Charity brunch in restaurant Francesco good for power generators for Ukraine (Antwerp)
In the Italian restaurant, Francesco, the world-famous chef Arthur Ivanets, takes care of the culinary delights. Deeling will prepare a benefit brunch on Sunday 27 November. The proceeds are used to buy power generators for Ukraine, among other things.
The restaurant of manager Francesco Bedetta (63) closely follows the war events in Eastern Europe. He therefore feels very involved in the suffering that the violence of war entails. That commitment gets a happy birthday in the restaurant. Both the kitchen and the service in the restaurant support war refugees with a lot of catering experience. They were brought to our country via the Antwerp Françoise Druguet (44).
Françoise Druguet lived for a long time in the current capital Budapest, where she owns her own apartment and also rents out other apartments. With the outbreak of war on 24 February, a large stream of refugees arose, including to Budapest. Françoise Druguet: “At my house, some volunteers and I collected hundreds of sandwiches. We led them to the aid tents where the war refugees approached. As far as I know Anna Malysh (23). She had fled Odessa with her cat Hunter. They had found a small apartment and I took care of some bed linen and other things. It clicks between us.”
In conversations it soon came to light that Anna already had several years of catering experience. That did not fall on pigeon ears. Françoise Druguet knew that Francesco Bedetta was looking for suitable personnel. “I know Francesco from when he had an Italian restaurant in Antwerp where I was a customer at home. When I contacted him, he was immediately pleased that Anna could work for him in his business.
Anna herself cannot be present at the meeting because she is taking an intensive Dutch language course. Francesco Bedetta: “When we met Anna here in the restaurant, I immediately knew that she would be an asset to the restaurant. The language is not a problem, because the vast majority of our customers speak English, just like Anna. They have now been working for more than four months.”
international chef
Around the same time, the chef of restaurant Francesco quit and the manager had to look for a new chef. That is no sinecure these days. Through connections of Françoise Druguet in Budapest, she came into contact with chef Arthur Ivanets (31). He was keen to get started in Kapellen. For a little over a month he has been taking care of all the culinary aspects in restaurant Francesco.
Arthur Ivanets: “I have worked in both Ukraine and Russia. There I was sous chef at the Pinch restaurant in Moscow for three years. Chef Luigi Magni also had a restaurant in Tokyo and brought a lot of Asian influences from there. It is not surprising that I also use my knowledge here in Kapellen.” Owner Francesco Bedetta is not sad about that. “He gives this restaurant added value”, he readily admits.
Discount brunch
Françoise Druguet, restaurant manager Francesco Bedetta and the female employees are offering a benefit brunch on Sunday 27 November. Between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. you can enjoy two glasses of wine or prosecco, water and coffee, some tasty Italian dishes and a delicious dessert. The chef also provides some musical culinary surprises. Brunch costs 56 euros per person and the proceeds go entirely to aid in Ukraine.
Reservations for brunch in restaurant Francesco, Kapelsestraat 92 can be made via Françoise Druguet: 0496.21.40.25
(Erik Vandewalle)