Diners at the Fairmont Waterfront on April 13 will be doing more than indulging in an exquisite four-course meal; they’ll also be helping a group of inner-city students go on a cultural exchange later this year.

Full proceeds from the $75 dinner and cash bar will be going toward program costs for the Grade 7 class at Britannia Elementary School, a tier-one inner-city school in the heart of Commercial Drive. Twenty-seven students will visit Wabasca Hamlet, an indigenous community in northern Alberta, approximately 125 kilometres from Slave Lake. For most of them, the week-long trip will be the first time they will have travelled outside Vancouver.

It’s the third year that Grade 7 teacher Justin Borsato has spearheaded the Kid’Chen event, but the first that it has been held outside the school gym.

Everything is being donated to help the students reach their goal, from the labour at the Fairmont Waterfront to food and linen from suppliers to audio-visual equipment by PSAV. Even the hotel’s general manager, Ken Flores, will be donning an apron to help the students serve dinner.

The kids have already been on a field trip to the Waterfront, where the banquet team taught them how to fold napkins, arrange place settings, and wait on tables. They also met with executive chef Karan Suri, who will be leading a team of volunteers in the kitchen, to discuss menus and see the kitchen. 

On the big day, the students will return to the hotel assist with prep and have dinner before the evening gets underway. 

“The event provides the students with an outstanding experience,” Borsato told the Straight. “The exposure to the professionalism of the Fairmont staff and ignites the interest of the students. They begin to see themselves as chefs, servers, and managers. They observe the inner workings of the hotel business, and they are inspired to be a part of its many departments. 

“My philosophy as a teacher is to expose my students to a wide array of experiences which will enhance their futures,” he adds. “I believe that traveling is vital to expose students to a world beyond their own. The experiences outside of their own neighbourhoods have been valuable in shaping their futures and are among their fondest memories of their education.”

Every year, Borsato’s class travels somewhere outside Vancouver for a cultural exchange. Over the past 13 years, students have been to Quebec, Ontario, Saskatchewan, Alberta, Vancouver Island, the Shuswap, and northern B.C. 

Where possible, funds from the Kid’Chen evening also go toward other expenses.

“I also use funds to pay for classroom computers, clothing, shoes, community programming, groceries, Christmas hampers, and a variety of field trips and buses throughout the year,” Borsato says. “As a designated tier one inner-city school…fundraising is imperative.”

The menu features: spring pea and mint soup with crisp chickpeas; shaved-asparagus-and-arugula salad with honey-lemon dressing; pan-seared B.C. salmon with dill-and-sour-cream potatoes, heritage carrots, and sorrel emulsion; and dark-chocolate-and-caramel-ganache tart with seasonal berries and white chocolate crèmeux.

“Food brings everyone together,” Suri told the Straight. “The essence of dining as one big family supporting each other inspires us to do this event. Being able to help the kids financially is one thing, but being able to connect with them, show them what we do every day, and get them excited about that is just priceless for me and everyone that is involved.”

Flores, meanwhile, said that the hotel actively supports youth initiatives such as this and others, like the Growing Chefs program.

“Our staff volunteers, myself included, are thrilled to provide both expertise and hands-on support for the Britannia Elementary Grade 7 class,” Flores said. “We believe in supporting our local community. This event supports a great educational experience for all.”

Tickets for the Britannia dinner, which starts at 6:30 p.m., can be reserved through Borsato at jborsato@yahoo.com.