Empty Bowls 25th Anniversary

The event is now sold out!

Empty Bowls, now in its 25th year at the Gardiner, is a North American-wide project to aid the homeless. All of the proceeds go to Anishnawbe Health Toronto, a culture-based native centre committed to changing lives through traditional healing practices. Anishnawbe’s work with the homeless has evolved from early directions of crisis intervention, to their current efforts working with those who seek to escape homelessness.

More than 400 bowls are donated by potters, potter’s guilds, and students, and delicious soups are prepared and ladled out by some of Ontario’s most eminent chefs.

Patrons line up in order to be first in line to choose their bowl, and have it filled with their choice of delicious soups. At the end of the event, take home your bowl to enjoy, knowing that all the money collected goes directly to Anishnawbe Health Toronto. Last year, we raised $15,000.

Participating Chefs

Boris Buettner, Terroni
Lorenzo Loseto, George
Jonathan Abrahams, The Healthy Butcher
Simon Kattar, à la Carte Kitchens
Adrian Niman, Food Dudes
Ang McCluskey & Paul Sauve
Suzanne Baby, Gallery Grill
Renée Bellefeuille, AGO Bistro
Mark Cutrara, Northern Maverick Brewing Co.
Olivier Le Calvez, El Catrin

Please note: Beginning at 11 am on Thursday October 12, numbered tickets can be picked up in the lobby. The tickets will be numbered based on when you pick them up, not by purchase date. Numbered tickets will not be given out prior to 11 am and will not be reserved.

Once ticket holders arrive for the event, they will be asked to wait outside. Beginning at 5 pm, the numbers will be called sequentially in small groups. Ticket holders will then be able to choose their bowls and proceed to the Terrace Room in a staggered fashion.