Since day one, our mission at Breaking Bread has been to provide a platform where independent food and beverage businesses could come together as a community to share stories, help each other spread the love and celebrate successes in the time of COVID-19.

In light of the indoor dining shutdown announced yesterday by the province of BC, we’re rallying around those who have had to close their dining rooms and redoubling our efforts to advocate for those who could benefit from a boost now more than ever.

We’re also showing solidarity for the restaurant vendors that feel the ripple effect from these closures — from fishermen to farmers, bakers to breweries, and so many more.

Please share with your network and tag @breakingbreadnow so that we can continue to shine a spotlight on your latest news and updates as they happen.

Stand tall. Stay strong. Show love. Support local.

COVID-19 has dealt yet another blow to the restaurant and foodservice industry in BC as the province today announced new restrictions that force bars and restaurants around the province to halt dine-in service until Monday, April 19.

As our good friend Iori Kataoka, Co-Owner of Yuwa Japanese Cuisine in Vancouver said following the announcement, “Today’s news is certainly disappointing as we were very strictly following all regulations, but as always we will adapt. We are in the final stretch and will work together to get through this.”

As they did last spring, the team at @yuwa_japanese will again shutter their Kitsilano dining room and refocus on their takeout and delivery programs as well as offering limited dinner service on its heated patio.

They will also continue to offer 30% off bottles of wine and sake for all pickup orders placed through the restaurant, which is open Wednesdays through Sundays.

Despite this setback, Iori maintains an attitude of hope and gratitude.

“Each change we’ve had to navigate has made us increasingly aware of the importance of community and we’re so grateful to have had the care and support of our guests throughout the past year,” she said. “We hope we can continue to find moments of connection with them on our patio and through take-out and delivery until the time is safe once again to welcome everyone back into our dining room.”

Stand tall. Stay strong. Show love. Support local.

An important message from @lienyeung, award-winning multimedia host and producer of CBC Vancouver News Saturdays and Sundays:

“From miso glazes to line-ups for dim sum, Vancouver’s food culture would be unrecognizable without the many contributions from Asian cuisines. Looking around, you’d think racism doesn’t happen here, but anti-Asian hate crimes rose 717% in a year in Vancouver — and that’s likely underreported.

Prejudice and bigotry aren’t new. You don’t have to be violently attacked to feel like an outsider. Even after generations of our families working heads down to lay roots, we are reminded that we still don’t belong.

“You cannot love our food, but remain silent when our communities are under attack. We are hurting. Stand with us and take action against racism and hate. Speak out and support those who do.”

We’ll be making a $250 donation on Lien’s behalf to The Vancouver Asian Film Festival Society’s (@vaffvancouver) charitable arm known as @elimin8hate, which provides an anonymous and safe reporting environment for Canadians of Asian ancestry experiencing racial attacks, consolidates public resources in an accessible format to victims and utilizes reported data for actionable change.

Stand tall. Stay strong. Show love. Support local.