Hamilton rallies around founder of Gorilla Cheese
When one of their own needs a hand, Hamilton’s culinary entrepreneurs step up to lend it.
That’s been the case for Gorilla Cheese founder Graeme Smith, who was diagnosed with Stage 4 oropharyngeal cancer at the base of his tongue in February.
Acrowdfunding campaign has been launched to help support the business and its 46-year-old owner through his treatment, and a fundraiser featuring a special menu, games and face painting is being held Sunday at the Gorilla Cheese restaurant on Ottawa St. N.
“I was really touched by it,” Smith said. “It kind of showed the character of Hamilton business owners.”
Smith, who started Gorilla Cheese in 2011after being laid off from his job with U.S. Steel, was determined to keep working despite undergoing chemotherapy every three weeks and radiation treatment from Monday through Friday.
But three months ago, he had to “hand over the reins” to girlfriend Andi Nisbet and longtime staff after a couple of hospital stays made him realize “I can’t do everything.”
Smith plans to be at Sunday’s event, dubbed the Hammertown Throwdown to Smash Cancer. The fundraiser is a collaboration between Cake and Loaf Bakery, Gorilla Cheese, Jonny Blonde Food Truck & Kitchen, Pokeh and MeatVentures.
Smith’s goal is to be back on the scene in September, and he jokingly says he hopes his job isn’t rendered obsolete before then.
In the meantime he’s been watching lots of cooking shows, gearing up for his return to work with the goal of coming up with new sandwich recipes.