Nine chefs, restaurant owners and entertainment professionals from Portugal have been on a hunger strike for one week. The protestors stated that they think the COVID-19 restrictions implemented by the government are “ridiculous and surreal” and are feeding off of water, tea and coffee provided by their supporters in front of the Parliament of Portugal.

Restaurants, bars and shops can only be open until 1 pm on the weekends and holidays in line with COVID-19 restrictions implemented by the Portuguese government. The movement is named “A Pão e Água”, meaning “Bread and Water”, and it symbolizes the hand-to-mouth experience of the hospitality industry workers. “Why can we work in the mornings but not at night? It is stupid, is it only on weekends that the virus is active, not on weekdays?” says Ljubomir Stanisic, the face of the movement and the Bosnian chef od 100 Maneiras.

João Rodrigues, the chef of Michelin-starred restaurant Feotoria, Vasco Coelho Santos, chef of Euskalduna Studio, and Pedro Cardoso, the owner of Solar dos Presuntos, are among those who accompany Stanisic and the group refuses to end their strike until they meet with Portuguese prime minister and minister of economy.