Dessertfest the ultimate cheat day.

If You’re Going To Cheat, Do It Right And Cheat At Dessertfest!

By on June 3, 2016

We all have our weaknesses when it comes to indulging in ‘forbidden’ treats. Be it salty or sweet or even better, BOTH!

Ottawa is being treated (pardon the pun) to North America’s largest dessert festival ever! And let me tell you, it’s not just the children that will be enjoying the desserts as the evening festivities will be catering to adults with intoxicating delectables.

Dubbed “The Ultimate Cheat Day”, Dessertfest is everything that every kid, let alone every adult, has been dreaming and fantasizing about! Except, now it’s become a reality!

Dessert is like a feel-good song, and the best ones make you dance – Chef Edward Lee

Dessertfest’s main organizer, Chelsea Boissonneault, along with her husband, Jean-Luc Boissonneault, and Ashley Lawrie, are the creative forces behind this ever so sweet festival.

Ironically enough, Boissonnealt and her husband are also the co-founders of Free Form Fitness; however, they have always been looking for different ideas for events. “We came up with this idea about a year ago when researching different event ideas, I have done over a dozen events over the last 6 years, and they have all been fitness related, but this time we decided to go the opposite, for fun”. They wanted to create a new event concept that would include every form of dessert possible!

Dessertfest is all about catering to that inner voice that we all have when it comes to indulging in desserts and actually surrendering to it.

A party without cake is just a meeting! – Julia Child

Dessertfest will have over 33 vendors, all to titillate and tease our sweet and savoury indulgences. Like a scene from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, children and adults alike will be entering the Aberdeen Pavilion at Lansdowne Park and be awestruck as the enter the Holy Grail of dessert land.

Upon entering the building, guests will be given a map so that they can decide where they would like to start their ‘sugar-high’ dessert journey which involves a tour through Snack Land, Cake Land, Candy Land, Pastry Land, Chocolate Land and Ice Cream Land…need I say more?!

Dessertfest’s map of indulgence.

Boissonnealt and her team have truly thought of everything in regards to what people crave for when it comes to desserts and more importantly, how to have fun regardless of your age.

Activities for children

• there will be a 40ft bouncy castle to burn off the sugar rush
• face painting
• jump rope area
• games of all kinds: ping pong, fuse ball to name a few
• kid’s zone

Activities for adults

• chill zone for adults with couches and bean bags to relax
• signature candy cocktails and wine will be available
• Broadhead Brewery with their Blueberry Beer
• Café area
• DJ on stage after 8pm

Activities for everyone

• see live dessert demos from my alma mater, Le Cordon Bleu
• a cupcake decorating contest
• a pie-eating contest

Vendors

• The Cupcake Lounge
• Bulk Chocolate
• Art is In
• Oh So Good
• Cake this chocolate that
• Kenzie Cakes
• Whole Foods
• Dolly Doll cupcakes
• Herdocias Bakery
• Three Tart
• Creation Nelle
• Milano
• Burrito Shack
• Nutty Greek Shop
• Three Tarts
• Art Is In
• Suzy Q
• Signatures
• Allium
• Delicious bakery
• Beaver Tails
• Totally squared
• Thyme & Again

and more….

Whether you’re eating your favourite sprinkled filled cupcake, spooning up some creamy gelato or biting into a warm glazed doughnut, there will definitely be something for everyone at Dessertfest. So, go on and spoil yourself and let yourself be the kid that just loves his cake and eats it too!

Important information

Date and Time: Saturday June 11th: 11am – 12am (adults 19+ only after 8pm Sat), Sunday June 12th: 11am-8pm

Where: Lansdowne – Aberdeen Pavilion 1000 Exhibition Way Ottawa, ON
K1S 5J3

Entrance Tickets: $10 online in advance and $13 at the door and FREE for kids 12 and under. Visit dessertfestival.com for more details and to sign up for your free dessert.

Sampling tickets: $0.50 each ticket ($20 a sheet) to buy the vendors desserts.

Treat yourself to a ‘cheat day’ and indulge with me!

