which is set to open in Toronto’s Junction Triangle this spring.
