The Giving Kitchen Named 2019 James Beard Foundation Humanitarian of the Year!
The big news as of late is that Giving Kitchen co-founder and spokesperson Jen Hidinger-Kendrick and executive director Bryan Schroeder are were recipients of the James Beard Foundation’s Humanitarian of the Year Award! Since its inception in 2013, Giving Kitchen has served over 2,500 food service workers in crisis, including providing over $2.4 million in financial assistance through the Crisis Grants program and over 1,000 referrals to community resources through the Stability Network program.
The Humanitarian of the Year Award is given to an individual or organization whose work in the realm of food has improved the lives of others and benefited society at large. Previous winners of the award include José Andrés, Denise Cerreta, Emeril Lagasse and Charlie Trotter. At Giving Kitchen, these heroes wear aprons instead of capes and have made a promise to provide stability for the hard-working and vulnerable people of the food service community, which is a $19.6 billion industry in Georgia alone.
The theme for this year’s James Beard Awards show is “Good Food for Good,” and it perfectly describes how Giving Kitchen came to be. In 2012, Hidinger-Kendrick and her husband Ryan were busy planning to open a restaurant when they were faced with their own unexpected crisis: Ryan was diagnosed with stage-four gallbladder cancer. The outpouring of love and support that the Hidingers received from their local restaurant community following this devastating diagnosis allowed the couple to continue working toward their dream of opening Staplehouse. But the restaurant was re-imagined in a way that gave back to the industry that had been so generous in raising over $275,000 for Ryan’s living expenses. Now, all of the restaurant’s after-tax profits go to Giving Kitchen to help fund the nonprofit organization’s programs.
Ryan passed away on Jan. 9, 2014, but his legacy is very much alive in Staplehouse and Giving Kitchen, as well as in this James Beard Humanitarian award. The 2019 James Beard Awards Gala will take place on Monday, May 6, at the Lyric Opera of Chicago. The 2019 Leadership Awards will be held on Sunday, May 5, in Chicago. Tickets to the awards gala go on sale beginning March 27 at jamesbeard.org/awards.
Dinner is Coming!
On Sunday, April 7th from 6:30pm-10:00pm, prepare thyself for The Feast of Thrones and viewing party will be at Rathbun's Restaurant and bring an appetite worthy of a WhiteWalker!
This is going to be a 10-course GOT inspired menu, honoring each of the great houses, along with pairings of wine, ale, and custom-crafted, GOT specialty drinks. Each ticket is $225, which includes the epic 10-course feast and accompanying beverages, taxes & gratuity. Seating is extremely limited so please get your tickets now...before the long night sets in. Click here to Purchase Your Tickets
Louis XIII in the House!
And finally, if you are ready for a gargantuan splurge (or are just fascinated by vulgar displays of wealth), Atlas, located in the heart of Buckhead in the St. Regis Atlanta, is hosting the next edition of its popular Winemaker Dinner Series on Thursday, March 28, 2019 beginning at 6:30 p.m. The decadent evening will explore the history of Louis XIII Cognac's producer and product and includes a welcome reception followed by a three-course pairing dinner created by Executive Chef Christopher Grossman. As guests dine surrounded by Atlas’ acclaimed art collection of 20th-century works, they will be taken on a culinary journey featuring Château Palmer Brut Champagne, Domaine Ferret ‘Les Clos’ Pouilly 2016, Domaine Haut-Surget Pomerol 2014 and, of course, Louis XIII Cognac. The tariff on the Louis XIII Cognac Winemaker Dinner? A mere $395 per person, excluding tax and gratuity. Go big or stay home I say! For more information or to make a reservation call 404.600.6471, email Manager Eleanor Parker at [email protected], or visit atlasrestaurant.com.