Good Deed Tuesday: Dining Out for Life Returns on April 28, 2016

[ 2 ] April 12, 2016 | Johnna

Hearing about the works of the day in an organization and working there for a day give you two totally different perspectives. Recently, I got the opportunity to check out the Food & Friends facilities. “Food & Friends is the only organization in the Washington, DC, area providing medically necessary food, vital nutrition counseling and comforting friendship to people living with HIV/AIDS, cancer, diabetes and other life-challenging illnesses. In 2015, the organization served more than one million meals.” I was amazed at the operation of this facility. Things were run so smoothly without a lot of fuss and micro managers in the kitchen allowing me to really feel like I was involved this process (I have certainly worked with other organizations that barely let you tie your apron on your own…le sigh).

Everyone is assigned their jobs once they sign in, get a brief overview of the facilities and get their aprons/hair nets on. I was assigned to the eggplant parmesan and chicken parmesan preparation stations. The hardest part was mentally telling myself I could not nibble while I worked, the food looked and smelled so good. The ease of having a good lead chef in the kitchen made the experience fun and memorable, I did not want to leave! Perhaps the part I appreciate the most about the entire process is how much attention to detail is put into each dish, every person receiving these meals are getting the same quality as someone paying for restaurant quality food. The produce is fresh and the ingredients are stored with such organization, I began to rethink all the violations I have going on in my own refrigerator.

Getting over to the facilities could be a challenge for most because of schedules and time conflicts, which is why I appreciate the organizations annual Dining Out for Life fundraiser. “On Thursday, April 28th, diners across the Washington metro region will stand up against HIV/AIDS, cancer and other life-challenging illnesses by sitting down at restaurants participating in this year’s Dining Out for Life® fundraiser (www.foodandfriends.org/dol) benefitting Food & Friends. Now in its 28th year in Washington, DC, Food & Friends enlists the benevolence of area eateries – from Hyattsville to Shirlington, from Dupont Circle to Georgetown – in support of children and adults facing life-challenging illnesses who benefit from the organization’s nutrition services. More than 70 area restaurants (and counting!) have pledged to contribute 25% to 110% of that day’s proceeds to directly benefit Food & Friends’ programs and clients in the National Capital Region.”

Dine out on April 28 and give back? A good excuse to leave your kitchen for the night. You can find a list of the participating restaurants here.

Tags: dining out for life, donate, Food & Friends, md, VA, washington dc

Category: Announcements, Donate, MD, VA, Washington D.C.

About the Author (Author Profile)

Johnna French is a Harlem NY native with deep roots in Panama, Washington, DC and North Carolina. All four places have heavily influenced her life and the foods she loves today. After graduating Howard University School of Law and beginning her life as a young professional in the city she was led to start Johnna Knows Good Food in November 2007 to keep family, friends and colleagues updated on where to go and what to eat while dining in the nation’s capitol. French, who still practices law, leads a team of three writers to cover the ever expanding Washington, DC food scene. French has been featured in print and television, appearing in Washingtonian Magazine and is a regular contributor to various local TV affiliates including WUSA 9, FOX 5 DC and WJLA (ABC Affiliate) News Channel 8. During the 2016-2017 football season, Johnna aired on Comcast Sports Mid-Atlantic (CSN) show, Redskins Life, as the weekly tailgate host. Johnna is currently a regular contributor to the FOX Baltimore Weekend morning show.