“Children are likely to live up to what you believe of them”.  A local Vice Principal who believes in the potential of ALL kids deserves an A+ for his September Burger of the Month at our Lacombe location!

Craig Fullarton, the Vice Principal at Ecole James S. McCormick School in Lacombe, served us our Guest Chef.  He helped create “The Vice”, an Alberta smash patty, boneless short rib, jalapeno jack cheese, queso cheese sauce, deep fried Cheeto breaded jalapenos, shaved onion, mixed peppers, beefsteak tomatoes, mixed greens, on a Cheeto dusted brioche bun!  $2 from every burger sold is going directly towards Craig’s charity of choice – Aspire Special Needs Resource Centre.

Craig says children are our greatest and most valuable resource, “every child is a special, unique individual that deserves the chance to be successful”.  As a local educator he’s had the opportunity to see firsthand the service Aspire provides “the level of energy, passion, optimism, hope and compassion they demonstrate in their work is evident.  There is nothing quite like the smile of a child as they learn and realize they have achieved success and Aspire’s commitment to making this happen for all children is incredible”.

Aspire Special Needs Resource Centre is a charitable organization providing hope to children with special needs, the families who love them and the communities that care for them.  The Centre works with families, schools, educators, and community agencies to deliver quality education that meets kids’ specific needs, allowing them to reach their full potential.  BOTM funds will be directed to Aspire’s Fee Assistance Program which ensures families access to their services regardless of their income.  Those services allow families to work with a team of professionals like a Psychologist, Occupational Therapist, and Speech and Language Pathologist to create individualized learning plans specific to each child.

Thanks to your support of our beloved Burger of the Month Program Craig helped us deliver $1334 to Aspire Special Needs Resource Centre today (Wednesday, October 13th).  Thanks to the amazing support we see from our guests for our Burger of the Month program month after month, we have had the opportunity to give back over $90,000 to local charities over the past 56 months!  THANK-YOU!

The October Burger of the Month in Lacombe is the “Supercrunch”, created in collaboration with local guest chef Taryn Hancock!  It includes crispy tempura fried chicken, grilled pepper bacon, spicy pepperoncini jam, fresh beefsteak tomato, cilantro, green onion, mixed greens, mary rose sauce on garlic butter toasted brioche bun. Finished with a pepperoncini bamboo pick.  $2 from every “Supercrunch” burger will go directly towards Taryn’s charity of choice – the Lacombe Health Trust

For more information contact:

JoAnne Hayden

Aspire Special Needs Resource Centre

403.340.2606

Jhayden@aspirespecialneeds.ca

Craig Fullarton

JS McCormick School

403.782.3096

craig.fullarton@wolfcreek.ab.ca

Kim Kay

Community Relations

Cilantro and Chive

403.597.2127

kim@cilantroandchive.ca

Incredible. The only word that works to describe our July Burger of the Month Guest Chef’s in Lacombe, Kody and Kelsey Kenway! We first met this couple over 5 years ago when they entrusted us to cater the food for their wedding, and each year they return to visit us to celebrate their anniversary, wedding dress, suit and all! This year they cranked the celebration WAY up and jumped out of a plane together in their duds!

Not only are Kody and Kelsey incredible humans, but their story around their charity selection is also moving. Without STARS Kody would not be here. In September of 2015 Kody was in a motor-vehicle accident that resulted in significant polytrauma, suffering traumatic brain injury, collapsed lungs, a ruptured spleen, broken bones and more, leading to a stroke and left-sided paralysis. At the time the couple was recently engaged and set to be married July of 2016. Despite 3-4 challenge filled months, the couple was married as planned and remains forever thankful to STARS and all the medical staff and supporters they have encountered along the way.

The pair co-created the “FULLY LOADED”, which landed on our Lacombe menu in July. It included two️ grilled beef smash patties, cheddar cheese, jalapeno jack cheese, sliced jalapenos, Nashville style BBQ sauce, maple bourbon bacon jam, crispy onion strings, iceberg lettuce, shaved white onion, beefsteak tomatoes, chipotle aioli on a garlic butter toasted pretzel roll. $2 from every “Fully Loaded” sold is going directly to STARS Air Ambulance.

