Times are tough, no question. The world is changing rapidly. Millions of people are in the midst of a daily struggle to survive. We are facing an overwhelming amount of devastating crises, both at home and abroad. We want to help, but don’t know where to start sometimes.
Food is one of the only common denominators in this world, across every culture, country, language, and religion, that truly brings people together. Breaking bread is a sacred experience. Sharing a meal creates lasting bonds. We demonstrate our love and respect through the food we serve to others. We can be of service to others by making wise choices about where and what we consume.
Luckily, there are an abundance of terrific opportunities to put your money where your mouth is this month. I’ve compiled a short list of the tastiest happenings, from coast to coast, so you can eat well for a good cause. If you know of other simpatico events, please feel free to comment with info and links, so we can all contribute to uplifting our global community.
Dine Out for Japan Relief: March 23 – 30, 2011
APA @NBC Universal is proud to partner with AZIX, Japanese American Association, New York State Restaurant Association, FEED and the restaurant industry for “Dine out for Japan Relief”. For one week, participating restaurants will donate a portion of their profits to the Red Cross. A donation of 5%* from every breakfast, lunch and dinner meal will go toward disaster relief efforts to help those affected by the earthquake in Japan and tsunami through the Pacific.
@ PARTICIPATING RESTAURANTS:
ABC Kitchen • Aburiya Kinnosuke • Alice’s Tea Cups • Asia de Cuba • Bar Basque
Bar Italia • Bogota Bistro • Brasserie Ruhlmann • Captain Bill’s • Carte Blanche
Cha-An • China Grill • Choshi • Crabtree’s Kittle House • Curry-Ya • Decibel
Ed’s Chowder House • The Empire Hotel Rooftop • FoodParc • Hakata Tonton
Havana Central • Hasaki • Ippudo NY • Jack the Horse Tavern • Jojo • Ko Sushi
Le Colonial Restaurant • Madison • The Mark Restaurant • The Mercer Kitchen
North Square Restaurant Orsay • Otafuku PDT • Perry St • Plunge • Rai Rai Ken
Robataya • Sakagura • SD26 • Shabu-tatsu • Shimizu • Sobaya • Soba Totto
Sugar Bun Bakery • Tanuki Tavern • Telepan • Totto Ramen • Yakitori Totto
For more details, please visit: www.nysra.org/DineOutforJapan
Fry for Life: March 16, 2011 –
@ Terroir Tribeca, 24 Harrison St. (at Greenwich St.); 212-625-9463.
& Terroir East Village, 413 E. 12th St. (at First Ave.)
Both Terroir wine bars are raising money for Japan relief one $6 plate of ginger-garlic-soy fried chicken at a time. All proceeds from the chicken go toward Doctors Without Borders in Japan. The recipe for these super crisp and juicy boneless chicken thighs is the same one that Yoshi Nonaka, a line cook at Hearth, uses for staff meals.
NY Vintners: March 24 – 30, 2011
@ 21 Warren Street, New York; 212.812.3999
100% of sales proceeds on all sake wine bottles will be donated to Japanese Earthquake Relief. For store hours and more information: http://www.newyorkvintners.com/
Brewers for Brewers Benefit: March 28, 2011; 7 – 10 pm
@ Brooklyn Brewery, 79 N. 11th St., Brooklyn; 718-486-7422 or goodbeerseal.com
New York-area brewers Sixpoint Craft Ales, Brooklyn Brewery, Heartland and Empire Brewing Co., team up with The Meat Hook for food, suds and a silent auction to raise money to aid their Japanese counterparts, the Kiuchi Brewery (makers of Hitachino), and other earthquake-damaged sake and beer breweries
Click here to purchase tickets.
The Village Voice’s Choice Eats: March 29, 2011; 6:30 – 9:30 pm
@ 69th Armory on Lexington Avenue, 68 Lexington Ave @ 26th Street, NYC
The Village Voice proudly presents their fourth annual curated Choice Eats tasting event. Handpicked restaurants and food trucks from all five boroughs featured in The Village Voice reviews are represented, along with complimentary craft beer pairings, wine and liquor-laced cocktails. A portion of the Choice Eats ticket sales will be donated to this year’s charitable partner, Slow Food NYC, a non-profit organization that is dedicated to achieving a good, clean, and fair food system.
