Serving a free, hot meal to the less fortunate has become a holiday tradition for two Brantford restaurateurs.
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DJ Grierson and her husband Ray Padamsey are the owners of Honey’s Bistro at 199 Brant Avenue in Brantford.
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On Christmas Day 2022 they served just over 100 people, which is how many they had anticipated would take part.
“On Thanksgiving (this year) we saw close to double the numbers,” Grierson explained. “We lost count after 175… and we ran out of food about 40 minutes before closing just because there was such an overwhelming response.
“That told us there’s definitely a need for it in the community, and it’s why we continue to provide it,” she said.
Honey’s Bistro will serve it’s Christmas lunch on Monday, December 25, from 1 to 3 pm with turkey and all the fixings in take-out containers. Guests are welcome to eat inside the restaurant that has a seating capacity of 50 people.
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The couple are preparing for about 200 to 250 people.
“We are looking at about 10 to 12 turkeys, 100 pounds of potatoes, 20 to 30 loaves of bread for stuffing, and vegetables,” Grierson noted. “Hopefully that’s enough to get us through the two-hour window.”
She said they are blessed to have received donations from the community to help make the Christmas meal possible.
“When we opened our restaurant, one of the things we wanted was to be a hub for our community,” Grierson shared. “We’ve received so much support from everyone around us and it’s the right thing to do to give support back to people that need it.”
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