Friday night, I had the privilege of attending the 2024 Canadian Culinary Championships - Mystery Wine Challenge - People's Choice Award🥇🥇@greatkitchenparty
.
Congratulations to all the chefs involved in this intense competition. The chefs needed to create a dish to pair with the mystery wine. Each chef was given a tricky budget of $550 for the 250 guests. I was witnessing creativity at its best!!😋
.
The winning dish🥇 (centered in the middle of the photo) was created by JP Dublado: Red Deer Resort and Casino, Red Deer AB
Dish: beet & soy cured albacore tuna - ponzu gel - tomato water - puffed wild rice - beet green oil
.
Amazing talent from all the chefs as they paired with the mystery wine (a 2021 Lailey Vineyard Zweigelt)🍷🍷
.
#foodblogger ##foodgram #foodcompetition #travelblogger #CCC2024 #greatkitchenparty #peopleschoice #peopleschoiceawards #underpressure #foodandwine #underbudget #onbudget #culinarycompetition #thefoodteasedrinks #thefoodteaseeats #ifwtwa1 #tmac
Planning for your BIG wedding day💍 and looking for something different than the traditional bachelorette party? 🎉🎉
.
Then you need to read my solo Montreal getaway article featured in the latest issue of @ottawawedding magazine.
. 
Special thanks to @montreal for the beautiful experiences.
.
Amongst the amazing activities:
● High Tea at the Ritz-Carlton 🍾🥂
● Pampering at the Scandinave Spa 💆🏼‍♀️and at Le Germain Hotel 
● Visiting the beautiful light show at the Botanical Gardens ⚘️✨️
● Culinary experiences at the Foxy restaurant and discovering local restaurants during a food tour😋😋
.
Solo getaway or with a friend or two, any reason to visit and experience Montréal is a good one!! 😍🤗
.
With its countless cultural activities and experiences, one can easily enjoy this beautiful city! And let's not forget their food scene... that alone is reason enough to visit!!😍😋
.
I think it's time for you to discover, and for some, REDISCOVER Montreal! 🤩🤩
.
#travelblogger #foodblogger #travelgram
#mtlmoments #mtl #mtlfoodies #published #presstrip #passportready
#alwaysexploring #travellikealocal #localbusiness #ifwtwa1 #tmactravel #thefoodteasetravel #exploremontreal #touristattractions #solo #solotravel
I am very proud to share my culinary "observer" perspective regarding @lecordonbleuottawa culinary workshops in the latest issue of @luxeottawamagazine 😊
.
Visiting my alma mater and watching the culinary workshop from a different lens reinforced the rationale as to why I pursued my culinary education…the pleasure of savouring the fruits of your labour. 😋
.
It is this journey that ignited my passion for cooking, helped hone my skills, and introduced me to a world of flavours and techniques that continue to inspire me to this day. And perhaps it will inspire you as well!👨‍🍳👩🏼‍🍳
.
Check out the article and the new culinary workshops being offered. Enjoy the adventure!!😊🤗
.
#foodblogger #travelbloggers #foodlovers #foodgram #culinaryinstitute #workshop #lcb #lecordonbleu #lecordonbleuottawa #alwaysexploring #alwayslearning #published #luxemagazine #ifwtwa1 #tmac #tmactravel
Where's my rubber ducky 🐤😉?! 
.
A year ago this week, I was enjoying some bath time while in @discoverdominica 🏖🏝😍
.
Dominica's lush scenery is extraordinary, and I'm grateful to have been invited to visit their beautiful island😊😊
.
Visiting Wotten Waven Sulphur Springs was perfect to relax and rid of some unwanted stress. And the outdoor bath surrounded by all that green landscape was simply the BEST! An unforgettable experience! 🤩
.
Dominica's adventure activities - diving, snorkeling, hiking, kayaking, swimming - are just some of the many ways to enjoy this tropical island.🤿🙂
.
Put Dominica on your travel list. You'll love it!!❤️❤️
.
#foodblogger #travelgram #travelblogger #passportready #presstrip #discoverdominica #dominica #sulphursprings #lush #bubblebath #outdoorbath #newdestination #newexperiences #tmactravel #ifwtwa1 #thefoodteasetravel #tmac #tropical #zen #wottenwavenhotsprings
What goes better together than Champagne and lobster?! Nothing, except MORE Champagne...hence the magnum of Veuve!🍾🥂🦞
.
This is the definition of indulgence. 😉
.
Why wait for special occasions?! Enjoy what makes you happy whenever the mood strikes! 
.
Carpe diem!!🍾🥂😍
.
#foodblogger #foodlovers #travelbloggers #travelgram #champagne #champagnelover #lobsters #lobsterlover #carpediem #indulgence #anyoccasion #seizetheday #lobsterdinner #splurge #thefoodteasedrinks #thefoodteaseeats #bubbles #more #moreplease #specialoccasions #anyday

Follow Us On Instagram