In the wake of the devastation caused by Hurricane Harvey and Hurricane Irma, major players in NYC’s food and beverage industry are joining forces for an all-out feast benefitting relief efforts both on the Gulf Coast and in the southeastern U.S.
On September 24th, the NYC Loves TX and FL party at the Pier A Harbor House brings together the likes of World’s Best Bar, The Dead Rabbit, critically-acclaimed Peruvian gastropub Llama Inn, and more. Organized by journalist Jenny Adams, bartender Lynnette Marrero and Alba Huerta of Houston, Texas’ Julep, the event will donate every cent raised to the John Besh foundation, which is already on the ground in both Texas and Florida.
Chef John Besh, a Louisiana native, first created the John Besh Foundation as a way to provide high-quality meals to emergency responders and hurricane victims affected by Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans. Since then, the foundation has been instrumental in providing over 20,000 meals to victims in Houston, and is currently serving Florida communities that are in dire need of food. At the party, Chef Besh will be on-site serving up his signature plates and speaking as a guest of honor.
For $75, guests can sip BlackTail mojitos while perusing silent auction items including helicopter excursions, cocktail crawls and classes from esteemed bartenders, also to support the cause. Bump that to $125 to get in early for a VIP hour of oysters and vodka (and, of course, for the satisfaction knowing you’re helping the folks who need it most).
If you’re in NYC but unable to attend the event, there are plenty of other ways to help with hurricane relief, including visiting these restaurants and bars in September:
- Agern Restaurant in Midtown is serving half-priced cocktails if you donate canned food, which will go to Houston’s Food Bank
- In Good Company Hospitality (Refinery Rooftop, Park Avenue Tavern, Parker and Quinn, Winnie’s Jazz Bar, and Trademark Taste + Grind), are selling their own renditions of a $14 Harvey Wallbanger cocktail, where 100 percent of sales will go toward Team Rubicon
- Union Square Hospitality Group is serving a Tito’s Texas Relief Cocktail at participating restaurants, where $10 from each drink sold will benefit hurricane relief efforts
- Speedy Romeo and Slice Out Hunger are offering a Lone Star Pizza, topped with barbeque sauce and brisket, and donating $10 from each pizza to Houston’s aid
NYC Loves TX & FL takes place on September 24th from 4-8pm at the Pier A Harbor House. Get your tickets here.