Edinburgh restaurant Maison Bleue has cooked more than 6,000 meals for vulnerable communities

A popular Edinburgh restaurant has cooked more than 6,000 meals to support families and older people who have been affected by the pandemic.

Dean and Layla Gassabi outside Maison Bleue in Edinburgh

In March, Dean and Layla Gassabi of Maison Bleue and their dedicated team of staff cooked 700 meals a week for 22 families supported by the charity Children 1st and 12 elderly residents supported by the Goodtrees Neighbourhood Centre.

Thanks to funding from Petroleum Experts (Petex) this is the second time the restaurant has rallied round to support the local community during lockdown.

Co-owner Layla Gassabi said: “It was amazing to hear from Children 1st about the huge difference it made to all the families. So as we’re in lockdown again and the restaurant is closed, we felt that we couldn’t just sit here with the kitchen closed and not do something, it just felt like the right thing to do.”

Dean and Layla Gassabi, the father and daughter behind Edinburgh dining institution Maison Bleu

This is not the first time the restaurant has supported the local community during lockdown as last year they cooked over 2,500 meals in June and July for children in Edinburgh who were going without the hot lunches they'd normally receive at school.

Lewis Brown, head of fundraising development and operations at Children 1st, said the kind act has given families some stability.

He said: "Thanks to Maison Bleue and Petroleum Experts, parents knew their family would get a healthy meal, children were able to try new foods, and families enjoyed special time eating together.

“On behalf of everyone at Children 1st, we would like to say a heartfelt thank you to Maison Bleue and Petroleum Experts for making a huge difference to the lives of children and families in Edinburgh.”

Maison Bleue meals for local children.

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