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Updated Sept. 2
In hard times we come together. That’s the phrase chef Eli Kulp used when he launched the hashtag #Chefs4Houston — a social media campaign to inspire restaurants and bars to help out with Houston area flood relief.
Following that mantra, Kulp announced Tuesday that all of the Philly and NYC restaurants he co-owns with Ellen Yin in their High Street Hospitality Group (HSHG) would be donating proceeds from a special dish to Hurricane Harvey recovery efforts. It was originally promoted as a one-night thing, Kulp told Billy Penn, but not anymore: “We will be extending it through Labor Day because of the amazing response we had.”
Several Philadelphia area restaurateurs joined the campaign right away, and many are also planning to extend their donation specials throughout the week.
Kulp is hoping more continue to sign on — “I would like to see this build momentum as much as possible,” he said — noting that the best way is to simply use the hashtag and keep track of the funds until he organizes a specific course of action: “I am working with a chef down there right now to find the best way to get the money directly to individuals in the restaurant and hospitality industry.”
Other local bars and restaurants are also stepping up to help various assistance efforts in Texas, like caring for stranded or abandoned pets and helping get needed supplies to babies and seniors.
Manatawny Still Works is postponing a weekend fundraiser for a local nonprofit to direct money to Houston organizations, for example, and Marcie Turney and Valerie Safran have designated September 5 as their day to fundraise, donating 10 percent of all sales at all of their We Love 13th Street businesses to Directrelief.org and the Texas Diaper Bank. And Avram Hornik’s FCM Hospitality is donating all proceeds from all locations at sales all day on August 31.
Here, in alphabetical order, are 16 — wait, make that 46 Philly-area spots where you can eat or drink to help victims of Harvey.
a.kitchen
135 S. 18th St.
Through Labor Day, at this HSHG spot in the AKA Rittenhouse, order the featured dish and 100 percent of proceeds from it will be donated. Right now chef de cuisine Eli Collins is featuring roasted veal loin with charred green onions, smoked carrot romesco and hazelnuts.
Banh Street
832 N. Bethlehem Pike, Ambler
Chef Chad Rosenthal’s sandwich spot that offers twists on Vietnamese hoagies is donating 50 percent of proceeds from the sale of the rib-eye banh mi from Friday, Sept. 1, through Sunday, Sept. 3 to the #Chefs4Houston cause.
Barbuzzo
110 S. 13th St.
Dine at this Turney-Safran Mediterranean spot on 13th Street on Tuesday, Sept. 5 — 10 percent of all sales will be donated.
Bourbon Blue
2 Rector St.
At this NOLA-inspired Manayunk restaurant, owner Brenden McGrew is designating blackened tilapia as his #Chefs4Houston dish, and will be donating 100 percent of proceeds from it throughout the week.
Bud & Marilyn’s
1234 Locust St.
Tuck into the old school comfort food at Turney and Safran’s throwback restaurant at 13th and Locust on Tuesday, Sept. 5 — 10 percent of all sales will be donated.
Cafe Ynez
2025 Washington Ave.
Now through Sunday, Sept. 3, hit up the Mexico City-inspired cafe on the edge of Graduate Hospital for a pato con mole (duck in mole sauce); 50 percent of sales from that dish will be donated to the Pediatric Advance Care Team at Texas Children’s Hospital to help families of children currently undergoing palliative care.
Cuba Libre
10 S. 2nd St.
This Cuban oasis in Old City teamed up with Tito’s vodka to run a drink deal benefiting relief efforts in Texas and Louisiana (which has also experienced flooding). Starting September 1, every Tito’s cocktail will net $2 toward the cause — $1 from the restaurant and a match from the liquor company — up to a grand total of $20,000.
Culture on Tap
City Hall courtyard
The pop-up beer garden in the City Hall courtyard is run by FCM Hospitality, so on Thursday, Aug. 31, all proceeds will be donated to the Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund, which was established by Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner.
Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steakhouse
1426 Chestnut St.
Througout Labor Day weekend (now through close of business on Monday, Sept. 4), 20 percent of all sales at this Center City meat and martini palace will go to help Harvey victims.
Di Bruno Bros.
1730 Chestnut St., 834 Chestnut St., 930 S. 9th St.
From Friday, Sept. 1, through Monday, Sept. 4, each location of this Italian and local specialty gourmet grocery will donate 5 percent of all cheese sales to Harvey relief efforts.
Dolphin Tavern
1539 S. Broad St.
Thursday, Aug. 31, is the night that FCM Hospitality’s revamped dive and music venue will donate all receipts from all food and drink sales to the cause.
Eclat Chocolate
24 S. High St., West Chester
Chocolate maestro Chris Curtin “took Eli’s inspiring words and turned them into caramels.” Specifically, starting Wednesday, Aug. 30, and continuing throughout the week, all proceeds from the shop’s 16-piece caramel box will go toward the #Chefs4Houston fund.
Federal Donuts
1632 Sansom St., 701 N. 7th St., 1219 S. 2nd St., 3428 Sansom St.
The CookNSolo sweets and chicken joint had a special Maker’s Mark fancy donut planned for National Bourbon Heritage Month — a peanut caramel apple donut that is supposed to pair perfectly with the brown spirit. It’s available throughout September, and 100 percent of the proceeds from its sale will go to the Houston Food Bank. Even better, Maker’s Mark is matching the donation dollar for dollar.
Fork
306 Market St.
Through Labor Day at this 20-year-old HSHG destination in Old City, order the featured potato gnocchi with chanterelle mushrooms and bacon, and 100 percent of proceeds from it will be donated.
The Good King Tavern
614 S. 7th St.
On Sunday, Sept. 3, this Bella Vista bistro is hosting a “Mussels” against Harvey fundraiser. Throughout the day, from brunch through latenight, 100 percent of sales from all mussels will be donated to Houston relief.
High Street on Market
308 Market St.
At the HSHG Old City flagship, order the featured dish by chef de cuisine Jon Nodler — fresh tagliatelle with sweet corn, scallops, smoked ham and lime — and 100 percent of proceeds from it will be donated. Continues through Labor Day.
ITV
1615 E. Passyunk Ave.
Bartenders at Nicholas Elmi’s East Passyunk cocktail lounge are currently sourcing a beer and a spirit from Texas to come up with a special drink from which proceeds will be donated. Until they’ve got that one together, the charity dish will be the sea bream, a white flaky fish that’s topped with summer ragu and lobster broth.
Jamonera
105 S. 13th St.
Turney and Safran’s 13th Street Spanish tapas dining room will donate 10 percent of all sales Tuesday, Sept. 5.
Jet Wine Bar
1525 South St.
Through Sunday, Sept. 3, sip one of bar manager (and Billy Penn Who’s Nexter) Amanda Juner’s special gimlets, made with Tito’s, fresh lime, earl grey tea and mint syrup. Five dollars from each drink will be donated to Houston Pets Alive.
Laurel
1617 E. Passyunk Ave.
Until the sought-after seasonal mushrooms run out, 100 percent of proceeds from sales of the rich truffle gnocchi dish at Nicholas Elmi’s East Passyunk BYOB will be donated to #Chefs4Houston efforts.
Little Nonna’s
1234 Locust St.
Honor your Italian grandma’s goodwill (or any grandma’s goodwill) at this Turney and Safran’s elevated red gravy house on Tuesday, Sept. 5 — 10 percent of all sales will be donated.
Lolita
106 S. 13th St.
The Turney-Safran original 13th Street spot, their popular modern Mexican will also donate 10 percent of all sales on Tuesday, Sept. 5.
The Lucky Well
111 E. Butler Ave., Ambler
Pointing out that there’s few foods more “Texas” than BBQ, Chad Rosenthal is donating 50 percent of all brisket sales to the #Chefs4Houston kitty from Friday, Sept. 1, through Sunday, Sept. 3.
