Shannon Martinez creates $4 cook off for Dine with Heart campaign

18 April 2019

2019 Dine with Heart Ambassador Shannon Martinez

Smith & Daughters Co-owner and Head Chef, Shannon Martinez will challenge some of Melbourne’s most prolific culinary characters to develop a $4 meal series, raising funds and awareness for Sacred Heart Mission’s Dining Hall, during Dine with Heart month this May.

Martinez joins Chris Watson (Meatsmith), Dave Verheul (Embla), Andrew Fisk (Bomba), Alejandro Saravia (Pastuso), Dai Duong (Uncle), Danny Tonin (Pasta Classica), Elena Rosa (Smith & Deli), Jerry Mai (Pho Nom) Joseph Abboud (Bar Saracen) and Victor Liong (Lee Ho Fook) in getting behind Dine with Heart in its sixth consecutive year.

Dubbed The $4 Cook Off, Martinez will develop a $4 recipe to be recreated by fundraisers at home then, throw the challenge to fellow chefs to do the same.

Martinez was inspired to support the cause because when you’re experiencing homelessness, naturally, nutrition takes a backseat and if you are not eating right it exacerbates everything else going on.

Dine with Heart – a meal is just the beginning

“It costs Sacred Heart Mission $4 to provide a nutritious meal for people experiencing homelessness visiting its Dining Hall. I thought that’s so doable; creating low-cost, delicious meals if you know how,’” Martinez said.

“The idea is simple – host a dinner party, recreate a $4 meal and raise funds for people living with chronic disadvantage. I know I can get other chefs involved – who knows, there might even be a book down the track.

“Many people struggle to access enough food, let alone the right food. Sacred Heart Mission -provides more than 146,000 – nutritious, hearty meals every year.”

Part of Martinez’s involvement will be the delivery of a Market Tour and Food Preparation Masterclass for Sacred Heart Mission clients.

“I recently ate fast food out of necessity – I was really surprised at how much it costs,” Martinez said.

“As a chef, I’m fortunate to be able to make nutritious, tasty food on the cheap. I hope I can pass on some of my knowledge and have a positive effect on people’s lives.”.

Dine with Heart month runs throughout the month of May and asks the public to host fundraising events @Home, @Work or @School.

For more than 36 years, the Dining Hall is one of the many ways Sacred Heart Mission connects with some of the most marginalised people in the community. It is a ‘one-stop-shop’ where people can get as little or as much support as they need.

Dine with Heart brings people together, over food, in support of our Dining Hall and the fundraising throughout May provides food for the most vulnerable people in our community.

Homelessness has reached crisis point in Australia. One in 200 people are experiencing homelessness. Sacred Heart Mission works with some of the most vulnerable in our community, but our services and support are sustained by a deep pool of generosity and support from the community.