Industry rallies to ease Big Easy's plight

Cheers, Oct, 2005 by Ellie Van Savage

Restaurants and bars all over the country have pitched in to participate in an array of fundraising efforts to assist victims of Hurricane Katrina following its dreadful aftermath.

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The hospitality industry came out in full force to help, often teaming up with programs sponsored by relief organizations such as the American Red Cross and Share Our Strength. On September 27, for example, restaurants nationwide joined up with Share Our Strength, Windows of Hope and OpenTable, for a fundraising event called "One Meal, One Night, One Nation." Participating restaurants designated a portion of their entire evening's proceeds to Share Our Strength's Hurricane Relief Fund.

One event held in New York last month gave the city a special nod with its "Save New Orleans Cocktail Hour," concocted by the Museum of the American Cocktail and Southern Comfort's Tales of the Cocktail. From 5-7 pm, September 12, bartenders charged $10 to shake the Big Easy's most beloved drinks, including the Sazerac, Vieux Carre, Ramos' Gin Fizz, French 75 and of course, the Hurricane.

Proceeds from the "Save New Orleans Cocktail Hour" were donated to a tax-deductible relief fund established by the Museum of the American Cocktail, with funds distributed directly to workers and their families who apply for aid through the New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau. Individuals and establishments wishing to contribute to this fund can send their checks to Museum of the American Cocktail, 459 Columbus Ave., Suite 201, New York, NY 10024. Make checks payable to the Museum of the American Cocktail and write "Katrina Relief Fund" on the bottom left-hand corner of the check; or visit museumoftheamericancocktail.org/news/pr/KatrinaFund.html.

Many job posting websites have also been launched to help displaced restaurant workers get back on their feet. Here are a couple: the Council of Independent Restaurants of America, www.cirajobs.com; and Heidi Koontz, of Intuitive Fare, a marketing firm, launched www.restaurantjobsforyou.org, which lists Washington DC area jobs. A fund has been established to benefit Gulf hospitality workers directly; send donations to the New Orleans Hospitality Workers Disaster Relief Fund, Greater Houston Community Foundation, 4550 Post Oak Place, Suite 100, Houston, TX 77027, or call 713-333-2200.

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"Dine Out" events to raise funds for the victims are being held across the country. On October 5, restaurants are banding together in a "Dine for America" day, a national fundraising effort to support the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund. Dine for America launched a website, www.dineforamerica.org, where participating restaurants--independent operators and national chains, fine dining as well as quick service--can choose from a menu of options on how they can help. Additionally, "turnkey" marketing and promotional materials including posters, tray liners, table tents, and artwork for donation canisters are available for participating operators.

Operators can choose to donate all or part of their sales from the October 5 event, make a donation for each guest served or for each sale of a specific item, or contribute a specific amount. Restaurants can also send donations directly to: American Red Cross, Dine For America, P.O. Box 96103, Washington, DC 20090-6103.

This month in Washington DC, Share Our Strength, a national nonprofit that organizes individuals and companies in efforts to help end hunger, will hold the Restaurants for Relief Gala at its Conference of Leaders. There, some of America's top chefs, including many from the south, will prepare a variety of dishes. All of the funds raised at the October 17 event will go to Share Our Strength's Hurricane Katrina Relief Fund, directed to local organizations assisting victims in the disaster-affected areas.

Participating chefs include Allen Susser, Chef Allen's Restaurant, Aventura, FL; Mary Sue Milliken and Susan Feniger, Border Grill and Ciudad, Santa Monica, CA; Kenny Callaghan, Blue Smoke, New York; Gordon Hamersley, Hamersley's Bistro, Boston; Stephan Pyles, Stephan Pyles Restaurant, Dallas; Louis Osteen, Pawleys, Pawleys Island, SC; Terrence Brennan. Artisanal, New York, and Frank Morales, Zola, Washington, DC. Tickets for the benefit are $250 each ($200 is tax deductible). For more information on the event, or to make a donation to Share Our Strength's Hurricane Katrina Relief Fund, visit www.strength.org.

Also in the nation's capital, the Louisiana-style fish house Acadiana, which opened last month, became the "po'boy headquarters" for a local fund-raising event. Area chefs joined in opening week to prepare po' boy sandwiches all day for a $25 donation. All proceeds from the event, as well as a percentage of the restaurant's profits for its first month in operation, and donations from servers' tips, go to the Red Cross.