Press Release: Organic Ocean, The Chefs’ Table Society and LunchLAB:Chefs for Families team up

Organic Ocean, The Chefs’ Table Society and LunchLAB:Chefs for Families team up to bring the celebrated Spot Prawn Festival to families in need during the time of Covid-19.

100lbs of spot prawns from Organic Ocean’s first catch of the season to be donated.

(Vancouver, BC) Each spring, chefs and consumers alike anxiously await the start of the beloved spot prawn season. Traditionally, the season kicks off with the popular Spot Prawn Festival, hosted by the Chefs’ Table Society of BC (CTS). This year, as a result of Covid-19 and physical distancing, the 14th annual festival, scheduled for the Sunday of the Victoria Long weekend was cancelled. As well, many restaurants that normally purchase the first catch of spot prawns are still closed. The Spot Prawn Festival may not be able to go ahead as planned, but working together, Organic Ocean, the CTS, and LunchLAB: Chefs for Families are reinventing the celebration to fit with these turbulent times.

Organic Ocean is generously donating 100lbs of their first catch of spot prawns from opening day to the LunchLAB: Chefs for Families program. Regarding the donation, Guy Dean of Organic Ocean stated that, “It was the least we could do to provide the first spot prawns of the year to those members in our community who need highly nutritional food the most because food is a right and not a privilege.” The handoff of the 100lbs of spot prawns will happen on June 4th at Falsecreek Fishermen’s Wharf in the evening between 6:30pm and 6:45pm with proper social distancing protocols in place.

On June 4th and 5th, prominent Vancouver chefs and CTS members, including Will Lew, Dennis Peckham, Nicole Gomes, and Mariana Gabilondo will join the LunchLAB chefs to create the CTS signature Spot Prawn Festival Chowder. CTS President Robert Belcham noted that, “The Annual Spot Prawn Festival is the Chefs’ Table Society’s signature event that brings people of all demographics to False Creek Fishermen’s Wharf to learn about sustainable seafood while enjoying the chowder, sunshine, and atmosphere. It’s a day that boosts everyone up and we hope that by bringing the Spot Prawn Chowder to these families they’ll feel that boost and know how much they matter.”

On June 5th, 120+ families in need served by the LunchLAB program will get this special soup along with a selection of other delicious, healthy weekly meals. LunchLAB: Chefs for Families prepare more than 5,000 meals every week, ensuring more than 260 families in need have three nutritious and delicious meals every day. The program is a collaboration between Fresh Roots and Growing Chefs! and runs in partnership with Ono Vancouver, the Italian Cultural Centre, and Pacific Restaurant Supply. Growing Chefs!’ Executive Director Helen Stortini shared that “Spot Prawn season is typically such a joyous time. We're grateful this year that this joy has not been lost and is being shared in a new way. We're eager to tell the families about the significance of Spot Prawns in Vancouver. We’re also so thankful to Organic Ocean and the Chefs’ Table Society for this generous support.”

The public can help by ordering up a meal for a family that can use a little extra support right now with a donation at LunchLAB.ca. Each order placed, provides fresh, healthy, restaurant-quality meals, salad-making kits, fresh produce and pantry staples to families. Spot prawns will be available for purchase right off the the Organic Ocean boats or on their online shop: https://shop.organicocean.com/

LunchLAB would like to thank the following supporters for their generous contributions:

Community Food Centres Canada

Social Venture Partners Vancouver

Vancouver Foundation

The Vancouver Sun Children’s Fund Adopt-A-School

United Way

Breakfast Club of Canada

Whole Foods Market

Pacific Restaurant Supply

Cropthorne Farm

Discovery Organics

Gordon Food Service