For the complete list of participating restaurants and to purchase tickets, click here.
Punch Party for Japan: Monday April 11, 2011; 7 pm -
@ Summit Bar, 133 Ave C, New York
Show your support for Japan and enjoy some top-shelf punches in the process at this benefit going down at East Village’s best cocktail haunt, Summit Bar. Spirit brands like Pernod Absinthe, Beefeater and Belvedere have teamed up with mixologist, Greg Seider, to create six concoctions featuring Japan-inspired ingredients. Your $20 ticket (pay at the door) goes straight to the Japan Society Earthquake Relief Fund, and it scores you bottomless glasses of punch all evening. Whiskey lovers can also support the Yamazaki whiskey distillery by purchasing neat pours ($10) and whiskey cocktails ($12) while jamming to tunes from DJ Kimiko Masuda.
Taste of the Lower East Side – April 28, 2011; 7 – 10:30 pm
@ 82 Mercer @ Spring Street, New York; 917.639.5850
This year’s 11th annual Taste of the Lower East Side will proudly feature the signature dishes from over 50 neighborhood restaurants and an all-night open bar of specialty cocktails. Benefiting the Grand Street Settlement, proceeds will be used to fund programs and services for Lower East Side community residents of all ages – from toddlers to teens, senior citizens and families.
This event was born in 2000 when a pioneering group of young professionals saw the neighborhood’s burgeoning restaurant scene as a terrific cultural resource and rallied the culinary community to help raise sorely needed funds to support the Grand Street Settlement’s various programs. The now yearly event has since enabled local restaurants, food lovers, and corporate sponsors alike to give back to the neighborhood and celebrate its diversity on an ongoing basis. Despite the increasing business development and gentrification, the community continues to face serious social-economic issues and a great need for social services, so your support is greatly appreciated!
The event has grown in size every year since and is now thought of as a premier culinary event, drawing a crowd of 1000+ food lovers. This year’s event will feature music by Nick Pattakos, as well as a silent auction and raffle prizes – including a new iPad2, courtesy of Tekserve.
Participating restaurants include:
A Casa Fox – Alias – barrio chino – Beauty & Essex
Café Coradito – The Clerkenwell – Clinton St. Baking Co.
DBGB Kitchen & Bar – Double Crown – Edi & the Wolf
Falai Panetteria – The Fat Radish – Gemma
Hecho en Dumbo – Hotel on Rivington – ‘inoteca
Il Laboratorio Del Gelato – Kuma Inn – La Esquina
Little Giant – Loreley Restaurant & Biergarten – Macando
The Meatball Shop – Mercadito – Mercat – Mulberry Project
Northern Spy Food Co. – Olivia – Osteria Morini
Peels – Porchetta – Public – Pulino’s – Rayuela
Rice – Roni Sue’s Chocolates – Russ & Daughters – Salt Bar
San Marzano – Schiller’s Liquor Bar – The Stanton Social
Sugar Sweet Sunshine Bakery – Think Coffee – Tre
Vandaag – Veselka – wd50 – Yerba Buena
With beverages by:
Anheuser-Busch – Barcardi Rum – Barefoot Wine & Bubbly
Bombay Sapphire – Grey Goose Vodka – Izze Sparkling Juice
For a complete list of participating restaurants and sponsors, please visit: www.grandstreet.org/taste
To purchase tickets, click here. This is a 21+ event.
Global Street Food – May 1, 2011; 11 am – 1 pm
@ The Broad Stage, 1310 11th St., Santa Monica, CA
Join Evan Kleiman, host of KCRW’s Good Food, for an exploration of street food from around the globe. The OC Weekly’s Gustavo Arellano will join Evan and other special guests for a discussion on how street food can shape the culture of a city and influence what we eat. Then, sample international street food flavors from some of L.A.’s best food trucks, including Mariscos Jalisco, Let’s Be Frank, India Jones, Piaggio Gourmet on Wheels and the Nom Nom Truck alongside the warm Latin/African grooves of the Masanga Marimba Ensemble. Proceeds will benefit KCRW. With NPR and public radio funding under attack, they need your help more than ever!
For more information and to purchase tickets, click here.
