The third annual slots-Grand River soup-off will be Sept. 8.
The event is open to everyone from 6 to 9pm (or until supplies last) with a minimum donation of $3 to the Centre-Wellington Food Bank.
The event will take place upstairs at Grand River Raceway slotsin the Wellington Room Lounge.
Two years ago, Sensational Elora approached the raceway and asked if it like to participate in their first annual soup-off competition. Working from a standardized menu offering, the raceway identified the request as an opportunity to engage its kitchen team members with a creative outlet.
To determine the entry, the raceway decided to hold its own competition for its Sensational Elora submission.
The first year was small scale with a few competitors from food and beverage and a couple internal judges; however excitement quickly grew when the submission Slow Burning Autumn Sunset by Braden Beveridge, a cook at Slots-Grand River, went on to win first place in the professional category.
Based on the success of that entry and the excitement generated among the staff, the raceway decided to continue holding its own event to select submissions annually.
Moving into the second annual soup-off, the competition was opened to all staff members for submissions. That provided a new internal competition among all departments at the site. For that competition, officials selected some internal management and external community judges while opening the door for Grand River staff to taste the entries – with a donation made to the Centre-Wellington Food Bank.
Officials agreed that if the entry won at Sensational Elora, it would be added as a feature on the menu for one year. That heated up the competition with entrants now having a cheering section. Once again the site winner’s submission, Blood, Sweat and Beer, by slot supervisor Leticia Hammer went on to take first place in the professional category)
The raceway and slots are are now organizing the third annual slots-Grand River Soup-Off and have yet again identified a new opportunity to add fun for staff and give back to the community by partnering directly with the Centre-Wellington Food Bank.
The Grand River Raceway and slots facility will now be opening the doors for the public to come and participate.
On Sept. 8 everyone is invited to taste various soup entries with a minimum donation of $3 to the Centre-Wellington Food Bank whose official will be on-site accepting donations."
