WOW! It has been a really long time since I had time to sit down and tell you about the wonderful things we have been up to at RANL. Time seems to be flying!
In a later post I will give you the updates on all of the activity but today I want to tell you about a fantastic program we have started with Daffodil Place.
First, for those who don’t know, Daffodil Place is a hotel really, built for people in Newfoundland Labrador who have to travel to St. John’s for cancer treatment. There are currently 24 rooms… not nearly enough really… housing up to 48 people, who are fed 3 times a day and taxied to and from the hospital. The whole operation focuses on whole-health, body and spirit. There are in-services held most days of the week, so residents have things to do and interests to foster. All of this is done by monies raised through charity. It is an amazing operation which Executive Director Matthew Piercey calls “home” to the staff, as well as the residents.
So… several months ago in a meeting about something else completely, Al Pelley (the man who keeps money coming into Daffodil Place) and I came up with this great idea… lets get some chefs to come in once a month and teach the residents how to choose good food to help in their recovery, and how to cook this food to make it delicious, as well as nutritious.
It came together pretty quickly. I made a few phone calls to a bunch of chefs and they all said yes…without hesitation!
From left to right: Kris Gaudet of The Delta, Stephanie Chaulk and Jeremy Charles of Raymonds, Todd Perrin of Chef’s Inn, Roary Macpherson of Sheraton Hotel NL, Andrea Maunder and Mike Barsky of Bacalao, Nick Jewczyk of Canvas Cove Bistro, Shaun Hussey of Chinched Bistro, Brian Piercy of Glenndenning Golf, Andrew Hodge of Holiday Inn, Steven Gugelmeier of The Delta, Gary Gosse of Harbour Breeze catering and Dennis Davis of Sophia’s Inn (Missing from the pic: Brian Piercy of Celtic Hearth/Bridie Molloy’s (congrats on the brand new baby girl Chloe), Chris Sheppard of Bonavista Institute, Roger Andrews of CNA and Relish Gourmet Burgers)
Matthew Piercey opened the launch with a welcome that showed the passion he and his entire team has for this place.
St. John’s West MHA Dan Crummel was there on behalf of the government.
Nancy Brace of RANL , Roary MacPherson of the Chef’s Association and Leo Gosse of TC Media (all partners in this project with Daffodil Place) 
told everyone about the program, and Al Pelley of The Cancer Society NL spoke of this partnership.
There was a great turnout of residents, other invited guests and the media who were told about the partnerships, about the garden that is underway at Daffodil Place and how this program will use the vegetables grown in the garden.
The food was fantastic and everyone was very excited about these partnerships and the Cooking for Life program.
Brad Power of Dept of Fisheries and Aquaculture, MHA Dan Crummell, and Al Pelley of Cancer Society chat during the launch of Cooking for Life.
Staff and residents rave about the food and the program!
What a great idea. So happy to see that all went well and everybody enjoyed the fine cooking and the eating. Here’s to continued success with the program. Cheers!!!!!!
Gerry