Celebrated chef gives back to AMCAL
More than a dozen eating establishments donating culinary skills to fundraiser
By the time chef Liam Hopkins was in his mid-teens, he knew he wanted to cook. But his focus blurred for a spell when he took up with the wrong crowd and made some bad decisions.
When he was 15 years old, after a discussion with his family, Hopkins entered the AMCAL residential program. He needed a break from the family and visa versa. AMCAL Family Services, which is based in Pointe-Claire, offers a variety of services dedicated to resolving family conflict.
Hopkins, now 29, is co-owner with creative director Nicolina Servello of a critically acclaimed restaurant bearing his name on Monkland Ave. in Notre Dame de Grâce. The two also own Porco, a more casual dining experience, also on Monkland.
Hopkins Restaurant is one of more than a dozen eating establishment donating their culinary skills to the 10th annual Taste of AMCAL fundraiser at the Royal St. Lawrence Yacht Club in Dorval, April 16. Hopkins has maintained strong ties with AMCAL over the years, cooking for every one of the Taste of AMCAL fundraisers.
A participant in AMCAL’s residential program, Hopkins spent eight weeks in residence and had eight weeks of follow-up counselling. Those 16 weeks changed his life. “I was skipping classes, taking drugs. Relationships in the home were strained,” Hopkins said. “It was time for a change and my parents were on the same page. The residential program was an important time for me.”
The AMCAL program helped Hopkins develop skills to better navigate life while also helping fuel his growing interest in cooking.
“Everybody in the program had to help out in the residence. I steered myself as much as I could to the kitchen,” he said. “I had something I was passionate about. The program helped put me back on the right path.”
Six months after completing the AMCAL residential program, Hopkins landed his first job in a kitchen. He went on to graduate from the Pearson School of Culinary Arts.
“The program encourages peer mentoring, so the teenagers with more experience in the program help kids that are newer to the program,” Hopkins said. “When you are in high school you are living in a very small world with a narrow vision. The program teaches you that there is much more out there. You learn to (gravitate) towards peers who share the same values and respect. With a little passion and a lot of hard work, you can go far.” The Taste of AMCAL fundraiser is at the Royal St. Lawrence Yacht Club, 1350 Lakeshore Dr. in Dorval, on Monday from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Tickets cost $100. A tax receipt is offered. For reservations or information, call Jessica Legault, 514-694-3161, ext. 233, or email jlegault@amcal.ca. For more information about Restaurant Hopkins, visit restauranthopkins.com. kgreenaway@postmedia.com