STARS Air Ambulance is dispatched an average of 8 missions a day, flying over 1400 yearly missions in Alberta. Donations and fundraising account for nearly 40% of funding, allowing them to save lives equipped with the right tools, technology, and fleet to ensure timely critical care even in remote locations.
Thanks to your support of our beloved Burger of the Month Program we were able to deliver $1468 to STARS (Tuesday, August 10th). The Kenway’s were also inspired to match our donation to a local organization they are also passionate about, A Better World. Kelsey had the opportunity to travel to Africa with the Lacombe based group on a volunteer rehabilitation effort, focused on addressing the needs of children with disabilities. The Kenway’s also delivered $1468 to A Better World today!
Thanks to the amazing support we see from our guests for our Burger of the Month program month after month, we have had the opportunity to give back over $85,000 to local charities over the past 54 months! THANK-YOU!

The August Burger of the Month in Lacombe is the “Rocky Mountain Chicken Burger”, created in collaboration with local guest Chef Michelle Swanson. It includes grilled marinated fresh chicken breast, cheddar cheese, raspberry and chipotle BBQ sauce on a garlic butter grilled brioche bun. Topped with a fresh garlic scape, pistachio and grana Padano cheese pesto, baby spinach and vine ripened beefsteak tomatoes. Garnished with jalapeno slices on a bamboo skewer! $2 from every Lacombe August Burger of the Month sold will go directly to Rocky Mountain House Search & Rescue.

For more information contact:

Sarah Eccleston
STARS Air Ambulance
587.777.3698
seccleston@stars.ca

Kody & Kelsey Kenway
August LA BOTM Guest Chef’s
kodykenway@gmail.com
kenwayadvancedtherapeutics@gmail.com

Kim Kay
Community Relations
Cilantro and Chive
403.597.2127
kim@cilantroandchive.ca

Kody and Kelsey Kenway served as our July BOTM Guest Chef’s at our Lacombe location. They co-created the “FULLY LOADED”. It included two️ grilled beef smash patties, cheddar cheese, jalapeno jack cheese, sliced jalapenos, Nashville style BBQ sauce, maple bourbon bacon jam, crispy onion strings, iceberg lettuce, shaved white onion, beefsteak tomatoes, chipotle aioli on a garlic butter toasted pretzel roll. $2 from every “Fully Loaded” sold is going directly to STARS Air Ambulance.

We’ve never forgotten our roots and where we made our start and man it felt good to spend some time with one of our very first loyal Cilantro and Chive guests and supporters Jamil Rawji!  A true community leader devoted to serving others, Jamil was our May Burger of the Month Guest Chef at our Lacombe location.

Jamil is the owner of Ponoka Professional Pharmacy and he helped serve up a little spice that the Doctor surely ordered!  His “Royal 66″ included a marinated chicken breast, pepper jack cheese, arugula, sliced tomato and pickles, shaved onion, and Moroccan aioli on a garlic butter brioche bun! $2 from every Lacombe May Burger of the Month sold will go directly to Jamil’s charity of choice the Ponoka Legion Branch 66.

Recognizing revenue streams are down, Jamil and his family wanted to show their appreciation and support for a community organization that is a second home to those who have served our country.  Offering up a place for the whole community to connect, Jamil says his family misses the socialization and support the Legion offers to the community.

The pandemic has severely impacted the Legion’s ability to generate revenue, they rely on events, rentals of their facility and memberships.  Despite the obstacles over the last 15 months, the Legion launched a Poppy Store, selling Legion masks, commemorative pins, and branded clothing.  They’ve made every effort to shift Veteran support to keeping connected with phone calls and letters.  Branch 66 received its charter and opened on May 4^th, 1928.  Their mission is to serve Veterans, regardless of where or when they served, including military and RCMP members and their families, to promote Remembrance and to serve the community and country.

Thanks to your support of our beloved Burger of the Month Program Jamil helped us hand over $812 to Ponoka Legion Branch 66 today (Friday, June 5th).  Thanks to the amazing support we see from our guests for our Burger of the Month program month after month, we have had the opportunity to give back over $80,000 to local charities over the past 52 months!  THANK-YOU!

The June Burger of the Month in Lacombe is “KIMCHI THE BEST” created in collaboration with guest chef Calder Sutton. It includes steamed bao with sriracha aioli, vegetarian Kimchi, a house made 4oz beef smash patty topped with hoisin ketchup, red miso glazed shredded pork, fresh pea shoots and garnished with a charred scallion! $2 from every Lacombe June Burger of the Month sold will go directly to the families of Andrew Abel & Nathaniel Johnson.

For more information contact:

Kaitlyn Knapp

Manager

Ponoka Legion

403.783.4076

rclbranch66@telus.net

Jamil Rawji

May LA BOTM Guest Chef

Ponoka Professional Pharmacy

403.783.3333

ponokarx@telusplanet.net

Kim Kay

Community Relations

Cilantro and Chive

403.597.2127

kim@cilantroandchive.ca