D.C. Restaurants Find All Kinds of Ways to Contribute to Hurricane Harvey Relief Efforts

The devastating effects of Hurricane Harvey continue to ravage south Texas, and D.C.’s hospitality scene wants to help. A fundraising effort led by DC Brau Brewing Co. and Boundary Stone is asking restaurants, bars, and breweries to donate at least 10 percent of sales on Saturday, September 2 to the cause. The goal is to give $25,000 or more to the American Red Cross to fund relief efforts.

At least 10 establishments have already signed on, including DC Reynolds, New Columbia Distillers, 1905, El Camino, ANXO Cidery and Tasting Room, All-Purpose Pizzeria, The Red Hen, and Looking Glass Lounge.

“If you own a bar, a restaurant, a hotel, a brewery, a distillery, please consider donating something toward our goal,” the organizers say in a statement. Email DC Brau co-founder Brandon Skall (brandon@DCBrau.com) to join the list of participating venues.

DC Brau plans to donate 100 percent of all proceeds from Saturday’s tasting room sales to help Texas rebuild. Anyone can donate to the Red Cross online here.

Additional relief efforts are underway across the city. Here’s a roundup of the growing list:

• A fundraiser is slated for Friday, September 1 at Hill Country Barbecue in Penn Quarter.

• From Wednesday, August 30 to Friday, September 1, all Mike Isabella Concepts restaurants — including Arroz, G, Graffiato, Kapnos, Kapnos Kouzina, Kapnos Taverna, Pepita, Requin, and Yona — will donate $1 for every cocktail sold to hurricane relief organizations.
• Starting Saturday, both Taco Bamba locations (Falls Church, Vienna) will donate proceeds from the week-long sale of a brisket taco to the cause. And its chef Victor Albisu, a board member of World Central Kitchen, is traveling to Houston to cook and distribute food to those affected.
• Restaurateur Jeff Black and his employees are personally affected by the crisis; the Bellaire, Texas native operates several taco shops throughout Houston. As such, Black and his wife, Barbara, have pledged to match dollar-for-dollar (up to $100,000) donations made by guests at all area Black Restaurant Group properties — including Pearl Dive Oyster Palace, Black Jack, Tilt Side Bar, BlackSalt, Black’s Bar and Kitchen, Black Market Bistro, Republic, and newly resurrected Addie’s — between Thursday, August 31 and Thursday, September 14. Guest can add donations directly to the bill at each establishment.
• In Petworth, Best New Restaurant Himitsu plans to open on Sunday, September 3, and Monday, September 4 for regular dinner service and a fried chicken-led lunch pop-up, with 100 percent of the proceeds flowing through to The Greater Houston Community Foundation and The United Way. The neighborhood restaurant is also donating 10 percent of sales throughout this week to aid group, Feeding Texas.
• Over in Blagden Alley, Tiger Fork is directing 100 percent of the proceeds from the sale of grilled cobia collar to the cause.

• Starting Friday, September 1, $1 from every Tito's Handmade Vodka cocktail sold at Cuba Libre Restaurant & Rum Bar will be donated to hurricane relief. The goal is to raise $20,000; Tito’s is expected to match a percentage of the contributions.

Photo: Cuba Libre

• Texas-based Del Frisco’s Restaurant Group wants to donate $1 million to Houston area food banks. Now through Monday, September 4, 20 percent of sales at its 53 restaurants, including the D.C. steak house, will be directed toward that goal.
• Vida Fitness will donate proceeds from smoothie sales throughout Labor Day weekend to the Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund. All six locations’ fuel bars will be open to the public, whipping up a special Harvey Smoothie.
• On Thursday, August 31, local ThinkFoodGroup restaurants (China Chilcano, Oyamel, Zaytinya, all area Jaleo locations) will be donating 5 percent of sales toward the Red Cross in participation with DineOut4Houston. And on Saturday, September 2, each Jose Andres restaurant will have a special donation menu item available for $100. For every $100 dish ordered, ThinkFoodGroup will donate that along with a matching $100 donation to the World Central Kitchen Chef Network.