Chef Challenges and Free Lunch for the Community
Chef Challenges & Free Lunches
Since April, POP ROC has teamed up with residents in SPACE and amazing chefs to serve the community free lunch on the fourth Friday of the month. In April and May, we served roughly 125 free lunches. That is 125 individuals who may or may not have had the resources to eat that day. We know what that is like.
“In 2020, an estimated 1 in 8 Americans were food insecure, equating to over 38 million Americans, including almost 12 million children.” shares Hunger and Health. According to Foodlink, on a local level in Monroe county alone, this equates to a food insecurity rate of 13.2 percent, or 98,830 estimated number of food insecure individuals, and a child food insecurity rate of 19.1 percent, or an estimated 31,060.
The need to feed has been exacerbated by the pandemic and has significantly slowed the progress of reaching the United Nations Sustainable Development goal number two, zero hunger, by 2030.
Bottom line. People are hungry. So on the fourth Friday of every month, from 12pm to 1pm at 45 Euclid St, expect to be served an exceptional meal for free.
To add some flavor, fun and joy to this event, we’ve turned this into a Chef Challenge. The “challenge” is, the chef gets the main ingredients one week ahead of time. Then they have to create something for 75-100 people out of it.
“The idea came as we've been volunteering to cook hundreds of meals a week through the pandemic for a mobile food truck ministry that goes out faithfully every week to feed those in need. The Father’s Heart mobile food truck ministry has helped thousands of families through feeding their hearts, souls and belly."
When we show up, oftentimes we have no idea what we’re making until that day. We take it seriously and try to make delicious meals out of whatever gets donated. It can be a challenge, but we’re always making something delicious with the opportunity.”
Pastry Chef, Mina Rivazfar-Hoyt joins us on June 24th for our third “Free Lunch Friday”!
"I grew up in a very large Iranian American family. Food has always been the biggest part of my life. I have a strong passion for baking and a love for cooking. My father is an excellent cook and as was my mother. My mother gave me the incredible knowledge of baking as a young child. I decided to go to We-Mo-Co to sharpen my skills to a more professional level at the age of 15. Ever since graduating in 2004 from Pastry school, I started my career off at Wegmans in 2003 after leaving Wegmans in 2010, I have worked at some of the best bakeries in Rochester which includes Donuts Delite and Jackson's Bakery. After many years of learning and growing in the industry, I opened Something Delicious Bake Shop in the South Wedge in 2015 after 3 years of growing the bakery I moved it to my hometown of Greece. I sold the business in 2020 to Phil and Stephanie Tomasso to accept a prestigious position at the University of Rochester. I am currently the Executive Pastry Chef at the University of Rochester with Harvest Table Culinary Group. I have competed on 4 Food Network shows including Bakers vs Fakers, Girl Scout Cookie Championship, Holiday Wars, The Big Bake as well as a Judge on Buddy vs Duff. I was also honored to be awarded Best Chef in Rochester in 2021. I have also had the honor of competing, for several years now, and winning numerous awards in the EPI's annual Chocolate Ball. I am so excited to be asked to do this. I absolutely love our community. Rochester has supported my family, my business, and me through the years and I am proud to give back to them any time I can! Let's see how well this Pastry chef can cook! Oh and GO BILLS!! "
Our family at POP ROC is incredibly grateful to the Chef’s who have donated their time to cook for our community. We are incredibly grateful to The Father’s Heart Ministry who continues to pour into our cup so we can pour out into our community. We are incredibly grateful to the residents in SPACE and other organizations like The Commissary Rochester Incubator Kitchen who have donated their time and space to increase our capacity to serve. Our mission is to share childlike faith, joy and wonder with everyone. Making sure no one goes hungry helps to alleviate worry and malnutrition, allowing people to have room to focus on other areas of their life. Thank you to those who help accomplish this mission each month.
Next month we will be serving on Friday, July 22nd with Chef Joseph Morey, also known as The Tatted Chef. He created “Rochester's best hot sauce” and enjoys connecting people through his love of tattoos, food & “Joe's Secret Stuff”.
In the past we have had incredible chefs participate. In May, Chef Phil Tomasso from Something Delicious Bake Shop joined us! He has won 2nd place on Food Networks "Guy's Chance Of A Lifetime", is a local First Responder, and a business investor! He continues to serve with us for other community events and we are so grateful for him!
In April, Chef Cruz kicked off the series. Cruz has emerged as one of the top chefs in the area and sells out almost anywhere and everywhere he goes. He’s a prolific powerhouse and it was a privilege to serve alongside him.