Le Blé d’or community kitchen
For the last 30 years, le Blé d’or has been a second-line community food organization for the population of the Sherbrooke region. In addition to promoting food autonomy and healthy lifestyle choices, the organization works with children in schools to teach them to cook and helps people maintain good budgeting habits while breaking down social isolation and teaching them to eat healthy.
Although the organization’s work has been a little bit different this year as a result of restrictions on public gathering and organized activities, the Blé d’or team describes the work of a communal or collective kitchen to be focused around a series of workshops that bring together four to six people for an exercise in meal planning, budgeting, and cooking. The group also engages in community gardening and other social and collective activities aimed at building connection and supporting the group’s mission of promoting the joy of cooking.
Le Blé d’or traces the concept of communal kitchens back to Montreal’s Hochelaga-maisonneuve neighbourhood in the early 1980s, but its own roots date back to 1991, when the group was first incorporated under the name Carrefour des cuisines collectives de Sherbrooke. The group continued to operate under that name until 2007, when the organization was renamed as the Cuisine collective le Blé d’or de Sherbrooke.
The kitchen is located at 1765, rue Belvédère South in Sherbrooke, but more information on the work of Le blé d’or is available on their website (in French) at www.lebledor.org, or by calling 819-820-1231.
The website also features information on a number of their most popular recipes from over the years, including a range of soups, pasta means and muffins, and tips and tricks to keep in mind while either working in the kitchen or making plans for a future meal.
Lobster and roast beef fundraiser
Although it has been forced to modify for pandemic conditions, the kitchen’s Le Regal Homard &Rosbif lobster and roast beef dinner fundraiser will be taking place again this year after having been cancelled in 2020. This year the event will be taking place under the honorary chairmanship of Corrine Reid of Reid Notaries, and has been modified to a new “dining at home” format. Set to take place on Friday, May 7, 2021 the event will allow supporters access to a curated box of fine food, including some of the first lobster of the year.
The organization is counting on the support of more than 500 people for this special edition, due to the fact that this is Blé d’or’s only fundraiser. This essential event allows the Ble d’or to finance the majority of its activities and services offered to the population throughout the year.
Speaking of her role as honorary event chair, Corrine Reid, shared that, “community and volunteer involvement is part of my values and it is with pleasure that I renewed my commitment to the Ble d’or for a second consecutive year in order to make this second edition an unequaled success. This very special edition will allow you to celebrate spring with a meal of lobster and gourmet roast beef!”
Tickets for the supper are currently on sale at a cost of $125 per person though the organization’s website at www.lebledor.org under the “souperbenefice” tab.
By offering your support, you become a vector of change for the population of Sherbrooke by helping to provide tools and empowerment to work for a better quality of life.
The Hand in Hand column provides a space free of charge each week for community organizations that serve the English-speaking community of the Eastern Townships to share news or information about their mission or activities. Any organization interested in contributing a text for the column should contact Associate Editor Gordon Lambie at glambie@sherbrookerecord. com for more information about scheduling and requirements.