Eight local restaurants in Nanaimo and Lantzville are offering up prime food experiences, in support of Loaves and Fishes Community Food Bank. (Submitted photos)

By Alex Rawnsley

do some good

Nanaimo restaurants raffling food experiences in support of Loaves and Fishes Food Bank

Dec 23, 2025 | 5:30 AM

NANAIMO — Eight local restaurants, eateries and treat-based favourites are coming together in support of a local food bank.

Mahle House, Chefs Course, Black Rabbit Kitchen and Attic, Camas Restaurant, Smokin’ George’s BBQ, La Stella Trattoria, Kinsu Chocolates and Burnt Honey are offering up a variety of raffle prizes ranging from ice cream and chocolates to full dining experiences, with proceeds going to Nanaimo Loaves and Fishes Food Bank.

Craig Brimble, front of house manager at Mahle House, told NanaimoNewsNOW they wanted to not only showcase the local food scene, but do it in a way where everyone benefits.

“Instead of just offering gift cards and one-dimensional objects, we’ve all come together and put forward our best dining experiences. The Wednesday adventure menu is very popular at Mahle House, we’re doing that for four people. Luke, through Chef Course, is doing a four people, four-course meal in their own home, which is worth up to $1,200.”

Tickets are available online, by clicking here, for $20 each, or five for $80.

Best in Sport

Nanaimo celebrates Sport Achievement Awards and Hall of Fame inductions

2h ago

ROAD WORKS

Another multi-hour closure planned for Hwy. 4 at Cameron Lake

7h ago

Bruender Magic

Clippers top Chiefs in overtime thriller

9h ago

Brimble hopes to sell out by the Jan. 19 end date, which would mean $20,000 raised for the community food bank.

The draw date is Jan. 22 at Mahle House in Cedar.

“We know that Loaves and Fishes has been struggling with donations. I think they’re down 20 per cent [in donations] and then up 15 per cent in need, they’re trying to build a new facility. As much as it is great to donate food, I think for us, the idea was to just try and generate as much capital as we could.”

Brimble added it was an easy pitch to make to each establishment, saying he sent out text to all the owners and almost instantly got back eight “yes'”

“They’re all friends of ours and they’re all amazing. We’ve got such a talented food scene right now, chefs that have been born and raised here and gone to England and Australia and Amsterdam and working in Michelin restaurants, and then bringing that craft back here.”

As of publishing, over $4,000 had been raised since tickets went on sale on Saturday, Dec. 20.

Supporting restaurants and some of the prizes on offer. (Submitted photo)

Local news. Delivered. Free. Subscribe to our daily news wrap and get our top local stories delivered to your email inbox every evening.

info@nanaimonewsnow.com

Follow us on: Twitter (X) | Bluesky | Facebook