Washington, D.C., chef Jose Andres on Thursday announced some high profile support in his quest to feed 800,000 federal workers who've been furloughed by the government shutdown.
Celebrity chefs Emeril Lagasse, Ming Tsai, Andrew Zimmern and Rick Bayless are among the big names who have signed on to participate in #ChefsForFeds.
Other familiar restaurant names include Michael Mina, Ludo Lefebrve, Stephanie Izard and Hugh Acheson. In addition, restaurant groups such as sweetgreen, and food trucks in Florida, California, Puerto Rico and Little Rock, Arkansas are taking part.
Under #ChefsForFeds, restaurants across the country are offering free hot meals for government employees and their families. The movement began in Washington, which is Andres' home base, and home to the majority of furloughed workers. It quickly picked up speed across the country as individual restaurants joined in.
The project is based at World Central Kitchen, the charity that Andres used for an extensive food drive in Puerto Rico. The initial list of participating #ChefsForFeds restaurants can be found here. Hours vary by restaurant.
Many of the high profile chefs are designating one of their restaurants as the place where federal workers and family members can find meals.
For instance, Lagasse is providing meals at NOLA, his restaurant on St. Louis Street in New Orleans. Zimmern is providing meals at his new restaurant, Lucky Cricket, in St. Louis Park, Minnesota. Meanwhile, Bayless is offering meals at XOCO, his casual restaurant on Clark Street in Chicago, while Izard is providing them at her Little Goat Diner.
Vivian Howard, whose television program A Chef's Life earned a following on PBS, is participating through her Wilmington, NC, restaurant Benny's Big Time.
Meanwhile, Michelle Bernstein's Miami Beach restaurant, La Trova, is also taking part.
Federal workers will need to bring government IDs in order to receive the free fare.
The #ChefsForFeds effort is still signing up more restaurants and food trucks, and is looking for volunteers.
The full article can be found here: Forbes.com
