Fredericton Restaurant Offers Free Meals For Frontline Workers
FREDERICTON – These days, Naz Ali, the head chef and co-owner of Caribbean Flavas, delivers food orders himself. When a customer pays him in cash, he washes the money with warm water and soap to make sure it’s clean.
“This is what we do to protect not only our staff and our family, and also our guests,” he said of the steps taken to maintain high hygiene levels during the COVID-19 pandemic.
When he goes out for deliveries, he wears a mask, gloves, and his outside uniform. The boxes of food are sealed with stickers that show the temperature of the staff member that made it. When supplies come into the restaurant, he sprays them down in a back room, where they’re left overnight to dry.
“Everything takes 30-times longer, but the community has been super chill. They’ve given us leeway if we come 10 minutes late, because they know why,” Ali said.
Safety is not the only aspect Caribbean Flavas is focused on. For the restaurant that’s been a staple in Fredericton’s downtown for many years, community is just as important.
That’s why it launched a Buy One Give One offering. When a customer buys a sandwich or a wrap from the COVID-19 section on its website, Caribbean Flavas matches that and delivers the food to essential, frontline workers. The sandwiches and wraps are what’s being offered because they’re easier to eat during busy times.
Ali says the pandemic has brought to the forefront the “heroes” of our communities: essential workers of all kinds.
“The garbage truck guy, the truckers who bring our food, the nurses, the doctors, the guy who bags your groceries at the grocery stores – those guys are there all the time,” he said. “Now we know there are so many people behind the scenes who’ve been working so hard and amidst this COVID-19 situation, these are the same people who are working to keep everybody else safe.”
In addition, he had in mind people who now have to choose between paying for utilities and buying food, while not being able to leave the house.
“So we said, you know what? For anybody who needs a meal, you can just go on the site and click ‘free meal.’ Boom. Done,” he said. “This is the time that we need to give, because of the environment that we’re in. The whole world is in this mode right now.”
The offerings are doubly important for Ali and his family, who are practicing Muslims. Starting April 23, they’re observing Ramadan, a holy month in which Muslims are encouraged to increase charity as they fast from dawn to dusk.
Usually, friends and families gather every night to break their fast and pray. Many also do charity work in the community. But things are different this year as mosques are closed, gatherings are restricted, and volunteer activities are limited due to physical distancing rules.
“It’s not going to be the same,” he said. “So how do we figure out a way to still do our part within the community and fulfill our duties as a Muslim? We figured, this is the best of both worlds.”
There’s been some take-up of the offer, with some customers even directly buying food for others. He then drops off those sandwiches, wraps and snacks to hospitals, grocery stores and other essential workplaces.
“Some people just said here’s $20 for the sandwiches, so that got them four sandwiches, and then I match another four sandwiches,” Ali said.
COVID-19 Impact On Business
Small businesses like Caribbean Flavas are on “survival mode” right now, Ali said. The restaurant has taken a major hit with a drop in sales and revenue.
“I’m talking close to 60-to-70 percent because our catering is zero, our office snacks program is at zero. Right now we’re just doing take out and delivery,” he said.
But an order or two is better than nothing, he said.
“It all adds up to the bottom line,” he said. “Because we still have rent to pay. We still have mortgage, car payments, just like everybody else. We’ve gotten a deferral [for the restaurant rent] but the deferral is going to hit me double next month.”
He tries to minimize the losses in the business and at home every way possible – cutting staff hours, opening seven days a week instead of five, and using timers so lights and heat are used efficiently, for example.
He says the pandemic has pushed restaurants to think outside the box and be resilient. For the Alis, support from community, including kind words sent their way, has helped them persevere.
“It’s a time to reflect and retool your whole thinking, your whole way of life,” Ali said. “We’re going to fight this thing. We’re going do our best as possible to ensure that…the people out there are fed properly with nutritious meals.”
“Most importantly, don’t give up hope. Keep that family bond alive,” he added. “Just support, support, support local as best as you can.”
In the meantime, Ali is finding joy in the little things, like his delivery runs.
“I’m learning different roads and side streets of the city. Today I got lost. I was like, ‘man, I live in Fredericton and I got lost?!'” he said laughing.
“I’ve got Bluetooth on my phone. I called more people within the past month than I’ve ever done, just reaching out and asking how are things. I’m like AT&T – ‘reach out and touch someone’.”