One of the things that I like the most about being in the restaurant business is the ability to give back. At Reata, we are lucky enough to be able to participate in a lot of charity events as well as supply donations for smaller functions. Over the years, we have been proud partners in quite a few of the large charity functions in town. Restaurants play a large role in the philanthropic goals of many large charities in Fort Worth. Make a Wish, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Lena Pope, the Tarrant Area Food Bank and many others all have wonderful events that are made possible in part by the help of very generous restaurateurs. These men and women usually take a large part of their days off to give back to this community that we all love and should be commended.
Another way that restaurants are able to contribute is by hosting a “soft opening” party when they first open their doors and designate a certain charity that will benefit from the proceeds. This activity serves two purposes. It allows the restaurant to build community ties as well as gives their staff an opportunity to practice in a controlled environment prior to the actual opening. My wife attended an event such as this last week for la Madeline. Now, la Madeline has had a strong Fort Worth presence since their restaurant on Camp Bowie opened in 1985. I actually had one of my interviews with Reata at that location. They opened a new location in Overton Park last week, and the space is refreshingly new and very eye catching. The lead designer for la Madeleine, Carol Kamenish, recently joined the company from the design team at Starbucks. John Cahill, COO of la Madeleine was in attendance as well as other Fort Worth notables. The food was as great as it has always been, and donations were accepted on behalf of the Children’s Hunger Fund. They raised more than $4,500 at the event. It was great to see such a company raising money for a great cause.
When developing the festival, one of the main goals was to designate a beneficiary that could enhance the “culinary culture” of Fort Worth. We created the Fort Worth Food + Wine Foundation whose mission is to promote development in the culinary community of Fort Worth and North Texas through scholarships, grants and events. The long-term goal of the foundation is to be able to provide a scholarship to culinary school for high school students, give funding for a piece of equipment that a local farmer or craft brewer needs. We want to provide stability for the continued development of this amazing food culture that is beginning here.
The next time that you visit one of your favorite local restaurants that you know has participated in one of the great charity events in our city, take a moment to thank them. Even if they weren't able to sponsor you nephew's t-ball team, they are doing their part.
