The Kafana won the Judges' Choice Award for their Ukrainian Borshch at the 22nd annual Savour the Chill event in downtown Belleville
The Belleville Downtown District BIA celebrated its 22nd annual Savour the Chill competition this past Saturday, February 21st, 2026. Despite the chilly weather, the streets of Downtown Belleville were bustling with activity as locals and visitors indulged in delicious soups and explored local businesses in the Downtown District.
This year’s Savour the Chill event featured a fierce competition among 16 downtown businesses, each motivated to create the most delicious soups for both the public and a panel of judges.
The judges, Belleville Police Chief Murray Rodd, John Mathers Vice President of Hockey Operation for the Belleville Senators, Dominique McIntyre Real Estate Agent and Downtown Business owner, Joshua Blake Chef and Restaurateur of Jerkabago and Josh’s Diner, Joshua Blake and winner of our social media contest, Eric Gainer all enjoyed exploring the District and sampling delicious soup from Downtown Restaurants.
After careful deliberation and counting of the votes, the Belleville DBIA is thrilled to announce the winners of the Savour the Chill awards:
People’s Choice Award:
- Capers- First Place
- The Kafana – Second Place
- Paulo’s & Dinkel’s – Third Place
Judge’s Choice Award:
- The Kafana – First Place
- Capers – Second Place
- Frosty Bubble Bliss – Third Place
Expressing her delight at the event’s success, Danielle Hanoman, Executive Director of the Belleville Downtown Business Area, remarked,
“Savour the Chill continues to showcase the incredible talent, creativity, and community spirit that make Downtown Belleville so special. Even in the heart of winter, our downtown is full of warmth, from our passionate business owners to the people who come out to support them. Seeing the streets bustling, restaurants full, and hundreds of votes cast truly speaks to the strength of our local community. We are so proud of all 16 participating businesses for the outstanding experience they created, and we are deeply grateful to our distinguished panel of judges for their time, enthusiasm, and thoughtful deliberation in helping make this year’s event such a memorable success.”
The success of Savour the Chill would not have been possible without the support and participation of our downtown businesses, dedicated volunteers, and esteemed panel of judges. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our judges and the public making this event a resounding success.
Gleaners Foodbank was able to raise funds through their hot chocolate fundraiser. Thank you so much to anyone who donated during the event!
For more information on Gleaner Foodbank and how to donate, please visit: https://www.gleanersfoodbank.ca/
For more information about upcoming events and initiatives in Downtown Belleville, please visit www.downtownbelleville.ca
