Weekly barbecue on Downtown Eastside emphasizes community and respect

The Heart Tattoo Society began as a food-recovery program during the pandemic, and now it is serving thousands of hot meals on the Downtown Eastside (DTES) weekly.

The group recovers about 50 tonnes of food every month. Professional chefs then turn the donations from local grocery stores and businesses into nutritious meals, and the menu is different every week.

“Every one of us has multiple years of culinary experience,” said community events chef Trevor Walsh.

“We know what flavours go well together. We know what people like here, and replicate without making it boring.”

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The society says the meals focus on food security, food recovery, and education, bringing home-cooked, “barbecue-style” meals to the community every Thursday.

“It’s a beautiful thing,” said Heart Tattoo co-founder Evan Reeks. “The idea that it feeds so many, it connects so many businesses, people… the social connectedness is beyond anything I could imagine.”

The non-profit prides itself on giving the community it serves the power of choice.

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“Dignity in choice, when we allow people to pick proteins, sauces, side dishes… it allows people to have autonomy over their dining experience,” Reeks said.

Thanks to the hard work of staff and over a hundred volunteers, the weekly barbecues have become a staple on the DTES.

“It’s a little oasis in this neighbourhood,” Reeks said.