A mysterious pop-up restaurant gave influencers food for thought when their dining experience took an emotional turn.
The exclusive event was live for just two days and was attended by TikTok influencers, YouTubers, TV personalities and Instagram favourites. Whilst half of the guestlist were treated to fine dining, the other half left just as hungry as when they arrived.
The experience was in fact an ‘alternative’ dining experience organised by child-focused NGO World Vision UK to launch their campaign to end child hunger and malnutrition, ENOUGH. The global campaign aims to highlight that there is enough food in the world to feed everyone, but far too many people, including many children, are still going without.
Guests dined in pairs and were given strict instructions not to share their food. This meant that whilst one guest was served elegant contemporary servings, their ‘plus one’ was served crumbs of stale bread, miniature food portions, and watched their main go up in smoke.
To round off the experience, the mysterious chef produced a clear message of meaning at the end of the meal, explaining that the experience had been unfair for a reason – to show how unequal access to food is experienced by many people, including children, in the world. After their dining experience, the influencers were served a message of reality: ‘if this felt unfair, that’s because it was. There is enough food on the planet to nourish every person and every child and yet some still cannot access it. Please join us in saying Enough is Enough.’
The message provoked reactions of shock and some guests were moved to tears. Others took inspiration from the event, vowing to do more to help and make a difference.
Love Island star Lochan Nowacki attended the event and said: “It was definitely a different experience. We didn’t know what to expect, but the ambiance and eeriness of it took me off guard.
“This event clearly showcased the disparity between poverty and people experiencing starvation and those who aren’t. It was hard for me being given all of this food and having so much excess, and not being allowed to share. It showcased really well the point, that too many kids are struggling in the world because they don’t have enough to eat when there is plenty to go around. It was a unique experience that I definitely won’t forget. It has been an eye opener, especially when I heard the statistics. This is a serious issue and there is a lot we can all do to help.” said Lochan.
World Vision UK is calling on the public to join them in saying there is ENOUGH food in the world to feed everyone.
Fola Komolafe, CEO World Vision UK said: “The world produces around 8 billion tonnes of food per year. There is enough food to nourish every girl, boy, woman, and man on the planet, yet for the first time in decades the number of children at risk of death from malnutrition is rapidly increasing.”
“No child should be going hungry when there are enough resources in the world to feed them. It is a crisis that could be averted with enough public and political will. It is time for us to come together and say ‘enough is enough’. We can, and we must do more to end child hunger now.”
See the video of World Vision’s pop-up restaurant, Assez [insert link to video]
ENDS
Editors Notes
For more information, please contact [email protected]
The food was created by Keiron George , a former Bake Off Professionals contestant. Web: https://www.keirongeorge.com/
The role of the Chef during the experience was played by Magical Bones, a Britain’s Got Talent semi-finalist. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cnE3_otFGSs
For further information on World Vision UK, please visit World Vision UK’s Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and YouTube.
At World Vision, our focus is on helping the world’s most vulnerable children overcome poverty and experience fullness of life. For over 70 years, we have worked together with communities – of all faiths and none – even in the most dangerous places, inspired by our Christian faith.
With 70 years of experience, we’ve learned how to bring hope to children and communities in some of the world’s most poor and dangerous places. Thanks to our supporters globally, we work in almost 100 countries and have changed the lives of over 200 million children in the past five years alone.
When you give to World Vision, you know your donations will be well spent, for the greatest impact. We always work alongside communities, with a focus on the most vulnerable children and families helping them overcome poverty and experience fullness of life. So, you know your donations will go to the children in greatest need.
We empower communities and guide them to set their own goals and equip them so that progress made is sustained, and continued, long after we’ve left.
Find out more about the global hunger crisis on World Vision UK’s blog – Transforming lives in DRC.
