The storm is over, but the repairs continue. Help your farmers – TODAY
By Francine Cohen

Why is a good idea today for you to find yourself within arm’s reach of a restaurant kitchen even if you’re not working? Because 124+ of the city’s (and local area’s) finest and most delicious dining establishments are participating in DineOut Irene.

Grab a bite at one of these spots and 10% of your check will be donated to local farmers who felt the bite of the recent storm and need some help getting back on their feet.

Event creator, Gabriella Gershenson of Saveur (www.saveur.com), explains how this very important program came together, “As a food writer, so much of what I do is encourage people to eat local. So when Hurricane Irene damaged so many of area farms, so dramatically, it seemed wrong not to try and help. This particular approach seemed manageable (I also have a full time job!), sufficiently straightforward, and a great way to raise funds quickly.”

She continues, “First of all, we have an amazing food community here in New York. Food writers, restaurateurs, chefs; this experience taught me that they really look out for one another. I think everyone felt the urgency of this situation, because we’ve grown to truly cherish and rely on our local farms, and the extent of the damage seems unfathomable. On a logistical level, I made a lot of phone calls, sent out a lot of emails, and did a lot of learning as I went. And I got moving fast–just a few days after the hurricane hit and the damage was coming to light. There have also been a lot of great people helping along the way.”

Bill Telepan, of the eponymous restaurant, is participating. He shared that fact with his guests and subscribers to his newsletter as he wrote in this week’s update, “We will participate in a fund-raising event to aid local farmers hit hard by Hurricane Irene. Join us for dinner this Sunday September 25th, and we will donate 10% of our sales to funds set up by NYC non-profits Greenmarket and Just Food. Proceeds will assist those family farmers recover from severe crop loss, clean their fields, and begin planting for a better season next year. We encourage you to plan your night out and enjoy a delicious dinner at Telepan. Visit http://dineoutirene.com for more details.”

Philippe Massoud, the chef/owner of ilili, is another chef who immediately rises to the occasion when there’s a tragedy. This isn’t his first time at the rodeo, and it comes as no surprise as he comments, “Giving back and helping out is what makes us human, it’s a duty for me personally. Who better than our neighbouring farmers they do so much for us.”

It’s the goal of DineOut Irene to raise $100,000 in this one day of dining. That money can go a long way to helping those farmers who are always there for us. Gershenon concludes, “As far as the improvements that I’m hoping will be made, I leave that in the able hands of the people at Just Food (www.justfood.org ) and GrowNYC (www.grownyc.org) who are distributing the funds. If we can make a real, positive difference in the quality of life of these farmers; just help them get back on their feet, that would be enormous.”

PARTICIPATING RESTAURANTS
Check in regularly for updates. Restaurants are participating all day on Sunday, September 25, 2011, unless otherwise stated. Scroll all the way down to see who’s participating outside of New York City.

Aldea (participating Monday, September 26)
al di là
Annisa
Andaz 5th Avenue
Asia de Cuba
A Voce Columbus (brunch)
Balaboosta
Bar Basque
Bark Hot Dogs
The Bar Room at The Modern (dinner)
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)
Bobo
Brindle Room
The Brooklyn Kitchen*
Buttermilk Channel
Cafe Joul
China Grill
Colonie (dinner)
Corsino Cantina (dinner)
Dig Inn (all locations)
Do Or Dine (dinner; participating Monday, September 26)
Ed’s Chowder House
Egg
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
Gente (dinner)
Gramercy Tavern (dinner)
Greensquare Tavern (brunch)
The Green Table
HENRY’s (dinner)
Highpoint Bistro & Bar (brunch)
Hill Country (dinner)
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
LIC Market (brunch)
Locanda Vini e Olii
Macao Trading Co.
Maialino (dinner)
Marc Forgione (brunch)
The Meat Hook*
Mile End Delicatessen
Monkey Bar (participating Monday, September 26)
The National
Northern Spy Food Co.
Oaxaca Taqueria (all locations)
Oceana (dinner)
Olives
Osteria del Circo (dinner)
Palo Santo (brunch)
Park Avenue Autumn (dinner)
Picnic Market & Cafe
The Plaza Food Hall by Todd English (dinner)
RED (dinner)
Red Farm
Red Rooster (dinner)
Riverpark
Robicelli’s*
Rose Water (dinner)
Rucola (dinner)
Salumeria Rosi
SD26 (dinner)
SHO Shaun Hergatt (participating Monday, September 26)
Socarrat Paella Bar (all locations)
Spot Dessert Bar (brunch and lunch)
Suenos (dinner)
Taïm
Tanuki Tavern
Telepan (dinner)
Tipsy Parson (dinner)
Tocqueville (participating Monday, September 26)
The Trilby (brunch and lunch)
Tulsi
Txikito (dinner)
Union Square Cafe (dinner)
Untitled at the Whitney (dinner)
Upstate Craft Beer & Oyster Bar (brunch and lunch)
Wallsé
The Waverly Inn
‘wichcraft (all NYC locations)
Wonder City Coffee & Donut Bar

Participants outside of New York City:
Bandwagon Brew Pub (Ithaca, New York)
Birdsall House (dinner; Peekskill, New York)
The Bistro at Red Newt Cellars (Hector, New York)
Blue Mountain Bistro To Go (Kingston, New York)
Cha Cha Hut BBQ (Andes, New York)
The Cup and Saucer Restaurant and Tea Room (brunch and lunch; Beacon, New York)
Meritage Restaurant (dinner; Scarsdale, New York)
Ramiro’s 954 (Mahopac, New York)
River City Grille (Irvington, New York)
Simply Red Bistro (Ovid, New York)
Stissing House (Pine Plains, New York)
Sweet Grass Grill (Tarrytown, New York)
Taste of Thai Express (Ithaca, New York)
Tavern Restaurant at Highlands Country Club (brunch and lunch; Garrison, New York)
Tomatillo (Dobbs Ferry, New York)
The Villa (dinner; Lagrangeville, New York)

*This establishment is not a restaurant, but a percentage of the day’s purchases will benefit Dine Out Irene.