Burlap, garden flower bouquets, Company Burger… and your pets are able to join the party?
Edible Evening @ Home took place on March 3-5, 2021, and featured many of our favorite elements from our annual garden party under the stars while welcoming some new additions to our at-home version.
Thanks to all of our sponsors, patrons, and supporters, Edible Evening @ Home raised over $130,000 to support FirstLine’s Edible Schoolyard New Orleans (ESYNOLA) program. Funds will be used to help educators provide hands-on and home-based garden and culinary education to the nearly 3,000 PreK-8th grade students and their families we serve at Samuel J. Green Charter School, Arthur Ashe Charter School, Langston Hughes Academy, and Phillis Wheatley Community School.
This year’s special pivot allowed us to support the local restaurant community that has struggled due to the economic impact of the pandemic. Many of our restaurant partners have donated to Edible Evening in the past or volunteered as chef mentors for our students, in culinary classes and at events. In all, we were able to give back over $20,000 to 35 local restaurants through the event. Thank you again to the restaurants who made a special menu for EE@Home patrons: • 1000 Figs • 2Brothers1Love • Addis NOLA • Black Roux Collective • Brigsten’s • Carmo • Clancy’s • Cure • The Company Burger • Dank Azz Boards • Dooky Chase’s • Galatoire’s • Gracious Bakery • Kitchen Table Café • Liberty’s Kitchen • Milkfish • Pizza Delicious • Ralph’s on the Park • Sugah Li’s Catering • Toups’ Meatery • Turkey & the Wolf • Zasu.
While dining at home, patrons enjoyed Presqu’ile Wines and a speciality cocktail crafted by Cure with Roulasion rum, and papaya and ginger from our school gardens. Some packages also included “DIY with ESY” crafts: an ESYNOLA Recipe Coloring Book and make-your-own tea with fresh dried garden herbs. In the silent auction, supporters could purchase a garden class or family food night at home, or planters from the greenhouse.
A new addition this year was that some supporters donated meals to teachers and school families, providing another opportunity to support local restaurants. Donors gave $2,650 to the meal fund for teachers, and $5,700 to the meal fund for families. We hope the restaurant gift cards provide relief during what has been a challenging year for us all.
While we certainly missed the joy of being in a school garden together, Edible Evening @ Home brought exuberant connections and a taste of our programming into the homes of supporters. Thank you for helping us continue the Edible Evening magic, and for sharing with us your experiences, photos, and festive floral fashion! We hope to see you next year for Edible Evening 2022!
Thank you again to our wonderful sponsors for making this event possible: The Murphy Foundation, TABASCO Brand Pepper Sauce, The Times-Picayune/The New Orleans Advocate, Miggy & Jay Monroe, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana, Capital One, Angel Wings Foundation, Anonymous Friend of FirstLine, Cathy & Hunter Pierson, Mrs. Bertie Deming Smith, Shannon & Jerry Daigle, and Corey & David Rittvo.
