Two Winnipeg chefs have come together to host a fundraiser in honour of American celebrity chef, Anthony Bourdain.
Mandel Hitzer and Adam Donnelly said they wanted to team up to start a conversation about mental health in the culinary world.
That’s how they came up with Remembering Anthony Bourdain.
WATCH: Global’s Lauren McNabb shares details of the event
“We’re all touched by Anthony, his words, what he did for our industry,” Hitzer, chef and owner of deer+almond said.
“I thought it was really important to come together and create a conversation, offer leadership, mentorship, to those who might be struggling, and just let people know we’re always here.”
“It’s something that’s very prominent in our industry,” Donnelly, chef and owner of Segovia Tapas Bar explained.
“With the passing of Anthony Bourdain, I feel like it’s kind of brought it into the spotlight now and it’s giving us an opportunity to kind of take this tragedy and really you know, do something good from it and to talk about mental health in our industry because it is a problem.”
Remembering Anthony Bourdain will take place Tuesday, July 3 at The Forks and features a six course tasting menu and a number of guest speakers to speak about mental health.
Money raised from the event will be donated to the Canadian Mental Health Association.
“We’re here to raise money, so that there’s better programs, that there’s better support systems out there,” Hitzer said.
“I hope it helps people who are struggling with mental illness to come forward and talk to somebody, feel like they’re not alone,” Donnelly added.
Dr. Patrick Smith, the national CEO for the Canadian Mental Health Association called Hitzer and Donnelly leaders and applauded them for shining a spotlight on a part of the culinary world that often isn’t discussed.
“Every single one of us has mental health and no one is immune to the struggles. I think some of these more high profile losses to suicide have really shone a light on the fact that depression and despair don’t discriminate by postal code or neighbourhoods, it’s really in every family,” Smith said.
Donnelly said he hopes the Winnipeg fundraiser will inspired chefs across the country to host similar events.
“I would like to see it be done in every major city across Canada. The culinary community is a very small community and I feel us kind of doing this dinner, I hope it sparks dinners in Calgary, Vancouver, Toronto.”
Tickets for Remembering Anthony Bourdain are on sale now and are available at raw-almond.com.
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