Chef Bruno Feldeisen calls on community to give
It’s a city where lots of people struggle
– Chef Bruno Feldeisen
Chef Bruno Feldeisen is best known as one of the judges on the Great Canadian Baking Show. He has also gained fame for his skills in the kitchen, with Chocolatier Magazine twice naming him as one of the top 10 pastry chefs in North America.
But here in Vancouver, where he’s been living for 13 years, the French-born baking expert has made a name for himself as a humanitarian.
“I can relate to a lot of people in need,” Feldeisen recently told the Straight by phone. “You know, I had myself a very difficult childhood—borderline traumatic.”
He said that he donates about 15 dinners a year in B.C. to different charities, including the B.C. Cancer Society and the Kidney Foundation of B.C. The charities will sometimes offer a package dinner for several people in a home as part of a fundraiser. At times, he has prepared five-course
meals with wine that were purchased for between $2,000 to $4,000.
On these occasions, Feldeisen said that he paid for everything, so the entire donation went to the charity.
“I think, on my own, I probably raise in Vancouver around $100,000 a year,” the chef said. “It’s good for my ego.”
His next fundraiser is the Fam Jam Kitchen virtual cooking class on April 9 to benefit Family Services of Greater Vancouver. The organization provides more than 50 programs and workshops across the region to help families facing food insecurity, financial instability, and other challenges.
Each family ticket will include access to the virtual event and a meal kit for three adults or two adults with two children. Fresh Prep will provide the starter and a main course, with Feldeisen creating a handcrafted dessert.
“I don’t know how to say ‘no’,” Feldeisen quipped. “It’s a great way to give back. I’ve been very fortunate in my career.”
On a more serious note, the chef emphasized that people living on the streets are not criminals. And it’s a “fact” that some kids don’t have homes in Vancouver. These are some of the people that Family Services of Greater Vancouver helps.
“You know, we should never forget about that,” Feldeisen said. “When I read Vancouver rated always as the best city in the world—and people screaming about it—it makes me angry, almost.
“There is no need to glorify Vancouver in this way because it’s not a great city for a lot of people,” he continued. “It’s a city where lots of people struggle.”
Feldeisen is a big promoter of food banks, noting that even a small donation can go a long way. He often tells people that a $10 gift can feed somebody for two days. When he speaks to students, he encourages them to spend an hour or two a month at their local food bank because that helps them better understand the issue of hunger.
“There is no shame to go to the food bank,” Feldeisen insisted.
He’s acutely aware of the rising cost of food. Even less expensive items, like red beets, have shot up in price, he noted.
“I think it’s squeezing a lot of people out of what they can eat,” Feldeisen said.
When asked for any cooking tips for Straight readers, he recommended buying a roasted chicken, which costs about $10 in grocery stores.
“We have a small family,” he said. “We can eat the breast or the legs the same night. We can do chicken salad. We can do chicken soup.”
He also makes chicken broth from the bones. “So with one chicken, I can make four meals,” Feldeisen said.