Dine with a difference at Creatures

Little Creatures will be serving up more than beer September 10 as they host Open Up a Little, a dinner dedicated to the subject of mental health.

The brewing company has partnered with RUOK? Day, Give Where You Live, Food for Thought and Bay 93.9 to create the mental health awareness and fundraising event for Geelong.

The night begins with a pint of Furphy and canapes on arrival, followed by a three-course meal, with each course prepared by a different guest chef.

Attendees will also enjoy a panel of guest speakers, local raffle prizes and live music from Hoody and Jack.

Little Creatures head chef and guest speaker Stephen Shing said that after years in the industry, he realised how important it was to have open dialogue.

“It’s incredible to think that 10 years ago mental health was something never discussed in a kitchen. We would spend 50 hours a week standing right next to our workmates but never ask them how their mental health was going.

“Now through better education and programs like Food for Thought, that conversation is finally starting to take place.”

RUOK? ambassador, Food for Thought founder and chef Mal Meiers will also be a guest speaker, as well as a guest chef preparing the entree for the night.

“Food for Thought was founded in 2014 in effort to raise awareness of the help available to those struggling in silence and de-stigmatise mental health by creating conversations around the dinner table,” Mr Meiers said.

“I am very humbled to be representing Food for Thought as Little Creatures Geelong creates awareness and funds for the local area, and conversations around awareness and support- so nobody needs to struggle on their own.”

Mal Meiers joins John Hornsey from Waa Waa Gee and Dwayne Bourke from Jack Rabbit Winery as the evening’s chefs.

Rachel Parker, founder of Surf Coast organisation Ocean Mind, will also be a guest speaker with the evening hosted by Bay 93.9 personality and beer lover Mark Hyland.

The Open Up a Little for Mental Health Dinner begins at 6.30pm on Monday, September 10. Tickets are $65. To book, head to openupalittledinner.eventbrite.com.au.