Cobra Club [Events]
2014 Apr 25
Sorry, but it just sounds typical of everything I hear about any event in Ottawa. Hype, oversell, underdeliver, whine.
I don't mean this in a mean way at all. I've just seen it happen time and time again.
I feel that, for the most part, people in Ottawa want to feel that they live in a terrific city but know that they don't. Not really. They hear stories about Toronto and Vancouver and Montreal and ask themselves, "Why can't that be me?" Then an event comes along that promises something like what they want. They clamor for spots. They pay exorbitant fees. They are ultimately disappointed for one of many reasons. Too many people wanting to get invited to too few special events. If we could just raise the bar on EVERYTHING ELSE, this wouldn't be such a problem. That, or lower the expectations.
My kneejerk opinion.
I don't mean this in a mean way at all. I've just seen it happen time and time again.
I feel that, for the most part, people in Ottawa want to feel that they live in a terrific city but know that they don't. Not really. They hear stories about Toronto and Vancouver and Montreal and ask themselves, "Why can't that be me?" Then an event comes along that promises something like what they want. They clamor for spots. They pay exorbitant fees. They are ultimately disappointed for one of many reasons. Too many people wanting to get invited to too few special events. If we could just raise the bar on EVERYTHING ELSE, this wouldn't be such a problem. That, or lower the expectations.
My kneejerk opinion.
2014 Apr 25
I'm really surprised that there were 300 people! That doesn't sound like the Cobra experience I've heard about at all.
As far as Ottawa being a crappy city and crappy place for food - BAH! I hear that often enough on here and just have to shake my head...just because you've tried better smoked meat in Montreal or sushi in Vancouver or bbq in Texas, doesn't mean that we don't have good food or good events. We just don't have certain types of foods that are our specialty that make people think of Ottawa. But we do have a melting pot of very good food IMO.
We have Marc Lepine to boot!! (Ottawa's Marc Lepine....NOT Montreal's Marc Lepine...)
As far as Ottawa being a crappy city and crappy place for food - BAH! I hear that often enough on here and just have to shake my head...just because you've tried better smoked meat in Montreal or sushi in Vancouver or bbq in Texas, doesn't mean that we don't have good food or good events. We just don't have certain types of foods that are our specialty that make people think of Ottawa. But we do have a melting pot of very good food IMO.
We have Marc Lepine to boot!! (Ottawa's Marc Lepine....NOT Montreal's Marc Lepine...)
2014 Apr 25
Something like this is required to make Ottawa a terrific city? I found the whole concept laughable when it was first announced on here, and honestly I'm laughing even harder now that it is becoming a fiasco. Because as far as I'm concerned that's what it was to begin with. I think it makes Ottawa a far more awesome city that we don't go for that pretentious bullshit.
2014 Apr 26
Brian Mc I did not attend the Cobra event, but did sign up for their list and they state that they put on the event at their cost and all of the ticket money collected is donated to charity (a different charity for each event.) $30,000 to charity sounds alright to me.
2014 Apr 26
I think people need to manage expectations a bit at these events. Just to put it in perspective...you're gathering a bunch of chefs from across the city to donate their time to"cook" at a venue they are not familiar with for 300 people...all while still maintaining/working their actual job. Sometimes it's a last minute thing as well. So, while yes a chef's job is to be able to adapt and produce, people should temper their expectations a bit. It's so easy to compare this experience to a restaurant experience since all the chefs are from quality restaurants around the city but truthfully it's a very tough thing to execute seamlessly.
As BF mentioned, the Cobra dinners are typically at someones house with 20 or so people. Not sure why this one was different but despite the problems, they still managed to raise 30K for charity which is being overclouded by the expectations of the food that was served.
As BF mentioned, the Cobra dinners are typically at someones house with 20 or so people. Not sure why this one was different but despite the problems, they still managed to raise 30K for charity which is being overclouded by the expectations of the food that was served.
2014 Apr 26
I would sure want to confirm the charitable donation. Sadly there are a lot more events sold as "for charity" than there are donations to the charities.
