Vancouver photographers capture behind-the-scenes images of local restaurants for food-service fundraiser, to May 31
Proceeds from Breaking Bread’s Behind the Plexi photography fundraiser will go to scholarships for hospitality workers
Douce Diner. Photo by Luis Valdizon
A NEW COLLABORATIVE photo essay of Vancouver dining spots has come together to support local restaurant workers in the face of COVID-19.
Four photographers captured scenes at 33 popular eateries to form the collection for Behind the Plexi, a photography fundraiser. A series of limited-edition prints are available for purchase until May 31.
Behind the Plexi is a collaboration by Breaking Bread—a non-profit initiative launched in March 2020 to help independent food and beverage businesses navigate and respond to the the pandemic—and Vancouver restaurateur Brad Roark of Nook and Oddfish.
Roark came up with the idea after being inspired by a similar photo-essay fundraiser called Lockdown 2.0, which Toronto restaurateur Jody Shapiro launched earlier this year to support food-service businesses in the region.
Buckstop. Photo by Wade Comer
The local photographers who donated their talent and time are Wade Comer, Miranda Hudson, William Luk, and Luis Valdizon.
Participating Behind the Plexi restaurants include Argo Cafe, Ask For Luigi, Beetbox, Buckstop, Café Medina, Chancho Tortilleria, Chinatown BBQ, Como Taperia, Douce Diner, Dynasty Seafood Restaurant, España, Farina a Legna, Flourist, Gain Wah, Gon's Izakaya, Hook Seabar, Kula Kitchen, La Quercia, Livia, Main Street Brewing, Mister, New Town Bakery, Nook Denman, Nook Kitsilano, Oddfish, Papi's Oyster Bar, Quan Ju De, St. Lawrence, Strange Fellows Brewing, Tavola, Torafuku, Yu Shang Hot Pot, and Yuji's From Japan.
Proceeds from the sale of each print will go toward the creation of two new scholarships for restaurant workers who have experienced employment set-backs due to COVID-19, one via the BC Hospitality Foundation and the other through the Chinese Restaurant Awards’ scholarship at Vancouver Community College. The Chinese Restaurant Awards will also contribute $10 for every print sold from photos taken at Chinese and Taiwanese restaurants.
Livia. Miranda Hudson photo
“Behind the Plexi aims to capture the very essence of this period of time — a time of determination and resolve in which we need to stick together, support one another and keep going until we can come out on the other side,” Roark said in a release.
Since it started last spring, Breaking Bread has grown from 23 restaurants to a roster of more than 2,380 businesses across the country. The platform allows consumers wanting to support local restaurants during the pandemic to easily find places offering contactless delivery, curbside pick-up, take-out options, meal kits, and groceries and more in their area. It was the first such effort in the country.
More information is at Behind the Plexi.
Dynasty Seafood Restaurant. Photo by William Luk
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