Yu+Mei: an evening with Joe Fresh
If you didn't already know, I co-founded a dinner collective and this was our latest event. And more shopping newsletters will dispatch next week!
On April 16, 2024, friends and family of Canadian clothing and lifestyle brand Joe Fresh gathered in a spacious loft in Toronto’s East End for an intimate dinner, in celebration of the brand’s latest Spring 2024 collection.
Amidst the backdrop of a clear sky and setting sun, guests dined in a setting awash with vibrant oranges, not only from the decor so emblematic of Joe Fresh’s iconic orange, but from the beautiful sunset that graced the panoramic view of the background Toronto skyline. Everything was an optimistic suggestion of spring.
THE SETTING
Airy, light, and translatable were key characteristics when selecting a venue for the event. A place to make the orange hues pop. Post Design Collective opened their beautiful loft to us - the exceptionally high ceilings, bright, open space, and west-facing views made for the perfect setting. Mid-century modern furniture dotted the space and made it feel like someone’s home - perhaps your furniture-collecting friend with exceptionally good taste.
In order to make the room feel warmer, we placed bright and colourful rugs from Montreal-based brand catalog:three about the table. This highlighted the table as the centrepiece, the focal point for the evening.
The tablescape is what guests are drawn to immediately as they look for their seat. We mixed elements of classic, minimal decor with playful pops of colour and design. Bistro cutlery contrasted with imperfectly round stoneware plates, glasses with fluted edges shaped like various flowers, and simple orange cotton napkins - all the foundation for the table complemented by an abundant array of poppies in every hue of orange and red by Chloe from Neroli Florals. Each guest received a vellum envelope containing images from the campaign shoot, overlaid with the menu for the evening.
THE BEVERAGES
Barbet is a staple at each of our events. The following wines also paired with each course (notes on each wine provided by supplier):
Entrance Wine
1. I Vini di Giovanni - Ciliegiozzo (red pet nat) (Umbria, Italy)
Fun, fizzy, slightly funky strawberry cherry party bottle. Giovanni is a shepherd in Umbria who dedicates most of the land to sheep and olives. With the spare space he started making wine which became more and more renowned for its rustic, natural quality and he now ships to select places around the world.
App/Main Wines
2. Matin Calme - Ose (white/skin contact) - Roussillon, France
Salt, acid, yeast, touch of nail polish with a finish of grilled pineapple. This banger gained a following in New York and Quebec and now is hard to keep in stock as people drive from Quebec to here to pick up cases when available. Great chilled it also shows more and more shades of itself as it opens up.
3. Val De Combrès - Champs Magnétiques (orange wine) - Luberon, France
Valentin is a naturalist with all wines biodynamic. This is his rare orange wine as usually he makes reds and brings this out only every few years. Dry, peach juice, it can pair easily with vegetables, poultry and fish.
Dessert
4. Nadège (Les Vignes Herbel) - Rose D'Jour - Loire, France
This is in the old Loire style of sweeter wines to pair with rich foods like a foie gras, chocolates or simply as the perfect dessert accompaniment, enjoyed as an aperitif to end meals. A classic cuvée with many fans who've been following this wine in particular for a decade.
THE FOOD
Matthew Ravenscroft, formerly Gia, Parts & Labour, Drake Hotel, and Robinson, and official plant wizard, served a delicious meal highlighting early spring produce and flavours. The menu speaks for itself:
THE PEOPLE
