The legacy of the late Katie Vinge-Riddell - renowned Saskatchewan chef and owner of Forget's Happy Nun Cafe - will live on with the newly-created Katie Vinge-Riddell “Nailed It” Memorial Scholarship. The scholarship will create opportunities for young chefs studying at Edmonton's NAIT culinary school, where Katie trained and graduated. A benefit evening to honour Katie and her life and legacy via the scholarship fund will be held at The Happy Nun Cafe on Saturday, Aug. 12, starting at 6:30 p.m.
“The scholarship is entitled the Katie-Vinge Riddell “Nailed It” Memorial Scholarship, because that was her favourite saying when her food turned out perfectly - which really, was 100 percent of the time,” says her mother, Connie Vinge.
“What we, as her family, want to do with this scholarship is to create opportunities for young chefs to follow their dreams and further their education like Katie did,” explains Connie. “The scholarship requirements are for a student who displays passion, creativity, teamwork and consideration for others - these are all characteristics she exhibited.”
Chef Tim Davies of Regina's The Willow on Wascana, who Katie apprenticed with - has volunteered to be chef for the evening, in honour of Katie. The cash bar will feature suggested wine pairings for each course by Katie's sister, sommelier Jillian Vinge, while Wool Tree Grove will provide the event's musical entertainment. There will also be a silent auction.
For anyone who cannot attend, donations to Katie's scholarship fund can be made online at: alumni.nait.ca/katievinge 12.
“We want to continue the charitable work that Katie was so passionate about,” says Connie.
The 29-year-old chef's accomplishments and her reputation for compassionate community involvement extended far beyond southeast Saskatchewan.
After purchasing The Happy Nun with her husband, Riley Riddell in January 2015, Katie's reputation for innovation in both the cooking and event-planning arenas soon garnered numerous awards and accolades for the Forget restaurant. The Happy Nun was most recently featured by the U.K.'s BBC Online, as well as being showcased by TV's 'The Prairie Diner', CTV's Small-Town Saskatchewan Summer Tour, The Saskatchewanderer, and the SaskScapes podcast with Saskatoon radio personality, Kevin Power. Katie also addressed the Community Futures and Women Entrepreneurs of Saskatchewan as a keynote speaker.
The Happy Nun was also awarded The Saskatchewan Tourism Award of Excellence and earned a five-star rating from TripAdvisor for Top Canadian Cuisine and Live Entertainment, as well as for Top Family-Friendly Dining.
“Katie always said that when she sat in her first class and looked around on her first day of culinary school that she knew she had found her home,” says Connie. “ Like all parents, we wanted her to be happy and find her passion...which she did!”
“Katie was all about 'living your best life.'”
“Astronomers say that on the evening of August 12 - Katie's benefit dinner - there will be one of the brightest meteor showers (Perseid Meteor Shower) in human history and it will light up the whole sky,” says Connie. “This can be viewed on the front balcony of The Happy Nun.”
“How fitting and meaningful, since Katie was our shining star and lit up a lot of people's lives.”
Tickets for the Katie-Vinge Riddell “Nailed It” Memorial Scholarship Benefit at Forget's Happy Nun Cafe at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, August 12 are $75 per person. To reserve tickets, please contact Jillian Vinge at (306)-580-3700 or Connie Vinge at (780)-251-0800. Payment is by cash or cheque, with cheques made out to Jillian Vinge. Payment for tickets can also be made by e-transfer to [email protected], phone number (306)-580-3700.
