Restaurants appeal for community help to overcome the ‘apocalypse’

A collective of Tasmanian eateries planning to set up an online delivery platform is facing a raft of challenges in its mission.

A COLLECTIVE of Tasmanian restaurateurs attempting to claw their way out of the COVID-19 “apocalypse” is asking for community help after being stumped by roadblocks.

The humorously named Apocalypse Eating Association plans to build an online delivery platform similar to Uber Eats, featuring all-Tasmanian produce.

The group also hopes to hire out-of-work hospitality workers, share resources and information with Tasmania’s food industry, and form a group to advocate on its behalf.

WHICH TASSIE EATERY CAN YOU HELP OUT TODAY?

Apocalypse Eating set up a “fun and delicious” pop-up guest chef takeaway at Hobart CBD restaurant Oddfellows, in Victoria St, last week and is about to embark on a food relief program for hospitality workers doing it tough.

But Oddfellows owner Chloe Proud said setting up Future Feeders, using an Uber Eats-style platform, had proven to be economically “overwhelming”.

“A lot of us aren’t set up to do takeaway food,” she said.

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Oddfellows owner Chloe Proud, left, with chef Jamie Yates. Picture: RICHARD JUPE

Ms Proud said the type of government support available during the pandemic wasn’t geared towards resourcing venues with workers, and the collective was now wading through thick red tape to set itself up as a volunteer-run, not-for-profit advocacy organisation.

“We are consequently still working away on an online setup for distribution that not only represents the venues that are offering takeaway and pick-up options but also begin to use this as a platform to access funding,” Ms Proud said.

She said the group was about to launch its food relief kitchen, with donated Tasmanian produce, to help unemployed hospitality workers with a “tonne of great chefs” volunteering their time.

“There are large pockets of people needing simple food and financial relief that aren’t receiving support from the government and it makes sense to us to use those that can make delicious, cost-effective and nutritious food as effectively as these skilled professionals can,” she said.

To donate to the Apocalypse Eating Association, visit www.aeat.org.au