Food for Thought: Making Mental Health Mainstream Brisbane - Has Ended

Five talented chefs. The debut dinner for Brisbane for Food for Thought, on of three dinners across three cities. One cause that affects millions. The annual Food for Thought Charity Dinner helps raise awareness of the crippling effects of anxiety and depression.

• All proceeds go to beyondblue and R U OK? Day, who provide information and support to help everyone in Australia achieve their best possible mental health.

• Five of Asutralia's best young chefs serve up a six-course set menu with a matching beverage at Smoked Garage, Brisbane

• The set menu is a collaborative effort with each chef creating one dish for the menu. The result is a delicious tasting menu that showcases the style and technique of each chef.

• Matching beverages are a unique pairing of beer and wine, including some craft beers and boutique wine producers.

On November 20th, a group of young, emerging chefs come together and create an exceptional seven-course degustation menu for a higher cause. Come and join them to support beyondblue at the annual Food for Thought Charity Dinner at Smoked Garage, Fortitude Valley. With 100% of profits going to support the charity, the dinner aims to increase understanding of depression and anxiety – conditions that greatly affect people in the hospitality industry.

Headed up by founder of Food for Thought, Mal Meiers from Food + Wine pop ups, (National Finalist Young Chef of the Year) the Brisbane line up of chefs include Joshua Gregory of Hunter Dining (Electrolux Australian Young Chef Finalist 2016 and San Pellegrino Young Chef Finalist), Cormac Bradfield of Gauge, Troy Crisante of Firedoor (Electrolux Australian Young Chef Runner-up 2016 and Timeout Hot Talent 2016), Shayne Mansfield (Ecco and Electrolux Australian Young Chef Finalist 2016). Top quality producers like PorkStar Australia, Wa Geraldton Kingfish, Ora King Salmon, Game Farm Quail and local beer and wine producers have also signed up to help out with this great cause.

With the effects of depression and anxiety hitting close to home for so many around him, Mal Meiers decided to help raise awareness the best way he knew how. So he launched Food for Thought, and with the support of a close circle of chef friends the first dinner was held in Melbourne at Federation Square in 2014.

“In our (hospitality) industry we do witness the effects that long hours, high-pressure work environments and an often ‘just deal with it’ attitude can have, causing those suffering from anxiety and depression not to speak out. Having personally faced this, I felt a huge importance to support this cause; hence the creation of these dinners which sparked from my own experience with depression,” says Mal Meiers.

With over 3 million Australians currently suffering from the effects of mental illness, the struggle is often one of solitude with only 35% of people affected seeking help. In Australia the leading cause of death for males and females aged between 15 to 44 is suicide, with close to 8 people a day taking their own life. To further encourage conversation and help break down the stigma surrounding mental health, Food for Thought is expanding to Sydney this year, holding the first dinner in King Street Wharf.

“My hope is to help broaden the awareness of the support that is available to not only my peers but to the wider community for all those who suffer in silence,” Meiers relates.