Tag Archives: charity

Around Town: Mixing Up Some Magic

Posted on by
Reply

One of the greatest things about this town that we highlight constantly is the ability to eat and drink amazing things all in the name of charity. Mixing Up Some Magic is one of these events. A four-course meal, complete with pre-dinner cocktails, from Commander’s Palace. Sounds good, right? How about doing that all in the name of charity? Even better! Mixing Up Some Magic is a partnership between Commander’s Palace and Liberty’s Kitchen to help support Liberty’s Kitchen’s programs.

Liberty’s Kitchen “provides at-risk youth, ages 16-22, with the opportunity to build a better future by increasing their ability to change their situation and engage in a supportive community where they learn life, social and employability skills in a culinary setting. The intensive training program combines hands-on food-service training with classroom instruction, individual case management, education programs and job placement services and/or a return to an educational setting.” To put this in more perspective of recent events in the city, Liberty’s Kitchen provides some of the most vulnerable youth in our community the tools to become productive and successful members of society rather than a statistic or news report. This is a cause we can all get behind.

Now that we’ve gotten the who, what and why out of the way, it is time to get to the Where, When and How:

Mixing Up Some Magic
Sunday, January 29
6:00 pm
Individual tickets are $95 per person ($25 is tax-deductible)
Tickets available here.

Around Town: Fight Crime With a Fork

Posted on by
Reply

Today’s activity is pretty simple (although sorry for the late notice). Go out to eat dinner at one of twenty restaurants and help fight crime. Not a bad deal. And, unlike many charitable eating events, this one has participating restaurants for all budgets. You a high rolling fancy pants? Do your crime fighting at Restaurant August or Commander’s Palace. Not quite to that level? Zea’s and Acme Oyster House are there for you. Just a struggling college student, been decimated by the recent stock market shenanigans or watching the return of football to National TV (Seattle at San Diego at 7:00 pm on ESPN)? Bruno’s can meet your needs, just be sure to be nice to the bartenders.

For a list of all participating restaurants, click here. To look into what you’re money will be going to, check out the New Orleans Police and Justice Foundation here. Want to see something bizarre and amazing, click here (don’t worry, it is SFW).

Benefits for Chef Nathanial Zimet

Posted on by
6

By now,you’re likely all too familiar with the horrible tragedy involving Chef Nathanial Zimet. In case you don’t know, the much beloved man behind the Purple Truck and Boucherie has been shot multiple times in an apparent armed robbery attempt (Nola.com article here). As a result of this act of senseless violence, Chef Nathanial is going to have some outrageous medical expenses. In an attempt to help the man that has brought so many wonderful things to our bellies, we’re compiling a list of all the currently known benefits organized to help defray these costs. Please participate early and often!

1. Donate at any New Orleans branch of Capital One;

2. Drink wine at Brigtsen’s on Thursday night, as 100% of bottled wine sales will be donated;

3. Order from Pizza Delicious this Thursday or Sunday, as 20% of all proceeds will be donated;

4. The Beer Buddha will be putting together a beer tasting benefit. Beers not Bullets will be kicking off on June 24th at NOLA Brewing Brewery. More details here;

5. As the boys over at Blackened Out have suggested, go eat at Boucherie which re-opened on May 24;

6. Saltwater Grill has promised to donate 100% of sales from Bananas Foster on Wednesday & Thursday this week;

7. Taceaux Loceaux is donating a portion of their sales from this weekend to the cause;

8. Adolfo Garcia is putting 100% gross sales on Rio Mar ‘s wine, href=”http://www.labocasteaks.com/” target=”_blank”>La Boca & a Mano‘s crafted pasta dishes, this Thursday June 2 (Now confirmed by Judy Walker of the TP);

9. It looks like the good people over at La Petite Grocery and Patois are organizing a local cooking event. If you’re a chef that is interested in participating, contact them at chefs4nathanial at gmail dot com;

