Dine Out Irene Fundraiser Set For September 25th

Hardly reeling from the wind and rain of Irene, the city of New York dodged a bullet.  Though technically a hurricane, Irene was what we on the Gulf Coast call a nuisance storm (see Lee).  For the farmers in upstate New York, however, Irene has proven to be way more than just a nuisance.

Those effected are not the rich Manhattan socialites you picture when you think of New Yorkers but rather they are farmers.  They are common folk just like those you find in Mississippi or Nebraska or Iowa.  And just like all farmers in this nation they struggle to make ends meat because their farm subsidies go to large agri-business corporations instead of to the family farms that President Reagan intended them for.

An estimated 140,000 acres of farmland in New York State have been flooded.  Flooded is really not a strong enough term.  They’ve been flooded as in Noah flooded.  Upstate New York has been Gilgamesh-ed.  That being said they are our neighbors and they need our help.

On Sunday September 25th, participating NYC restaurants will give up to 10% of their sales to Just Food and GrowNYC to benefit NY area farmers hard hit by the hurricane.  For more information you can visit the Dine Out Irene web site (HERE) for updates on participating eateries.

Not going to be in New York at the end of the month?  No problem, you can donate HERE.  If you are then here’s the current list:

These establishments are participating all day on Sunday, September 25, 2011, unless otherwise stated.

Aldea (participating Monday, September 26)
Asia de Cuba
A Voce Columbus (brunch)
Bar Basque
Bark Hot Dogs
Benjamin Steakhouse
Betto (dinner)
Bistro de la Gare (dinner)
Blue Hill (a percentage of sales of the Farmers Feast tasting menu benefits Dine Out Irene)
Brindle Room
The Brooklyn Kitchen*
Buttermilk Channel
Cafe Joul
China Grill
Colonie (dinner)
Corsino Cantina (dinner)
Do Or Dine (participating Monday, September 26)
Ed’s Chowder House
Ember Room (brunch and lunch)
Fatty Crab (all NYC locations)
Fatty ‘Cue (all locations)
Fatty ‘Cue at the Battery*
Fatty Snack* (all locations)
Franny’s
Greensquare Tavern (brunch)
The Green Table
Highpoint Bistro & Bar (brunch)
The Hurricane Club (dinner)
ICE – Tomato Lover’s Cooking Class, 75% of tuition benefits Dine Out Irene
ici
ilili
‘ino (dinner)
‘inoteca cucina (dinner)
‘inoteca liquori(dinner)
Jack the Horse Tavern
James Beard Foundation (brunch)
Jimmy’s No. 43
Kefi
La Gazzetta
La Palapa
Macao Trading Co.
The Meat Hook*
Mile End Delicatessen
Monkey Bar (participating Monday, September 26)
The National
Northern Spy Food Co.
Oceana (dinner)
Olives
Osteria del Circo (dinner)
Palo Santo
Park Avenue Autumn (dinner)
The Plaza Food Hall (dinner)
RED (dinner)
Red Farm
Red Rooster (dinner)
Riverpark
Robicelli’s*
Salumeria Rosi
SD26 (dinner)
SHO Shaun Hergatt (participating Monday, September 26)
Socarrat Paella Bar (both locations)
Spot Dessert Bar (brunch and lunch)
Suenos
Tanuki Tavern
Telepan (dinner)
Tipsy Parson (dinner)
Tocqueville (participating Monday, September 26)
The Trilby (brunch and lunch)
Wallsé
The Waverly Inn
‘wichcraft (all NYC locations)
Wonder City Coffee & Donut Bar

Participants outside of New York City:
Birdsall House (Peekskill, New York)
The Bistro at Red Newt Cellars (Hector, New York)
Cha Cha Hut BBQ (Andes, New York)
The Cup and Saucer Restaurant and Tea Room (Beacon, New York)
Simply Red Bistro (Ovid, New York)
Sweet Grass Grill (Tarrytown, New York)
Tavern Restaurant at Highlands Country Club (Garrison, New York)
Tomatillo (Dobbs Ferry, New York)
Valley Restaurant at the Garrison (Garrison, New York)
*This establishment is not a restaurant, but a percentage of the day’s purchases will benefit Dine Out Irene.