1M bowls of soup: Culinary challenge hoping to reduce food insecurity among Quebec children

One million bowls of soup, coming right up!

Over a thousand participants put on their chef hats for a good cause on Wednesday morning for the first edition of “La Grande Marmite” culinary challenge at Montreal’s Palais des congrès.

The challenge, known as “The Big Pot!” in English, is aimed at feeding elementary school children in Quebec, and hopes to also raise funds to help reduce food insecurity among young people.

“Everyone feels really, really happy,” said Chef and participant, Amine Labbi. “I never saw this many people volunteering for an event, especially a food-related event.”

“As a chef,” he added. “It’s beautiful for me to see that we can make as many meals for the kids.”

Organized by La Tablée des Chefs, the event saw participants from businesses, the community, as well as Quebec public figures, attempt to prepare as many ready-to-cook dry soup packets as possible in one hour.

The goal: to donate one million bowls of soup to be distributed to elementary schools in disadvantaged areas across Quebec.

“The mission is very simple,” said chef and television host, Ricardo Larrivée. “Feed people, educate the youth.”

“We want to make sure they’re able to feed themselves,” he added. “Work on their self-esteem, and you can’t go to school if you have an empty stomach.”

Once the countdown at the event began, the over 1,200 participants started happily making the soup packets.

“These bags will be redistributed to different organizations,” explained Larrivée. “To school, to educators, so the kids can go back home and have a soup with their family.”

The renowned chef, who is also the La Tablée des Chefs spokesperson, noted that one in every five children struggle with food insecurity in Canada.

“It’s the same problem across the country,” said Larrivée. “So we want to make sure that kids in Canada have something to eat.”

“If we want this next generation to be the one, we have to feed them.”

-Chef Ricardo Larrivée

“We’re doing it for a great cause,” said Labbi. “I think if we can make at least one person happy today, we will reach that goal.”

All funds raised through registrations will be used to fund soup servings as part of their Solidarity Soups program – and they reached their $450,000 goal.

Thanks to the participation of all the teams and the funds raised, around 60 new schools will be able to benefit from the program, La Tablée des Chefs explained.

“La Grande Marmite is proof that by joining forces, we can have a concrete and immediate impact on food insecurity among young people,” said Jean-François Archambault, founder and CEO of La Tablée des Chefs.

“Thanks to this challenge, we mobilized several hundred people who prepared soup for the children,” he added. “It’s powerful, it’s inspiring, and it brings hope.”

“This is why everyone is so excited,” said Larrivée. “It’s really Canadians for Canadians, this is how I see it.”

“And the first one they want to take care of are the kids.”

“I think when it’s food related, everyone is willing to help and to give back,” said Labbi. “At the end of the day, we all connect around the meal.”

“Food has always its place,” he added. “When it’s time to give back.”