10. The Velvet Espresso Bar is offering to donate all sales of teacakes made after 4:00 pm for the rest of the month;

11. Three Muses is donating the proceeds from the sale of certain menu items. Look for the delightful purple truck to let you know which ones;

12. July 10th starting at 5:00 pm, the Howlin Wolf will have a benefit called Beasts & Brass. Details will be updated as they emerge;

13. Not sure if this is in connected to the Howlin Wolf benefit, but Boucherie is accepting item donations for a benefit their putting on. If interested in donating, contact them via email at benefit4nathanial at gmail dot com;

14. This Saturday, Bookoo BBQ is donating a portion of all BBQ sales. Bookoo BBQ is located in Finn McCools;

15. Boucherie is establishing a paypal account to allow people to donate directly. You can donate and see other benefits planned for Nathanial on the website setup by Boucherie here;

16. Geaux Plates is donating a portion of all proceeds from this weekend;

17. This Sunday Bacchanal will be donating 10% of all food and wine sales towards the recovery of Chef Nathaniel Zimet. The Cuisine of Chef will be Ryan Haigler of Emeril’s Delmonico (Thanks to Nick Young for the tip);

18. Through Sunday, June 5, Cure will be donating a portion of proceeds from their punch;

19. Until July 1, La Petite Grocery will donate proceeds of all sales of their kick ass Abita Root Beer short ribs;

20. This Saturday, June 11, Dirty Coast is donating 10% of sales;

21. Hanson’s Sno-bliz is also donating 10% of sales on June 11.

That’s all we’ve gotten wind of so far, if you know of anything else please leave it in the comments or send us an email. We’ll do our best to let everyone know as soon as we get more info.

While not a benefit for Nathanial, Ted Wright of Fizz Corp. has pledged to match up to $1,000 for all donations made between now and June 1. Kudos to Ted and Fizz Corp.

Around Town: Reds, Whites and the Blues

Posted on by
Reply

It’s Thursday (finally), so that means for many people it is the unofficial start of the weekend. For those of you in a business program, it is the official start of your weekend. If you’re week has been anything like ours, you haven’t had time to even think for a minute about your free time. Unless of course you’re thinking about how stuff keeps popping up to take it away from you. All this comes down to two things, you need something fun to do and you need a drink.

Enter Gambit’s 8th Annual Reds, Whites and the Blues event. Sure there will be the some music, some food from great restaurants and a pretty decent collection of wines to taste from. However, one of the greatest things about this event is the raffle, a chance to win a 200 bottle wine collection. Raffle tickets are only $5 or 6 for $20.

Reds, Whites and The Blues
City Park
Pavilion of the Two Sisters
Today from 6-9 pm
Tickets are $70 at the door.

Proceeds to benefit the Big Easy Awards Foundation for Entertainment Development and Education, which supports culture and the performing arts in New Orleans.

New Orleans Seafood Festival

Posted on by
2

NOSF logo

Growing up in New Orleans gives us a pretty unique perspective in life. Some in the ways most non-locals would think (like a penchant for boozing), but mostly in ways most of them haven’t imagined. True, most New Orleanians don’t realize that Mardi Gras isn’t a national holiday until they leave for college and fewer ever learn that directions in most places are given in north, south, east or west instead of toward the lake, the river, downtown or uptown. But New Orleanians are also spoiled in a number of fantastic ways, for instance we grow up with epic food and we have access to some of the country’s greatest festivals.
Continue reading →

SoFAB: Tailgating for a Cause

Posted on by
1

One often unappreciated aspect of New Orleans culture is the opportunity to be charitable by doing nothing more than eating, drinking and enjoying yourself.  One such opportunity is upcoming, the annual Southern Food and Beverage Museum Gala.  Local chefs and athletes have teamed together with the Southern Food and Beverage Museum to help research and combat the effects of the Gulf oil spill on southern communities.

