ELORA – Food Day Canada executive director Jeff Stewart has revealed details about the upcoming Elora’s Longest Barbecue.
He held a talk on June 12 at the Elora library that included details about the annual event as well as his travels exploring Canadian food across the country.
Elora’s Longest Barbecue will be held in downtown Elora on July 29, acting as a kickoff event for Food Day Canada on Aug. 2.
JEFF STEWART
An array of local restaurants will be participating, such as The Friendly Society, The Evelyn, The Badley and The Handsome Devil. Jeff said even the newly opened Tony’s Sourdough Pizzeria is already involved.
He added celebrity chef Micheal Smith will be returning.
Jeff is the son of Anita Stewart, the late Elora resident who was a culinary journalist, cookbook author and an advocate for Canadian food.
In 2003, Anita started the “World’s Longest Barbecue” as a way to encourage people to eat Canadian beef after mad cow disease decimated Canadian beef farmers.
This event evolved into Food Day Canada, which became a federally recognized day of celebration in 2023 to honour Anita’s legacy.
Jeff said the first Elora’s Longest Barbecue was a private celebration in 2021, acting as a tribute to Anita after she passed away.
One day, standing on the balcony at the Elora Mill, he gazed down at the streets of Elora and saw an opportunity.
In 2023, the first public Elora’s Longest Barbecue was held.
Jeff expected maybe 500 people but over 3,000 came. The next year: 7000.
This year, Jeff wonders if it the event could draw in 10,000 people.