To celebrate 10 years of dishing up delicious food, Akiba is giving back to Canberrans with a night of free dining.
On Monday 23 December, all food will be free, with guests only required to pay for drinks and encouraged to make a donation to the program.
In addition to celebrating its milestone, Akiba will officially launch a charity partnership with The Fly Program, a men’s mental health organisation focused on outdoor experiences like hiking, camping, and fishing retreats.
“We are so grateful to have made it to 10 years in business and so proud of what we have achieved, having navigated intense times like COVID and more recently the cost-of-living crisis,” says co-director Mike Harrington.
“We know we wouldn’t be here today if it wasn’t for the support of all our customers and we couldn’t think of a more perfect gesture to say thank you than by having one big birthday bash, serving up our entire food menu, free of charge.”
The evening will kick off at 5:30pm with VIPs and winners of competitions dining first. From 7pm, doors will open to the public, with tables available for up to five guests on a first-come, first-served basis. Seating will be limited to 1.5 hours to accommodate as many diners as possible.
“People can order whatever they want—within reason,” Harrington says with a smile. “We’re not doing takeaway, and we don’t want leftover food. We just ask that they pay for their drinks and consider donating to The Fly Program.”
To keep the celebrations lively, Akiba will serve their signature entrees, like bao buns and dumplings, to those waiting in line. “We know not everyone may get a table, but we want to show appreciation to everyone who joins us,” Harrington adds.
A mentor with The Fly Program, Harrington highlights the importance of this new partnership, particularly in the hospitality industry, where mental health challenges are prevalent. “Hospitality has some of the worst mental health statistics in Australia, with male chefs nearly 1.5 times more likely to die by suicide than people in other professions,” he explains.
The partnership aims to create long-term change, with plans to expand the program next year to include participants from hospitality venues across Canberra.
For more details about Akiba’s Free for All, visit their Instagram or website. To learn more about The Fly Program, visit flyprogram.org.au.
