Blackfriars Restaurant honours its Dominican heritage, raises awareness of food waste and raises £1000 for regional charity The Cyrenians

Yesterday more than 40 guests from around the region enjoyed a beautiful four course banquet courtesy of Blackfriars Restaurant and The Cyrenians’ social enterprise, FareShare NE, a food re-distribution company. Fittingly, set in the historic monks’ banqueting hall, previously inhabited by Dominican Friars from 1239, Andy Hook, managing director of Blackfriars Restaurant and Banqueting Hall, was keen to carry on the tradition of helping people in need. Six trainees from The Cyrenians’ Employment Service were chosen to benefit from a once in a lifetime opportunity of training with Andy and his Blackfriars’ team to prepare and serve the food for the day. Andy, who is passionate about the issue of food waste, wanted to demonstrate how perfectly good food which would otherwise go to landfill, could be used to create a wonderful banquet fit for all. Andy said: “Working with The Cyrenians’ Fareshare NE food and trainees has been a great experience. I've really enjoyed working with six trainees who all expressed an interest in working within the catering industry, and it’s really important they have current volunteering experience for their CV. Together, we explored cooking techniques and menu ideas using the Fareshare NE food that we were given.  We believe we came up with a stunning menu using ingredients such as guinea fowl for a game casserole and fruit for a stunning home-made trifle which our guests thoroughly enjoyed. I'm now a complete convert to the food waste cause and am determined more than ever to do all I can to help fight food poverty in the North East.” Baroness Hilary Armstrong of Hilltop, The Cyrenians’ Chair of Trustees, attended the banquet.  Hilary said: “Events like these are immensely important in helping us to promote the vital work of organisations like The Cyrenians and their Fareshare NE food re-distribution company. “The menu was exquisite and we know the trainees have thoroughly enjoyed their time with Andy and his Blackfriars team.  The trainees have taken much away from this experience; it has boosted their confidence and self esteem, as well as offering a great addition to their CVs.” In the North East alone FareShare NE has re-directed over 180 tonnes of perfectly good food going to landfill in the last twelve months.  The food, which is given by both local and national food suppliers such as Sainsbury’s, Tesco and Greggs, then provides over 400,000 meals annually to people in need in the North East.  Groups such as school breakfast clubs and other community groups access Fareshare NE, helping to address the ever growing problem of food poverty in our region. Michael Shields, The Cyrenians, General Manager – Fareshare NE, said: “The need for our service continues to grow each month.  Already over 70 groups and charities access the service, receiving regular deliveries of food for their clients.  Projects such as food banks, hostels, day centres, women’s refuges and after school clubs across the region receive good quality food supplies from our social enterprise.  In turn this helps businesses save 90 tonnes of CO2 emissions per year by diverting the food from landfill. “As a social enterprise we are always looking for more food suppliers to support the scheme as well as people and organisations to sponsor a project to receive emergency food parcels.  We’d love to hear from anyone who is interested in knowing more and helping to fight food poverty in our region.” For more information and to support The Cyrenians, please visit www.thecyrenians.org or call 0191 273 8891. For more information about Blackfriars Restaurant and Banquet Hall, please visit www.blackfriarsrestaurant.co.uk or call (0191) 261 5945. Like Blackfriars Restaurant on Facebook and follow @blackfriarsrest on Twitter. Blackfriars Restaurant, Friars Street, Newcastle, NE1 4XN.