A CHEF who worked for Danny DeVito has axed his free meals to school kids from his takeaway after “unappreciative” parents complained about portion sizes.
Walter Weissabel, a former private chef for the American actor, opened a new five-star takeaway last month and wanted to help children with free school meals.
After seeing the measly food boxes families had received from the government, Mr Weissabel introduced free meals for kids with every adult meal purchased at his Plymouth takeaway.
But he has now stopped the goodwill gesture at Walter’s Kitchen after “mind blowing” complaints from parents.
The Michelin-starred chef told PlymouthLive: “It’s absolutely disgusting – [there’s] no respect and no appreciation for what I do for kids in these times.
“They were complaining about, ‘my kid doesn’t have broccoli in their (roast) or (no) Yorkshire pudding’, ‘my kid doesn’t like chicken on the bone’ and list goes on. Not doing that anymore.”
He wrote on Facebook: “Guys, I just want to let you know Walter’s Kitchen will not do any kids meals free as there is not any appreciation from our customers and trying to complain about kids meals as they expect full roast meals for the kids.
“The meals were completely free I thought I will do a nice thing in these horrible times but never expected that at all.
“Thank you for your custom.”
‘MIND BLOWING’
Mr Weissabel added: “It is really mind blowing.
“I input some money into kids roasts and some people don’t have any appreciation. I believe I put enough food to every single kid’s roast that left my kitchen.
“Today was the day, no more. I couldn’t believe it – food and packaging cost me a lot for my business not charging them and still make a complaint, disgusting.”
Last year Manchester United star Marcus Rashford forced the Government into a u-turn over it’s decision to hand out free school meals to the most vulnerable families during the pandemic.
Walter expressed his dismay with the Government support and said previously: “I have seen families with their £30 voucher worth of food which was shocking and made me very angry. Kids eat free until the pandemic ends.”
In November there was scandal around the £30 food parcels given to families, as some received just £5 worth of food that was expected to last them ten days.
Walter trained at Michael Roux Jr’s iconic restaurant ‘Le Gavroche’ and since then has been a chef at Manchester United’s football stadium.
He has also worked at the Park Plaza Hotel in London where he “was the youngest chef and achieved three rosettes within one year”.
Reflecting on his work for Mr DeVito, Walter said: “It was 2018. The next minute I was on a plane to Miami”.
Most read in News
Walter worked on the private yacht for four months earning around $10,000-$12,000 a month. But on further reflection Walter came to the realisation that: “Money isn’t everything.”
“I can’t be without my family,” he added.
Walter has a six-year-old son that he didn’t want to be away from for months at a time. He then moved to Plymouth three years ago as he longed for “the quiet life”.