Keeping the momentum up after last year’s wildly successful first calendar, Offcuts 2017, Calgary’s finest stripped-down charity calendar, is officially off the presses and ready for purchase.
Once again the irreverant 12-month calendar is a celebration of Calgary’s restaurant and food scene, and also twelve of the fellas that infuse that scene with their winning personalities. They bravely let the clothes fall to show that they are more than just pretty faces. They also have big hearts that aren’t too proud to bare it all for a good cause.
This year’s list of Offcuts: Jay del Corro (Eats of Asia / Host, The Aimless Cook), Eric Giesbrecht (Meta4 Foods / OysterTribe), Colin Leach (The Silk Road Spice Merchant), Robert Jewell (Double Zero Pizza / A is for Apple), Paul McGreevy (chef/mover/shaker), John Wildenborg (Master Meats), Michael Allemeier (SAIT), Tony Marshall (Highwood Crossing), Dave Bohati (free agent chef), John MacNeil (The Belvedere) and Andy Fennell (Gravity Espresso & Wine Bar).
Last year, taking inspiration from a shirtless chef calendar created in Edmonton, Knifewear and Kent of Inglewood owner Kevin Kent decided it was high time the ‘handsome’ men at the helm of Calgary’s restaurant industry should share a similar shirtless fate.
"I love that we have been able to capture an audience for this calendar and this cause," said Kent, who was Mr. August last year, but has given up the modeling career this year. "The entire production of the calendar is donated, so we are in turn able to donate 100% of calendar sale proceeds to Brown Bagging for Calgary’s Kids. Last year that totalled $33,000!"
Once again production costs have been provided by Knifewear. Also, photographer Jeremy Fokkens donated his time and expertise to shoot all 12 months of Offcuts in unique locales around town, from the show room of J. Webb Wine Merchant to the Crossroads Farmer’s Market to a wheat field at an undisclosed location. The Offcuts models are hopeful that Calgarians will once again gift to their friends and family the Offcuts 2017 calendar this holiday season, (or possibly adorn their own office wall with it, if deemed work-apropos) knowing their $20 purchase will feed 20 hungry local school kids a healthy lunch.
"We are experiencing an enormous increase in the number of kids in need of a healthy lunch across our city," said Tanya Koshowski, executive director of Brown Bagging for Calgary’s Kids. "The awareness and support from this incredible group of chefs and food experts will ensure that our community will continue to have the resources needed to feed and care for every child who is hungry at school."
The coveted calendar is already available for purchase at Knifewear and Kent of Inglewood, as well as all of the fine restaurants and retailers the 12 Offcuts represent: Highwood Crossing Foods & Farm, Master Meats, Eats of Asia, J. Webb Wine Merchant, Cafe Gravity, Double Zero Pizza, Belvedere, The Silk Road Spice Merchant.
