Cafe Belong

When the environmentally focused charity Evergreen Canada sought a chef to establish a restaurant and catering service onsite at the Evergreen Brickworks, Chef Brad Long was immediately taken with both their mission statement and the location. “I came and heard the story and knew that it was just right,” he asserts.

Brad is best known for transforming large, corporate venues into gourmet havens with his back-to-basics food approach. Toronto has trusted him with our most notable institutions, including the kitchens of the Air Canada Centre and the CN Tower. Brad has also been a recurring host on the Food Network’s show Restaurant Makeover. So when he decided to pair up with Evergreen Canada to open Café Belong (a double play on the partnership and his name), it might have seemed like a departure, unless you know what really moves him.

“Everything about what they do — their environmental stance, their educational stance, their commitment to quality and integrity —speaks to me," says Brad. "It’s a difficult row to hoe, the whole organic, sustainable approach, but there’s no better place to do it than nestled up against a national charity who share our goals.”

Brad was originally drawn to the site by Evergreen and he is collaborative by nature, but he is also a man with a clear vision and a strong will, and principles to match.