Table for a thousand, please? Beckta to host late summer dinner

By Caitlin Galipeau

Centretown restauranteur Stephen Beckta is set to host a dinner for 1,000 people on Wellington Street in August.

The dinner, dubbed Canada’s Table, will be a part of the events celebrating the 150th anniversary of Confederation. Beckta, who owns the eponymous Beckta on Elgin and Gezellig in Westboro, partnered with Guy Laflamme, executive director of Ottawa 2017, to bring the vision to life.

Beckta said the idea arose from an interview with the Ottawa Citizen two-and-a-half years ago, when he was asked about what he wanted to see for the Ottawa 2017 celebrations. The massive feast was something he’d been dreaming about since he was young.

“I had this vision when I was a teenager, seeing this big, long table down Sparks Street,” he said.

Space constraints forced Canada’s Table to move a block north, but Beckta said this worked out well because Sparks does not have much of a backdrop, whereas Wellington is home to the Parliament Buildings.

Canada’s Table will consist of one long table along Wellington with 1,000 seats. Diners will have the opportunity to eat dishes from all regions of the country. Beckta said wine pairings will be offered to complement the food.

Laflamme said he saw a similar event in Montreal eight years ago and had been trying to include a mass picnic as part of Canada Day celebrations without success. When he saw Beckta’s quote in the Citizen, he got in touch the next day to plan the event.

Laflamme said Canada’s Table will invite ten chefs from the region and ten from across the country, which Beckta noted will help showcase the culinary tastes of the nation as a whole.

Beckta and Laflamme also partnered with Centretown-based catering company Thyme & Again. Beckta said he trusted owner Sheila Whyte to figure out the logistics of serving such a large crowd. He said her experience catering to large parties of people makes up for his tailored experience in restaurant management, and is confident that their co-operation will make this event a success.

“We need to work together on this endeavour to pull it off with style,” he said.

For Beckta, the Parliament Buildings serve as the perfect backdrop, and the Sound & Light show will set the scene, but holding the dinner in Centretown was an added bonus.

“I grew up in Centretown — my brother was in Centretown News when he was seven years old as a crossing guard,” Beckta said. “I’ve always lived on or around Elgin Street. This is my hood, this is where I came from.”

Laflamme said he is hopeful that the dinner will boost both the economy and the spirit of Centretown, although he mentioned Canada’s Table will definitely benefit tourism and businesses in the area. “Canada’s Table is not only about the 1,000-seat dinner on Wellington Street,” he explained, “but it will also include a series of performances by chefs in local restaurants so we can celebrate Canadian culinary excellence.”

Laflamme also said Canada’s Table will contain an important “social component.” The dinner will be a non-profit event, with many of the chefs sharing their culinary expertise with charitable organizations.

One thing chefs will focus on is teaching charities how to maximize ingredients to produce the most food. A press release from Ottawa 2017 announced that proceeds will contribute to “local and national food security causes.”

The date is set for Aug. 27 and tickets are scheduled to go on sale in the next few weeks.