For the fifth year in a row, the Mountain Grannies have teamed up with local potters and restaurants to raise funds for a good cause.
All funds raised through the Chili-in-a-bowl event will be donated to the Grandmothers to Grandmothers Campaign of the Steven Lewis Foundation, which helps grassroots projects in Sub-Saharan Africa deal with AIDS issues.
To date, the Mountain Grannies have contributed $107,818 to this cause.
Taking place at St. Michael’s Anglican Church Hall in Canmore on Friday (March 8), the event will have two sittings at 5 and 7 p.m.
About 220 bowls are being donated by local potters, with 120 of these coming from John and Katie Borrowman of the Of Cabbages and Kings pottery studio.
Other bowl makers include Pricilla Janes, Julia Schumacher, Karen Antrobus, Candace Webb and Pam Roberts.
“When you’re not making bowls for orders, it’s fun getting to play around with ideas,” Katie Borrowman said, in an interview at her studio. “It’s a fun fundraiser, everyone gets to choose a bowl and fill it with chili from good restaurants.”
Borrowman has been making pottery at the studio professionally for about seven years.
“After high school I tried a few other things, but ended up back here,” she said. “My dad had the studio and it was easy to try – seven years later it’s still going. I enjoy it, it’s fun. It’s a lot of work, but it’s worked out well so far.”
The making has involved a total of about six full days worth of work, over a period of two months, said Borrowman.
“My dad’s usually busy with other things now, but he gets in a few afternoons a week,” she added. “The goal is to make as many different styles as we can, that makes it more fun.”
The chili for the event is being donated by nine local restaurants – Iron Goat, Valbella’s, Harvest, Rocky Mountain Flatbread, Communitea, Zona’s, Chez Francois, Grizzly Paw, Habitat – and will be available in both meat and vegetarian options.
Cornbread and desserts will be prepared by the Mountain Grannies.
Tickets are $40 and available at Kitchen Boutique.
“The bowls alone go for about $24-30 retail, so with the chili and entertainment it’s a really good deal,” said Borrowman. “It’s all about the fundraiser.”
