@altonbrown
During my tenure running a charitable feeding program, I held numerous fundraising events and have come up with a cash-flow idea for chefs, far and wide, that are struggling during this challenging time.
I'm calling this idea, Virtual Virtue Restaurant (by all means, tweak the name)
Here's how it would work:
Host a virtual cooking demonstration and meal service using a platform like Zoom
Recruit a food sponsor to provide your virtual patrons with the ingredients for the dish you will be demonstrating and that they will be cooking at home (maybe approach #WholeFoods, #Publix, #Aldis, #Walmart)
Sell tickets (the price will include the cost of the ingredients to be delivered to your patrons from your food sponsor)
After your demonstration, visit each virtual table and talk to your patrons as they enjoy their meals
Do this nightly? Weekly? Get other chefs involved?
I would personally love to spend an evening at an exclusive restaurant, where a celebrity chef comes to the table and asks if I am enjoying my meal. But in the best of times, an evening like that would be cost prohibitive for many. In our new reality, maybe access to a celebrity chef doesn't have to break the bank. And an added perk? If the kid at the table next to you starts screaming, just hit MUTE!
Make your event unique - raffle off autographed cookbooks, cooking equipment, signature sauces, whatever you want, just make the night awesome. I hope someone, somewhere, may benefit from this hairbrained idea. Good luck and Bon Appetite!
Sincerely,
Chef and Author, Trina Spillman