After working my whole life in the charitable sector, I was depressed at how often the charity was used as a marketing tool and the donation either never got to the charity was negligible. So much so that we finally moved to strict guidelines on the use of the charity's name and legal contracts detailing the payout in advance. Sad but necessary.
After working my whole life in the charitable sector, I was depressed at how often the charity was used as a marketing tool and the donation either never got to the charity was negligible. So much so that we finally moved to strict guidelines on the use of the charity's name and legal contracts detailing the payout in advance. Sad but necessary.
2014 Apr 28
Apparently they did two at Johnny McBeauty's I went on April 13, and I was slightly disappointed for a couple of reasons.
300 people made it standing room only, some of the dishes were not that easy to eat standing up. As well trying to start a conversation with a foodie you didn't know was next to impossible.
My Guest and I arrived right at 6:15 and got most dishes with minimal trouble. Apparently half of the invitees were told not to show up until 7pm. I would've been much more perturbed if I had the 7pm seating.
Booze was not discounted ($7 Heineken) and the wine selection was limited to whatever Johnny McBeauty's normally stocks behind the bar.
Finally, if I had known it was a large scale event I probably would not have invited the person I did, he is an avid food lover, but $100 is a bit of a stretch for him, if he had known there was 298 people attending he likely would've declined. Cobra emails should state whether your invite is a large or small event.
On the positive side, the food was fantastic, and I felt I easily ate $100 worth of excellent dishes. And they raised a lot of money for a good charity.
My two cents...
300 people made it standing room only, some of the dishes were not that easy to eat standing up. As well trying to start a conversation with a foodie you didn't know was next to impossible.
My Guest and I arrived right at 6:15 and got most dishes with minimal trouble. Apparently half of the invitees were told not to show up until 7pm. I would've been much more perturbed if I had the 7pm seating.
Booze was not discounted ($7 Heineken) and the wine selection was limited to whatever Johnny McBeauty's normally stocks behind the bar.
Finally, if I had known it was a large scale event I probably would not have invited the person I did, he is an avid food lover, but $100 is a bit of a stretch for him, if he had known there was 298 people attending he likely would've declined. Cobra emails should state whether your invite is a large or small event.
On the positive side, the food was fantastic, and I felt I easily ate $100 worth of excellent dishes. And they raised a lot of money for a good charity.
My two cents...
2014 Apr 28
This article about sums up my experience that night as well. Having gone to Cobra twice a few years ago - it was a small event for 10 people, where we brought our own drinks to share and ate until our bellies were bursting. Needless to say, this time around I was incredibly excited to be invited again, only to be crammed into a nightclub, filed into 20 minute lineups and tasted 2 good plates & 2 mediocre plates (all small servings) before being shuffled out of the building since food had run out. There's a reason why I don't go to the Food & Wine Show anymore...
I wrestled with the idea of writing back to Cobra and posting on OF right after the event, because when you fork up $100, even if it's for charity, you expect an experience that's enjoyable and memorable while still sustainable for the event organizers. Giving $30K to a charity is a great accomplishment but at the cost of losing loyal followers and adventurous eaters who would have gladly continued to contribute and attend your events seems detrimental in the long run.
In my opinion, the chefs still worked incredibly hard and I appreciate their efforts, so the fault falls onto the planners/organizers because I'm sure many, including myself, left with a sour taste in their mouths and will think twice about attending another a Cobra event: charity or not. In my case, the response will probably be a "thanks, but no thanks".
(Edit & NB: I did get the 7:15pm invite, which was probably one of the latest arrival times)
I wrestled with the idea of writing back to Cobra and posting on OF right after the event, because when you fork up $100, even if it's for charity, you expect an experience that's enjoyable and memorable while still sustainable for the event organizers. Giving $30K to a charity is a great accomplishment but at the cost of losing loyal followers and adventurous eaters who would have gladly continued to contribute and attend your events seems detrimental in the long run.