With a clear nod to the World Champion New Orleans Saints (I’ll never get tired of writing that), the Hornets, the Zephyrs and other fine sports teams of the city, this year’s gala is a tailgate party, New Orleans style.  While any chance to prolong the celebration of the Saints victory in Super Bowl XLIV and ring in the new season is welcome in my book, the list of participating restaurants can certainly stand on its own accord.   Ever think you could squeeze in Galatoire’s, Bayonna, Dickie Brennan’s Steakhouse and Parkway Bakery for a meal and close it out with a Hubigs?  Well you can, and then some!

Add the opportunity to hang out with the Big Easy Roller Girls or, for the young and/or timid, Boudreaux, the Zephyrs mascot, and it’s on.  Word on the street is the folks over at the Southern Food and Beverage Museum have extended special invites to Saints and Hornets players. With the gala happening just days before the Saints first preseason game and Chris Paul reportedly not offered up for trades, who knows who you may see.

SoFAB Gala
Sunday August 8
3-6 p.m.
$75 for non-members
$65 for members
Children under 12–Free! (so pack in all the rug rats, even the neighbors kids)

Participating Chefs/Restaurants (and menu if available at press time):

* Acadiana–Chilled Golden Tomato Gazpacho, Ketel One Vodka and Jumbo Lump Crab Salsa “Shooters”
* Bayona
* Regina Charboneau — Watermelon and Tomato Salad with Mint Vinaigrette
* Bourbon House
* Broussard’s– Ceviche
* Cake Café
* Carolyn Shelton– Spicy Boudin Balls in Delicate Butter Lettuce Wrappers
* City Grocery–Seared Big Bad Bacon Pork Belly Rillettes with Cumin-Scented Heirloom Tomato Jam
* Dickie Brennan’s Steakhouse
* Galatoire’s– Avocado Vichysoisse with Louisiana Shrimp Relish
* Hubigs Pies
* Palace Café
* Parkway Bakery– Cuban Sandwiches
* The Praline Connection

Around Town: Pause For Dinner

Posted on by
Reply

We love dogs and we love eating. Assuming you’re here, you love at least one of those. That, or you pushed the “I’m feeling lucky” button for your google search. Assuming you can properly Google something, our latest Around Town lets you celebrate both dogs (and other pets) and food next Thursday, June 17th, marks the first annual Pause For Dinner hosted by the LA/SPCA. Once again, we’re pimping out an event that makes it easy to be selfishly giving (think on that awesomeness for a second). However, Pause For Dinner has one fantastic leg up on the competition, you don’t have to bother mingling with anyone you don’t know or be worried about people cutting in the buffet line or anything. Because the benefit is going to be you and whoever you invite to dinner. How is this possible? Details after the jump: Continue reading →

Around Town: Back to The Beach

Posted on by
Reply

Back to the Beach

I know this is very last minute, but as you can tell with our spotty posting the past few weeks, life and work have gotten in the way of all of this.   If you’re not quite sure what to do this weekend, like live music and aren’t a big fan huge crowds, we’ve got the event for you. On top of that, proceeds go to saving our lake and the Gulf Coast. Thanks to BP, the Coast is in serious need of help.

Continue reading →

Around Town–The Festival Sabbath Period

Posted on by
Reply

Pretty much everyone around the world, regardless of religious affiliation (if any), is familiar with Genesis 2:2:

“By the seventh day G-d had finished the work He had been doing; so on the seventh day He rested from all His work.”

Although lesser known worldwide, most New Orleanians are familiar with Festivals 2:2:

“For the days following the festival of the French Quarter and prior to the celebration of both jazz and heritage the people rested from their festivals, as their stomachs were full and their wallets were empty.”

With this holy scripture (and the ever climbing prices at Jazz Fest) in mind, I bring you a handful of cheap and awesome things to do these next few days so you can still live the high life on a shoestring budget.

Continue reading →