Meet the plant-based fine dining event for a good cause happening this weekend

Posted on 20 April, 2022

The very edge of Canberra might not be where you’d expect to find a plant-based fine-dining pop-up.

But head out to Ginninderry’s Cafe Stepping Stone this Saturday 23 April and that’s exactly what you’ll experience.

A social enterprise established to provide “inclusive employment and practical training opportunities for migrant and refugee women from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds”, Cafe Stepping Stone owners Vanessa Brettell and Hannah Costello have teamed up with Muku Food to host Feast for Freedom, a plant-based fine dining dinner with all profits going to the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre.

Based in a sweet weatherboard cottage in the Straithnarn Arts precinct, Cafe Stepping Stone has been slowly building a dedicated fan base since it opened in July 2020, offering light meals, coffee and baked goods. As co-owner and director Vanessa explains, hosting a Feast for Freedom event was a natural choice for the team.

“The Asylum Seeker Resource Centre is Australia’s largest organisation working in this field and supports thousands of new arrivals each year. Therefore, it makes sense for Stepping Stone to join in on their annual, Feast for Freedom fundraiser event.”

“Feast for Freedom is designed for individuals and organisations across Australia to raise money by holding a feast. As a cafe, Stepping Stone felt that the most effective way to raise money was to hold a set menu degustation. It’s also our first event of this style, so it will also test the viability to hold more fundraisers like this in the future.”

Cafe Stepping Stone.

To create a menu of guests’ plant-based dreams, Vanessa and Hannah have teamed up with another local organisation, Muku Food.

“As an organisation that supports migrants and refugees, Cafe Stepping Stone looks to partner and support other organisations with similar missions and visions as we believe collaboration is key to maximising impact,” says Vanessa.

“For this event, we’re collaborating with Rina Miyata of Muku Food. Rina specialises in plant-based cuisine with experience in hosting boutique fine dining events. Hannah and Rina are quite the team and have put together a great menu for the night!”

Cafe Stepping Stone.

As for the food itself, Vanessa says the dinner will be a “five-course dining experience with complementary beverages” hosted in Cafe Stepping Stone’s historic homestead and gallery space. With a focus on seasonal ingredients, the dinner will “provide a taste of autumn flavours” and better yet, you’ll be supporting a worthy cause.

Did someone say table for two?

Feature image: The Cafe Stepping Stone team, with Vanessa Brettell and Hannah Costello pictured top left.