Local chocolatier, Edna MacLeod served as the Burger of the Month Guest Chef at the Lacombe Cilantro and Chive location and helped deliver $764 to the Lacombe Food Bank on Jan. 7.
“MacLeod is the owner of Oodles of Chocolates in downtown Lacombe, she’s a master at creating decadent treats, and has a heart of gold! She helped create the “Holy Moly” which included grilled marinated chicken breast, guajillo mole sauce, grilled pineapple, iceberg lettuce, onion, and beefsteak tomato, on a garlic butter toasted brioche bun with a cherry tomato,” said Kim Kay, community relations with Cilantro and Chive.
Macleod’s inspiration for the burger is sweet and timely as families navigate the holiday season.
“Many years ago, I worked in a small grocery store in Red Deer. One day, shortly before Christmas, an older man came into the store and asked me if he gave me $100 if I would put together everything one would need for a turkey dinner and deliver it to an address he provided. I said sure and quickly put together all the fixings for a delicious Christmas dinner along with some extra treats,” said MacLeod.“After work I grabbed the box and headed off to the address he had provided. I walked up to the door and rang the doorbell. A young man answered the door with two small children in tow. I handed him the box and told him the story about the man coming into the store.”
She said that, with tears running down his face the man thanked her profusely and told her he had thought that there would not be a Christmas dinner.
Knowing and appreciating that life circumstances can change for any of us at any time leaving one in a position where you may need help to put food on the table, MacLeod points to the importance of supporting the Lacombe Food Bank to make sure no one ever goes hungry.
“I have never forgotten that experience. First, the trust that man placed in me to not take the money and run and secondly the look on that young Dad’s face.”