听 听 听 听 听 听 Katie's Kitchen was open again, as family, friends and fans gathered at Forget's Happy Nun Cafe, Saturday, Aug. 12 for an evening of food, friendship and fond memories to benefit the Katie Vinge-Riddell 鈥淣ailed It鈥� Memorial Scholarship at Edmonton's NAIT Culinary Arts School, in honour of the award-winning young chef and owner of Forget's The Happy Nun Cafe.
听听听听听听听听听听听 The evening was, unsurprisingly, sold-out. Guests dined on a four-course meal created by Chef Tim Davies of Regina's Willows on Wascana restaurant, who volunteered his expertise for the evening in order to pay tribute to his one-time apprentice.
听听听听听听听听听听听 鈥淚 was privileged to be invited to do this; we worked closely together,鈥� said Davies, whose wife Sheeli Davies, assisted him in the kitchen.
听听听听听听听听听听听 Katie's sister, sommelier Jillian Vinge, oversaw wine pairing for each course, while the young chef's husband, Riley Riddell tended bar.
听听听听听听听听听听听 鈥淥ur family and the Vinge family have had so much support during this difficult time,鈥� said Riddell. 鈥淚t's good to be back at The Happy Nun with all of our friends and family.鈥�
听听听听听听听听听听听 Jillian agreed, adding: 鈥淲e're happy to bring life into The Happy Nun again.鈥�
听听听听听听听听听听听 Katie's friend, Roxann Waelchili was one of the young chef's many friends and staff members who volunteered their time and talents to make the evening a success, along with musicians Wool Tree Grove.
听听听听听听听听听听听 鈥淲e're all friends of Katie's here tonight and we all came together,鈥� said Waelchli. 鈥淚t's hard, because we miss her so much, but tonight is just a lot of love for a special girl.鈥�
听听听听听听听听听听听 Prior to the fundraiser, Katie's mother, Connie Vinge said, 鈥淭he scholarship is entitled the Katie Vinge-Riddell 鈥淣ailed It鈥� Memorial Scholarship, because that was her favourite saying when her food turned out perfectly - which really, was 100 percent of the time.鈥�
听听听听听听听听听听听 鈥淲hat we, as her family, want to do with this scholarship is to create opportunities for young chefs to follow their dreams and further their education like Katie did. The requirements for the scholarship are for a second-year Culinary Arts student at NAIT who displays passion, creativity, teamwork and consideration for others - all characteristics she exhibited.鈥�
听听听听听听听听听听听 Katie's father, Tim Vinge, graciously addressed the crowd, starting with numerous thank yous,听 and briefly referring to the book, 'When Bad Things Happen to Good People' by Rabbi Harold Kushner.
听听听听听听听听听听听 鈥淲hen bad things happened to our Katie, the folks from Saskatchewan were there to help us, as well as our good friends. This is the way people from Saskatchewan are, and the gratitude that we have for what you have done is beyond words.鈥�
听听听听听听听听听听听 Tim addressed his daughter's considerable professional and personal attributes, which included The Happy Nun's numerous awards and accolades - the result of Katie's talent and hard work. Since 2015, the restaurant was showcased by television's 'The Prarie Diner', CTV's Small-Town Saskatchewan Summer Tour, The Saskatchewanderer, and the Saskscapes podcast with Saskatoon radio personality, Kevin Power. Katie also addressed the Community Futures and Women Entrepreneurs of Saskatchewan as their keynote speaker.
听听听听听听听听听听听 The Happy Nun was also awarded The Saskatchewan Tourism Award of Excellence and earned a five-star rating from TripAdvisor for Top Canadian Cuisine and Live Entertainment, as well as five stars for Top Family-Friendly Dining.
听听听听听听听听听听听 Most recently, the BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation) spent three days with Katie at The Happy Nun for a BBC Online feature, an event which Tim remembered with a smile.
听听听听听听听听听听听 鈥淲hen she told me The Happy Nun was being featured by the BBC, I thought it was bed and breakfast something,鈥� said Tim. 鈥淚 advised her not to take culinary arts - but she was interviewed by the BBC - not me!鈥�
听听听听听听听听听听听 鈥淚t shows you parents don't always know best,鈥� he added.
听听听听听听听听听听听 Her father compared Katie's career in culinary arts to his experience learning the violin.
听听听听听听听听听听听 鈥淜atie had a passion and a vision about culinary arts,鈥� he said. 鈥淪he got her cooking ability from both of her grandmothers and she found her place and passion at NAIT's Culinary Arts program in Edmonton.鈥�
听听听听听听听听听听听 鈥淜atie had to learn the language of food,鈥� he added. 鈥淪he apprenticed under Chef Tim Davies at听 the Willow on Wascana in Regina and she worked hard to be the best.鈥�
听听听听听听听听听听听 鈥淪he practiced and practiced. Her instructors at NAIT made sure all of her strings were in tune and they gave her their gift of passion.鈥�
听听听听听听听听听听听 鈥淓ventually, through much perseverence and hard work, Katie was able to make sweet music in the kitchen of The Happy Nun.鈥�
听听听听听听听听听听听 鈥淪he was always focused on making sure that the food she prepared was good for the soul.鈥�
听听听听听听听听听听听 鈥淣ow is the time to look toward the future,鈥� continued Tim. 鈥淣ow is the time for us to help others learn to fulfill their dreams and their passions.鈥�
听听听听听听听听听听听 鈥淭he Katie Vinge-Riddell 鈥淣ailed It鈥� Memorial Scholarship will help others play their own sweet music, so to speak and to fulfill their dreams.鈥�
听听听听听听听听听听听 Katie's passion will live on through this scholarship.鈥�
听听听听听听听听听听听 Connie Vinge said that the scholarship also addresses Katie's considerable philanthropic contributions, which included animal rescue and numerous benefits for both organizations and individuals.
听听听听听听听听听听听 鈥淲e want to continue the charitable work that Katie was so passionate about,鈥� said Connie.
听听听听听听听听听听听 Tim said of his daughter: 鈥淜atie left all of us a little better than when she got us.鈥�
听听听听听听听听听听听 鈥淭he scholarship at NAIT will ensure that we can help the profession of culinary arts and leave it a bit better for future students in this program.鈥�
听听听听听听听听听听听 鈥淲e want to create new opportunities to support young chefs and their passion and vision,鈥� said Tim. 鈥淭his is what Katie would want and this is what Katie will get.鈥�
听听听听听听听听听听听 Tim ended his address with a poem by Dorothy Holmes:
听听听听听听听听听听听 鈥淲hat a delicious lunch
听听听听听听听听听听听 I munched on your words
听听听听听听听听听听听 Nourishing my tired heart
听听听听听听听听听听听 Enjoyed the sweet parfait of your smile.
听听听听听听听听听听听 Drank deeply the essence of your laughter.鈥�
听听听听听听听听听听听 鈥淏on Appetit, Katie. Bon Appetit, all.鈥�
听听听听听听听听听听听 Contributions to the Katie Vinge-Riddell 鈥淣ailed It鈥� Memorial Scholarship can be made online at: alumni.nait.ca/katievinge 12.
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