For the second year running, our team of INVIVIAC chefs rallied to create tantalizing dishes for an all-you-can-eat chili lunch, raising money to support Second Harvest. INVIVO Art Director Peter Henderson once again organized the event, and our 8 chefs created dishes ranging from Meighan’s Veighan Chili to Julie’s Smooth and Sultry Tom Jones Chili.

Fancy-schmancy chili description cards describing the good eats

Getting the fixings ready

The team gathering in the INVIVO kitchen for the cook-off.

4 distinct styles of chili on a single plate in the sun.

Second Harvest has an extensive network and works to provide food for families in need. From their website:

By raising money, your workplace will help Second Harvest rescue fresh, surplus food that would otherwise go to waste. For every $1 raised, 2 healthy meals are provided to people in need across Toronto.

It’s easy for you to be a hero, and Second Harvest staff will help you every step of the way. All participating workplaces are sent a kit stuffed with exciting items to help implement and promote your campaign, including Hero masks and capes, posters, buttons, and raffle tickets with exciting prizes such as a round-trip to Cancun and a weekend getaway to Montreal!

Need fundraising ideas? Second Harvest will provide you with some handy tips to make your campaign a success. Previous Hero workplace fundraisers have included chili cook-offs, casual Friday’s, pot-lucks and pizza days.  The top workplace fundraiser will win a private lunch with celebrated chef, Mark McEwan!

Here are the INVIVO Second Harvest Chili Heroes (missing: chef Jozef, who was a chili-cooking blur):

Our Second Harvest heroes in their green masks.

mask2_invivo

After bowls were filled and devoured, the ballots were cast. This year’s winner of the Chili Cook-Off was Medical Animator Inessa Stanishevskaya with her Dark & Smoky pulled-pork-style chicken chili. We successfully beat last year’s total, and will be donating over $850 to Second Harvest!

Thanks to all of our chili chefs, all those who donated and to Peter for once again organizing a great event.


See more photos behind the scenes at INVIVO on Instagram, @INVIVOcom. Follow Second Harvest on Twitter @2ndHarvestTO and the hashtag #BeAHero. Learn more about Hero Day 2015 at Second Harvest.