Image Credit: Contributed

KELOWNA - Watch out Kelowna — there's a local gang in the 'hood riding green bikes and towing carts full of 'Socially Conscious Comfort Food' around town for charity.

Not only that, but Culinary Ink is packing this food in biodegradable materials and packaging.

Proceeds from the food they're serving goes to a variety of organizations with a solid 20 per cent going to food programs for children. Could there be more? Well, Culinary Ink is also creating jobs for marginalized people by giving them an opportunity to start their own ventures and reducing their need for government funding and inconsistent donations. The people in the program learn basic culinary skills and earn certifications that can turn into meaningful careers.

The food bicycles are owned and operated by Metro Community, the Kelowna Community Food Bank and Soles 4 Souls. The Metro Community church offers a day program for the downtrodden to have a meal, wash their clothes and work at affiliated operations to learn new skills and build confidence. The Kelowna Community Food Bank delivers donated food to those in need in the Okanagan. Soles 4 Souls distributes shoes to 18 million people world-wide who can't afford them.

Their philosophy for this new program is simple. Give a man a meal — he eats for a day; teach a man to cook — he eats for a lifetime.

Here's the menu:

Ginger Beef and Pickled Veg Sandwich
Our version of the traditional Vietnamese Banh mi, tender and rich ginger beef, topped with crunchy lightly pickled carrots, jalapenos, fresh green onion & cilantro, topped with awesome sauce in an artisan loaf, served with signature garlic butter popcorn.

Indian Spiced Scrambled Eggs
Scrambled eggs in butter chicken sauce, crisp coleslaw with mint and fennel seeds served in a warm garlic brushed naan bread cone, served with a cup of locally roasted organic Cherry Hill Coffee.

Taco al Pastor
Our take on the traditional dish. Tender slow roasted pork in a sauce of pineapple, oregano and chili powder topped with feta, pineapple, onion and cilantro in a naan bread “taco cone”, served with signature garlic butter popcorn.

Pulled Pork and Kimchee Grilled Cheese
Tender slow roasted pork in a rich BBQ sauce, melty cheddar topped with tangy kimchee served in an artisan loaf with awesome sauce and a side of our signature garlic butter popcorn.

Falafel with mint and fennel coleslaw
For our vegetarian friends; chick pea falafels topped with a cumin and mint coleslaw in a warm garlic brushed naan bread cone, served with signature garlic butter popcorn.

Chipotle Mac n Cheese with pulled pork
Fat Food Friday special. Smokey, spicy, rich mac ‘n’ cheese, topped with slow roasted pulled pork, wrapped in a warm garlic brushed naan bread cone, served with signature garlic butter popcorn.

Jerk Chicken Sandwich with mango slaw
Sweet and spicy! Fragrant and punchy jerk chicken with sweet mango and crunchy coleslaw, topped with green onion and cilantro and awesome sauce, all in an artisan loaf, served with signature garlic butter popcorn.

Butter Chicken with mint and fennel coleslaw
Juicy chicken served in a fragrant butter chicken sauce, topped with a refreshing slaw with notes of cumin and mint all wrapped up in a garlic brushed naan bread cone. Served with signature garlic butter popcorn.

For more information you can get a hold of Culinary Ink at 778-363-CHEF (2433), info@culinaryink.com or their website.

Image Credit: Contributed

To contact a reporter for this story, email sjordan@infotelnews.ca or call 250-491-0331. To contact the editor, email mjones@infotelnews.ca or call 250-718-2724.

— This story was updated at 11:17 a.m., Sunday, Sept. 21, 2014 to include contact information for Culinary Ink.

News from © iNFOnews, 2014