In my opinion, the chefs still worked incredibly hard and I appreciate their efforts, so the fault falls onto the planners/organizers because I'm sure many, including myself, left with a sour taste in their mouths and will think twice about attending another a Cobra event: charity or not. In my case, the response will probably be a "thanks, but no thanks".
(Edit & NB: I did get the 7:15pm invite, which was probably one of the latest arrival times)
2014 Apr 28
We used to go to a number of these tasting type events, most of them designed to raise money for charity. We also used to go to the Wine and Food show. Note the "used to". We stopped going because we felt like two people in a herd of cattle trying to get to the food stations. We came to resent the overselling of tickets and the ever increasing line ups. There is only one of these that we go to now and that is the one for the Ottawa Humane Society. They limit the number of tickets they sell and it is easy to get around and the food and drink stations are accessible with small, if any, line ups. I agree with Qster - these planners/organizers are shooting themselves in their collective feet by overselling and under delivering.
2014 Apr 28
Well, it seems some folks on here have gone more than once (never been yet!). That in itself is kinda sad (sorry, off topic I know)
However, I too would not be interested in a 300 people event however, so I guess I'm glad I did not get invited.
"Cobra emails should state whether your invite is a large or small event." - Agreed.
"these planners/organizers are shooting themselves in their collective feet by overselling and under delivering."
I would be willing (and have done so) to pay more for a charity event that is not standing room only.
However, I too would not be interested in a 300 people event however, so I guess I'm glad I did not get invited.
"Cobra emails should state whether your invite is a large or small event." - Agreed.
"these planners/organizers are shooting themselves in their collective feet by overselling and under delivering."
I would be willing (and have done so) to pay more for a charity event that is not standing room only.
2014 Apr 28
I forgot to actually mention the dishes, here goes (by memory)
Union 613: Duck Heart, sauced with a bit of the blood over dirty grits with a celery jalapeno crumble.
TMIP (Chicago): Lamb Belly, Crickets and Kimchi mayo on a steamed bun
Arc Hotel: BBQ Elk, Python Bacon, w/ grilled mushroom fries
Whalesbone: Sou vied Crab, Chicken feet and a habenero/cucumber salad
Jamie Stunt: Elk Heart, Smoked Mussel Sauce and Crispy Chicken Skin
Albion Room: Jellied Eel, Rabbit Liver Pate and a berry reduction.
Somebody?: Elk tartare stuffed Gougeres with Marrow Aoli
Charlotte (Former Whalesbone): Smoked Sea urchin torchons rose petals served on the sea urchin shell.
That new bourbon place: Deconstructed Gin Fizz, Lime Curd, Sheeps milk globe, sponge cake and a piece of that honeycomb stuff found inside a Crunchie bar.
I think Ia m missing one, but that's the short version. All were tasty, Jamie's Elk heart or the Sea Urchin were probably my faves, but the dessert was amazing as well.
Got a newfound appreciation for eating heart.
Union 613: Duck Heart, sauced with a bit of the blood over dirty grits with a celery jalapeno crumble.
TMIP (Chicago): Lamb Belly, Crickets and Kimchi mayo on a steamed bun
Arc Hotel: BBQ Elk, Python Bacon, w/ grilled mushroom fries
Whalesbone: Sou vied Crab, Chicken feet and a habenero/cucumber salad
Jamie Stunt: Elk Heart, Smoked Mussel Sauce and Crispy Chicken Skin
Albion Room: Jellied Eel, Rabbit Liver Pate and a berry reduction.
Somebody?: Elk tartare stuffed Gougeres with Marrow Aoli
Charlotte (Former Whalesbone): Smoked Sea urchin torchons rose petals served on the sea urchin shell.
That new bourbon place: Deconstructed Gin Fizz, Lime Curd, Sheeps milk globe, sponge cake and a piece of that honeycomb stuff found inside a Crunchie bar.
I think Ia m missing one, but that's the short version. All were tasty, Jamie's Elk heart or the Sea Urchin were probably my faves, but the dessert was amazing as well.
Got a newfound appreciation for eating heart.
southshoregirl
apt613.ca