Building off the success of last year’s Dine Out for Earth, we expanded our signature annual fundraiser in Denver to include the local and sustainable food and beverage movement in California, offering TWO Dine Out for Earth celebrity chef events. Both Dine Out events were headed up by our own Advisory Board Member and celebrity chef Charlie Ayers (Calafia Café, Google). We are happy to report that both were unmitigated successes, combining to raise over $10,000 for Rock the Earth!
In Colorado, we were able to attract the participation of local culinary heroes Daniel Asher (Root Down/Linger), Justin Brunson (Old Major), Paul Reilly (Beast + Bottle), Jonathan Power (The Populist) and Matt Selby (Central Bistro). Held on Sunday, April 12, in Denver’s popular LoHi neighborhood at Linger, the dining experience also included beer donated by Great Divide Brewing Company, wine from Seamus Winery, and spirits from Leopold Bros.
Over 60 people attended the second year event in Denver, featuring a menu of food containing locally-derived ingredients, as well as a successful silent auction full of art, music memorabilia, concert tickets and outdoor gear.
Special thanks to all of the chefs who participated in this amazing event, and especially Chef Ayers and the Edible Beats team (Daniel Asher, Megan Baldwin, and Eric Jennings). Additional thanks to our wonderful sponsors, DJ Russo (who added music to the atmosphere), and Johnson & Wales University Culinary School for helping to provide student volunteers, all of whom contributed their time in making the event a success!
Final thanks to the following who provided items for the event’s Silent Auction:
Icelantic skis
Patagonia
AEG Live Rocky Mountains
LiveNation
Mountain Sun Breweries
Cry Baby Ranch
Scramble Campbell
David B. Smith Gallery
Furthur Frames
Taylor Guitars
Arise Music Festival
Tattered Cover
The Kitchen
Pink Frog Studios
Wines off Wynkoop
Coohills
Philantopia
Sonos
Meanwhile, at Dine Out for Earth California, Chef Ayers hosted an equally successful event, enjoyed by Bay Area foodies and music lovers alike! Designed as a fundraiser for both Rock the Earth and Earth Day San Francisco, the event was held on Friday, April 17, at Chef Charlie’s Calafia Palo Alto restaurant, where Chef Ayers was joined by fellow Calafia chefs Chef Frank Otte, Chef Kelly Olazar, as well as Chef Hiroo Nagahara (formerly of Bar Charlie, Charlie Trotter Restaurant Group, Las Vegas), Chef Mani Niall (Sweet Bar Bakery, Oakland) and Chef James Hall (RawDaddy Foods). The dining experience also included beer donated by Palo Alto Brewing Company, and wine from Seamus Winery, Whitcraft Winery and Domenico Winery.
Nearly 70 people attended this inaugural event. Big thanks also to Dan Lebowitz (ALO) and Bo Carper and Rajiv Parikh (New Monsoon), who delighted the Dine Out California crowd with some amazing tunes.
Special thanks to all of the chefs who participated in this amazing event as well as the Calafia and Earth Day San Francisco teams.
