Ottawa’s hottest Indian restaurant is hosting an incredible fundraiser this Tuesday, April 12. The meal will be prepared by acclaimed Head Chef Joe Totthungal and hosted at his restaurant, Thali Ottawa & Coconut Lagoon, in downtown Ottawa. Wine pairing will be selected by the National Capital Sommelier Guild’s Marie-France Champagne. All proceeds will go to the charity Food For Thought, a local organization that combats food insecurity with healthy and warm meals for those in need.
The charity’s efforts show the very best of what local businesses in Ottawa can do for the community.
Many of Ottawa’s unfortunate or housing insecure live in hotel rooms and often only have microwaves and bar fridges at best; other city residents dealing with food security may be disabled or elderly and unable to prepare meals. These are just some of the people Food For Thought donates meals to daily in the Ottawa area.
ABOVE: The Food For Though menu for April 11-15, 2022.
How it works is quite simple. Each week, Food For Thought posts a new menu, paying customers visit the website, view the menu, and buy a meal for pick up. The team of chefs and volunteers cook hot and healthy meals, including curries, lamb or beef stews, briyani, and more. Once the order is placed for a meal, two are produced—one for the paying customer while the second meal is donated to those in need through the Food For Thought distribution system.
During the first year of the Covid pandemic, Food For Thought served over 200,00 meals to Ottawa residents in need. As a result of his dedicated community service, Chef Tutthungal was awarded the Order of Ottawa by Mayor Jim Watson in 2020.
The Food For Thought kitchen will be closed on Good Friday, but on Thursday, a roast turkey dinner with potatoes and cranberry sauce is available for order at the everyday meal price of $10. This week, you can also buy edible Ukrainian-style Easter eggs. Six decorated eggs are $12, with all proceeds going towards feeding people in need.
Unfortunately, word of the fundraiser spread quickly, and the seven-course dinner is sold out. If you weren’t fast enough to snag a ticket but want to help, Food For Thought is always looking for volunteers, from delivery drivers to administrators, to help manage the kitchen operations and experienced cooks for prep and cooking. Click on this link and scroll to the bottom of the page to fill out the volunteer form, then click submit.
You can also donate directly to Food For Thought via their website. A donation of $20 will help feed a family of four.