La Tablée des Chefs and its financial partners, including Quebecor, IGA and Centraide, are launching Cuisines solidaires, a major mobilization to equip the refrigerators of the Food Banks of Quebec (BAQ) by producing more than 800,000 meals, per hour of the COVID-19 crisis.
The spread of the new coronavirus has hit community organizations hard, many of which have even had to close for lack of resources.
To help food banks, the Tablée des Chefs, led by its managing director and founder Jean-François Archambault, brought together many chefs across Quebec, including Stefano Faita, Caroline McCann, Jérôme Ferrer and Ricardo Larrivée in the goal of feeding people in need, starting mid-April.
Jean-François Archambault and his team have taken up the challenge, with the help of the Ministry of Agriculture, of launching this major project when numerous hygienic rules must be observed to protect oneself from COVID-19.
“First we had to check if we could safely bring the cooks back to their kitchen,” said DG Tablée des Chefs in an interview with TVA Nouvelles on Friday. We were already working with the Ministry of Agriculture on hygiene and sanitation. “
“I called the director Jean Bergeron, shared the idea with him and we reworked a food safety charter around the project. He gave me the green light, “said Mr. Archambault.
St-Hubert, Canadiens and Ivanhoé Cambridge in the game
Several restaurant groups have also confirmed their participation in Solidarity Kitchens, including Les rôtisseries St-Hubert, Le Groupe Sportscene, Les Canadiens de Montréal (Groupe CH) and Normandin restaurants. In exchange for each of the portions prepared, $ 1 will be paid to participating establishments to compensate the cooks and their brigades.
Ivanhoé Cambridge, a real estate subsidiary of the Caisse de depot et placement du Québec, will lend the kitchens of its Fairmont Le Reine Elizabeth and Fairmont Le Château Frontenac properties to produce the dishes.
“We give them turnkey food,” said Jean-François Archambault. I didn’t want to ask them anything but to come back to cook and I wanted to pay them. I wanted to give them $ 1 a serving. A cook can make 20 to 25 servings an hour. ”
A welcome helping hand from Quebecor
Pierre Karl Péladeau, President and CEO of Quebecor, is looking forward to participating in the operation and deploying a financial contribution for the benefit of community organizations, and therefore people in need.
“The crisis has further accentuated needs,” said Mr. Péladeau. Food banks will be under increasing pressure, given the more than slow economic environment. This solicitation again requires the involvement of companies and, in this crisis, it is a privilege for us to participate in it. Businesses in Quebec are also there to support this solidarity that characterizes us. ”
Those who want to support the cause of Les Tablée des Chefs and donate can do so by visiting www.tableedeschefs.org.
La Tablée des Chefs is a charity whose mission is to feed people in need and develop culinary education for young people.
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