Dec. 23 is the last day of eat-in dining at the Fork and Plate Family Grill in Innisfil, before the new lock-down orders take effect and the restaurant goes back to take-out, curbside pick-up and delivery only.
Technically, the restaurant could stay open on Christmas eve, but owners Deb, Ralph and Shea Burton have other plans.
On Thursday, with the help of Santa and Mrs. Claus, and a group of volunteers, they will be delivering 340 turkey dinners, plus Christmas breakfast packages and toys for children, to local families in need.
The annual turkey dinner giveaway has been a Fork and Plate tradition for over a decade. It began one year when Deb and Ralph discovered they were going to be alone for Christmas. As restaurateurs, they tried to volunteer for a local soup kitchen program, “but no one would take us,” said Deb. “So we decided we would do this for Innisfil.”
That first year was a little “extreme,” she admitted. Not only did the Burtons open their doors to families and individuals in need, and serve up a free Christmas dinner at the restaurant, they also provided “food for cats and dogs, Christmas trees for those who didn’t have a tree – we even had lights for the trees - and everyone got a present.”
This year is a little different. Due to COVID, no-one will be dining in. Instead, the Burtons, volunteer drivers with the Innisfil Beach Cruisers, and Santa and Mrs. Claus will be delivering turkey dinners, breakfast bags, and presents for the children, to families on their list.
“Santa is doing all the children. He’s going to be a busy guy,” said Deb, noting that her son Shea and some of his friends (dressed as reindeer) will help make the deliveries.
It’s a huge logistical effort. Not only did the Burtons get in touch with people recommended by organizations that included Innisfil Seniors’ Wish group, local school principals, and Barrie & District Christmas Cheer, they had to use Google Maps to plan out the delivery route.
“The presents are all wrapped, the breakfast bags are done, and hopefully the turkey will be ready,” all in time for Christmas Eve, said Deb.
It has been a difficult year. “Right now, we give away more free food than we sell,” she noted – something that began at the start of the pandemic shut-down, in March.
The Fork and Plate had approximately $3,500 in fresh food sitting in its refrigerators when the Province issued the order for restaurants to close.
The Burtons held a “Tupperware party” with their staff, who were facing layoffs, and sent the food home with them, as a boost until the first emergency cheques from the government came through.
When the restaurant did reopen late in April, for take-out and curbside pick-up only, they donated all tips and gratuities to the Innisfil Food Bank – a donation that reached $3,000.
With all of the closures, limited hours and sales, it could have been too much of a stretch to host the annual Turkey Dinner give-away, if not for loyal Fork and Plate customers, and Scott Dallimore of Sandycove Marine, who provided financial support.
“He’s our angel,” said Deb.
So the Fork and Plate, which decorated for Christmas to bring some cheer to its customers, is open on the 23rd but closed on Christmas Eve – except for Turkey Dinner take-out orders, and the annual Turkey Dinner give-away.
The Fork and Plate family grill reopens for take-out, curbside pick-up, and delivery by What’s For Dinner during the week of Jan. 7. With COVID restrictions in place, the restaurant will only be open from 4 to 8 p.m., Thursdays through Sunday.
Customers are asked to check the curbside menu (click here), and place their orders at 705-431-0432 or online at [email protected]. Payment is by Visa, Mastercard or debit – no cash can be accepted at this time.
The curbside menu includes garlic bread, salads, sandwiches, burgers, and favourite dishes that include Fish and Chips, Steak, Baby Beef Liver with mashed potatoes; alcohol is available. There is also a weekly special, posted every Weds. on Facebook.
“It’s a struggle,” admitted Deb. “We’re managing. I’m not happy about having to shorten our staff hours, because they’re struggling too.”
But with no eat-in for the foreseeable future, and only limited business – no Mother’s Day, no Lobster Fest, and “New Year’s Eve is toast,” said Deb – there is no choice.
“We’ve had a very big year of giving, and not a very big year of selling food,” Deb added. “We care about our community. Our regular customers are so loyal – without them, we wouldn’t be here.”
The Fork and Plate family grill is located at 2383 Sideroad 25 in Alcona.
