James Beard Award-winning chef Nancy Silverton is teaming up with a Kentucky distiller to feed local out-of-work restaurant employees Thursday.
Maker’s Mark announced the partnership Wednesday, which includes $50,000 in funds to buy food and supplies to support the masses of laid-off restaurant staff. Silverton retweeted the announcement on her Twitter page.
The program is expected to beging Thursday night and will last two weeks, with extra funding that will go on beyond that date. Meals will be served from Silverton’s Mozza2Go.
Silverton was recommended by Edward Lee, chef/owner of a trio of Louisville, Kentucky, restaurants: 610 Magnolia, MilkWood and Whiskey Dry, and author of cookbooks, “Smoke & Pickles” and “Buttermilk Graffiti.”
The Mozza/Maker’s Mark project will likely be very similar to Lee’s at his 610 Magnolia restaurant. Every night hundreds of to-go meals, in addition to items like diapers, wipes, baby food, canned foods and cereals, toilet paper and Tylenol will be offered seven days a week until otherwise noted and pick-up times will be from 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Workers will be required to provide a recent pay stub or other proof of restaurant employment.
The Maker’s Mark collaboration will also be implemented in several other U.S. cities.
Silverton reportedly thanked Lee, saying she was “honored” and “won’t let you down.”