Gather & Graze brings together two Ontario restaurants known for their love of seasonal flavours and ingredient-focused cooking: HEIST Restaurant + Wine Club in Kingston and Bruce Wine Bar in Thornbury. For one night, the two kitchens collaborate on a comforting Italian-inspired menu designed around shared plates, regional produce, and the warmth of gathering at the table.
The evening begins with a casual flow of antipasti served as they’re ready—artisanal cheeses, house-cured meats, and pickled vegetables from Bruce Wine Bar, paired with wild mushroom arancini in a bright tomato sugo and a selection of featured root vegetables. A fresh seasonal green salad rounds out the opening courses, offering a crisp balance to the richer flavours.
Guests will then enjoy a family-style main course of slow-simmered pork ragù over creamy polenta, inspired by traditional northern Italian comfort cooking. A wild mushroom ragù, rich and earthy, is offered as a vegetarian option with the same thoughtful approach to flavour and texture.
Dessert arrives for the table as an assortment of small bites—tarts, custards, fried dough, and fruit—meant to be passed around and enjoyed together, echoing the spirit of a true Italian gathering.
Set within HEIST’s welcoming dining room, Gather & Graze reflects the shared values of both restaurants: a deep connection to Ontario growers, a respect for simple ingredients treated with care, and a belief in the pleasure of a meal enjoyed communally. Expect an evening that’s relaxed yet refined, where Kingston meets Thornbury and local flavours shine through comforting, shareable dishes.
Continuous seating starting at 5 pm.
What's on the menu
About the hosts
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Host chefJosh Ham
HEIST Restaurant + Wine Club, KingstonBorn in Toronto, Chef Joshua Ham began his culinary journey at sixteen and trained at George Brown College’s Italian Culinary Arts program. He refined his craft in Italy before working five years with The Chase Hospitality Group.
Josh moved to Kingston in 2020, joining HEIST at its opening and becoming Head Chef in 2024. At HEIST, he blends Italian-inspired technique with a deep respect for local Ontario ingredients. His menus highlight seasonal flavours expressed through comforting, shareable dishes that are both refined and approachable.
Guided by a philosophy of hospitality and connection, Josh creates food meant to bring people together. His work celebrates the farmers, artisans, and producers behind each ingredient, crafting dishes that are grounded, thoughtful, and designed to be enjoyed around the table.
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Guest chefShaun Edmonstone
Bruce Wine Bar, ThornburyChef Shaun Edmonstone is Executive Chef and co-owner of Bruce Wine Bar, celebrated for hyper-local, seasonally inspired menus. Growing up on his grandmother’s market farm and learning to raise bees with his grandfather instilled in him a lasting connection to the land, farmers, and artisanal producers.
A Red Seal graduate of George Brown College’s School of Hospitality & Culinary Arts, Shaun’s career is defined by creativity, precision, and a respect for seasonal ingredients. His menus showcase Ontario’s bounty—from spring fiddleheads to autumn squash—crafted with care and rooted in tradition.
At Bruce Wine Bar, Shaun leads a kitchen focused on approachability, collaboration, and thoughtful presentation. His philosophy is simple: honour the ingredient, connect guests to place, and create shared meals that celebrate the best of Ontario’s local produce.
