Do The Right Thing

A promise is a promise.

So seeing as how I just won this challenge and $500 for the above linked Moose Island scallop dish and bare bone account of my competitive nature, I will be donating the $500 prize to a charity.

And as a gesture of good will to the pursuit of heavy partying and Chef Art Smith – who’s throwing his 50th birthday  party with his Common Threads group on the evening of my 4oth blowout - I have bought 2 tickets and am officially auctioning them off for the world of Phil-anthrophy.

2/28/ Update - As I was cleaning dishes this morning, I recalled reading about a benefit for a member of the hospitality industry who had just fallen on hard times. So thanks to Tatianna who is an old friend from my first tour of Chicago in 2000 that now goes under the name of The Gourmet Rambler, I learned that the family of the former Paramount beverage manager, Shawn Koch was in need. And then I also recalled a local business that is on the market (considering for my wife’s venture). The owner of the business has been forced out by cancer and whose business is being liquidated. I haven’t spoken with either of the families yet, but will split half of the donations to their respectful families. I have a hard time believing it won’t be accepted, so help anyway you can.

3/1 Update – Seeing as how Oprah just donated $250,000 to Common Threads, I am happy that the proceeds to this have been redirected. Then again, we have only one responder after about 1000 views of the post! And that was for $100 by a friend who I know needs his funds likely as much as I could’ve used the $500 in the first place.
As such, this $100 starting bid for the pair of tickets.  I encourage anybody and everybody to donate even $1, and I will be donating my tips from the bartending night to these 2 families in desperate need.  Be generous. As a member of the food service industry, this strikes very close to home, and I can’t help sounding like my Mom when I write, that there but for the grace of God go I.

FINAL UPDATE – Ok, this whole concoction has been very fly by night and I’m making it up as I go. I have reached out now to parties close to the families and will have the names of the funds to donate to. So – if you are looking to, just send me a quick email to thepickledtongue@gmail.com and I will get back in touch as soon as possible. What is likely to happen is that a facebook group will be formed, but be please be patient.
Additionally – If you’re planning on bringing gifts to the party tonight, bring green as this will go directly to these soon 2 be formed funds. Finally, as the guest bartender gets tipped out at the end of the night, my portion received from gratuities will as well, so be sure to invite  Benji, Jack, and Andy to the party!

The tickets for the event are officially gone!

A very big thank you must also go out to Carl Galvan and Supreme Lobster Carl is a true artisan that is always pushing the envelope, and has  brought me more close to more great product than any fish purveyor I’ve known in my 23 year career. A very big thank you also goes to Eleanor Leichenko of Common Threads for being so understanding of my being a weasel, and to the incomparable Louisa Chu for getting the whole thing turned around so fast.

So – for all the times I’ve either entertained or repulsed you on The Pickled Tongue blog – I would like for my 40th birthday gift from you to be remembered as the day good was done. So please be generous.

And many thanks to all who have been part of my first 40 years in this crazy thing called Life, and most of all to my family!