Akiba is hosting a huge giveaway in December to celebrate 10 years of feeding Canberrans. Photo: Ben Calvert.
They say there’s no such thing as a free lunch, but how about dinner? Canberra institution Akiba is celebrating its 10th birthday with an epic giveaway to customers. The night also serves as the official launch party between Akiba and The Fly Program, a men’s mental health initiative.
Akiba co-owner Mike Harrington says the free dinner is an opportunity to thank Canberra for its continued support over the last 10 years.
“We are so grateful to have made it to 10 years in business and so proud of what we have achieved, having navigated intense times like COVID and more recently the cost-of-living crisis,” he says.
“We know we wouldn’t be here today if it wasn’t for the support of all our customers and we couldn’t think of a more perfect gesture to say thank you than by having one big birthday bash, serving up our entire food menu, free of charge.”
Diners can order anything off the menu (within reason) and will only pay for drinks. Photo: Ben Calvert.
On the night, there will be a first seating of VIPs and competition winners before the doors open at 7 pm to the broader public. Tables will be offered on a strictly ‘first come first served’ basis, and keen diners are encouraged to get in the queue early to secure their place.
Customers can order anything from the menu, but will only pay for their drinks. There will be no takeaways on the night. The team doesn’t want to see food wasted, so customers will be encouraged to order only as much as they can reasonably consume in the 1.5-hour sitting time.
And those waiting in the queue won’t go hungry either – bao buns and other entrees will be served to those in the line-up.
“We don’t know if we’ll be able to get through every single person who wants to dine on the night, so we want to make sure we treat everyone who has gone out of their way to join us for the celebrations,” Mike says.
Akiba’s Free For All dinner is also an opportunity to give back to those in the industry. Photo: Ben Calvert.
Diners are encouraged to donate to The Fly Program on the night. The Harvac Group – which owns and operates Akiba along with Loquita, Wilma and The Pearl – is throwing its support behind the charity in an effort to curb the impacts of poor mental health for men in the hospitality industry.
“Notoriously, hospitality has some of the worst mental health statistics in the country, with male chefs almost one-and-a-half times more likely to die by suicide in Australia than people in other professions,” Mike says.
“The partnership with The Fly Program for our 10th birthday is only the beginning of our efforts to reduce the effects hospitality has on men’s mental health. Next year, we plan on expanding this program to be able to take on participants from every hospitality venue in Canberra.”
The Fly Program takes men out on fly fishing trips to the Snowy Mountains to deliver mental fitness sessions surrounded by nature.
HARVAC group co-owners Mike Harrington, Dino Jugovac and Pete Harrington. Photo: Supplied/Akiba.
Over the last 10 years it’s estimated Akiba has served more than 1.56 diners (based on an average of 3000 per week). As for how many bao buns? We couldn’t possibly count them all!
The Free For All dinner will be held on Monday 23 December from 7 pm with diners encouraged to line up early to secure their table of up to five guests.
Akiba is located at 40 Bunda St, Canberra City.
Follow Akiba on Facebook or Instagram.
Original Article published by Lucy Ridge on Riotact.
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