Food for All: A Showcase of New Fairfield County Restaurants and Top Chefs

Community Plates, the Norwalk-based non-profit dedicated to direct-transfer food rescue, is having a food tasting fundraiser on Oct. 1 at The Loading Dock in Stamford.  The event, "Food For All 2013," is a celebration of the dedication of its fleet of volunteer food runners who are able to go online and sign up for food "runs," as well as its food donors and service agencies.

For one night only the area’s newest restaurants and some established favorites will come together to help Community Plates end hunger in Fairfield County.  

The celebratory evening, which begins with a VIP cocktail reception (6:30-7:30p.m.) featuring an Oyster Bar by Norm Bloom & Son, followed by the main event (7:30p.m.-10:00p.m.), will include chefs and tasting tables, dancing and more.  

Food for All 2013 kicks off Community Plates’ campaign to rescue 3,000,000 meals during the 2013-2014 food rescue season (October 1, 2013 – September 30, 2014).

“We’ve come a long way since our launch in 2011, as hundreds of volunteers have helped us rescue over two-million meals valued at approximately $4,000,000, with the bulk of this food going to Fairfield County families in need,” says Kevin Mullins, executive director and co-founder, Community Plates. 

“Our game changing technology and volunteer-driven model enable us to maximize funds and scale our services unlike any other organization," said Mullins in a release. "This year’s fundraising goal of $100,000, for example, will help us to rescue another one-million meals over the next year and to expand to four new markets."

Throughout the celebration, Community Plates will share information about the critical state of food insecurity in the US and the impact one person can have on changing the face of hunger in America.  

At the event Community Plates will debut GoResue, the organization’s newly enhanced and award-winning web and smartphone enabled interactive food rescue scheduling tool.

Special recognition will be given to 2013 honorees Fairway Market of Stamford (Food Donor), Thomas Merton Center/St. Stephen’s Food Pantry in Bridgeport (Partner Agency), and Siobhan Crise (Food Runner).

Food for All 2013 sponsors include CT Bites, New England Culinary Group, Northern Trust, Sherman Group, and WhenToManage.  

Among the establishments already onboard are six of Fairfield County’s newest culinary hot spots:

• The Cask Republic, the Stamford-based tavern voted one of the best pubs in Connecticut

• Aladin Indian Bistro (Norwalk), where lighter, more health conscious ‘traditional’ Indian food delivers the dramatic impact of the cuisine’s spices and preparation techniques

• Mama’s Boy Southern Table & Refuge, which offers Southern hospitality and charm with a little sass

Additional participants will be announced in the coming weeks. Tickets are available at Eventbrite.com.