Harvest of Helping
Great food, good deeds go hand in hand during a series of events and special days.
As we head into the holidays, there are ways to share your good fortune with those in need. Some small, some large:
* Do Good Date Night offers an opportunity to join friends to feast and be of service. Kristen Manieri and crew do a one-night takeover of the Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida on November 9 for a pre-Thanksgiving feast and a chance to help feed Orlando. Participants will spend the first half of the event in the Second Harvest warehouse, working on whatever volunteer experience is top priority: bagging produce, creating kids’ packs, re-labelomg tins, etc. Then, it’s a quick walk to the community room for a Thanksgiving feast of turkey and gravy, stuffing, grilled vegetables, mashed potatoes, cranberry chutney, and cornbread pudding with chantilly cream. Vegetarian and gluten-free diets will be accommodated. Tickets are $30 with 100 percent of the revenue collected going to Second Harvest's Catering for Good program. Wine, beer and iced tea will be served as well (included in the ticket price).
* The Fresh Market offers a “Take a Slice Out of Hunger This Holiday” program, where a portion of proceeds from pie sales during November will benefit Feeding America. “Ninety-percent of the total funds donated to Feeding America for this effort are distributed locally where The Fresh Market operates, so the monies directly benefit people in the community,” says Doug Montgomery, managing director of new partnerships at Feeding America. “Every dollar donated helps provide at least 10 meals to people in need.”
* Lucky’s Market (my new crush) hosts a hurricane recovery Impact Day at all their Florida locations on October 30. Ten percent of the sales from Florida stores will go to Second Harvest of the Big Bend and Feeding the Gulf Coast to help them recover and rebuild. (Lucky’s also has a streaming radio channel so you can hear their in-store music anywhere.)
* On November 11 it’s, Taste of Dr. Phillips at the Dellagio Orlando, with bites from Pharmacy, Roy’s, Eddie V’s, Peperoncino Cucina, Seasons 52, Slate and other Restaurant Row eateries. The evening benefits A Gift for Teaching, Give Kids the World, Dr. Phillips Little League and more.
FESTIVALS APLENTY
Orlando Greek Fest, a weekend of Greek food, drinks and desserts at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church of Greater Orlando, comes to Maitland November 2-4. Smack in the middle is the 2018 Korea Festival on November 3 at Grace Church, with (as they say) K-Food, K-Pop, and K-raoke. And to run the gamut of cultural events, the 42nd Scottish Highland Games ceilidhs into Central Winds Park in Winter Springs on January 19-20. Expect caber tossing, Highland dance, pipes and drums galore, a quidditch game or two, and music from Off Kilter, Tuatha Dea, the Screaming Orphans and the O'Possums. But the reason to go is acres of good Scottish pies, shortbread and a whisky tasting or two.
Grow your holidays beyond the immediate family. And stay in touch at joseph.hayes@orlandomagazine.com, and access a comprehensive list of my print and online reviews here!