Luna Cafe
317 Market St.
Stop by the cute Old City bistro with the sometimes healthy, sometimes decadent menu for breakfast — all proceeds from the quinoa-black-bean-cheddar-egg Breakfast Bowl are going to the #Chefs4Houston pool.
Mac Mart
104 S. 18th St.
At her Rittenhouse fast casual, mac ‘n’ cheese queen Marty Lieberman is earmarking 50 percent of sales from her Cowgirl Cup and Cowboy Cup (jalapeno oil, bacon, cornbread crunch, buttermilk ranch) to Austin Pets Alive, which is helping with pet recovery efforts.
MaGerks Pub and Grill
582 S. Bethlehem Pike, Fort Washington; 307 Horsham Rd., Horsham
This tavern with locations in the Philly ‘burbs is dedicating 15 percent of all sales from open to close on Sunday, Sept. 3, to the Greater Houston Community Foundation.
Manatawny Still Works
1603 E. Passyunk Ave.
Hit up the East Passyunk tasting room or the Pottstown distillery on Friday, Sept. 1, and $2 from each cocktail or $5 from each bottle sold will go to the Houston Humane Society. (Manatawny already had a First Friday fundraiser for animals planned, but “the Brandywine SPCA has graciously postponed their day,” regional manager Art Etchells said.)
Visit again on Saturday and the $2/$5 will go to the American Red Cross Houston efforts. If you can’t make it either day, buy a bottle on Friday or Saturday and tag the distillery on social media and it will count toward the donation total.
Marigold Kitchen
501 S. 45th St.
From Tuesday, Sept. 5, through Saturday, Sept. 9, chef-owners Andrew Kochan and Tim Lanza will offer two special add-ons at their West Philly BYOB. Both sourced from the menu at TALK, their forthcoming Rittenhouse spot, the dishes are succotash salad and merguez wontons, and proceeds from both will go to the #Chefs4Houston fund.
Masala Kitchen
1211 Walnut St.
This Indian food fast casual in the Gayborhood has designated its “Healthy Sprout” kati roll (like a burrito but wrapped in airy paratha bread) as the #Chefs4Houston dish, with 100 percent of proceeds from sales of it going toward the cause from now through Labor Day.
MilkBoy
1100 Chestnut St.
DJ Jersey Dan (aka Dan Bisogno) is turning the Sept. 1 edition of his monthly First Friday spin sessions here into a fundraiser for Houston. Along with his performance fee, he’ll be donating 50 cents for each Allagash beer sold, plus will have a jar for additional voluntary donations on his table.
Morgan’s Pier
221 N. Columbus Blvd.
If you’ve been looking for an excuse to brave the crowds that flock to this FCM Hospitality beer garden, here it is: On Thursday, Aug. 31, all proceeds from all sales will go to the Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund.
Parks on Tap
Cliveden Park (5415 Musgrave St.) and Clark Park (4300 Baltimore Ave.)
The traveling beer garden run by Parks & Rec in partnership with FCM Hospitality is also contributing to the Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund, to the tune of all sales throughout Thursday, Aug. 31.
Rex 1516
1516 South St.
This Southern-inspired cocktail lounge on South Street West is donating 100 percent of proceeds from sales of Hurricane drinks (made with Bluebird Distilling rum) throughout Labor Day weekend to the CDP Hurricane Harvey Fund.
The Sidecar Bar & Grill
2201 Christian St.
Now under new ownership, this tavern is still serving nine types of burgers, and through Monday, Sept. 5, each one sold will net $1 for the Red Cross Harvey relief efforts.
Tequilas
1602 Locust St.
David Suro-Pinera’s high-end Rittenhouse Mexican restaurant is hosting an evening of fundraising on Wednesday, Aug. 30. Throughout the night, neat pours of Siembra Azul blanco tequila will go for $5, and all proceeds will be donated to the Houston restaurant community through the US Bartending Guild.
Twenty Manning Grill
261 S. 20th St.
Order a classic daiquiri (rum, lime, sugar) at Audrey Taichman’s Rittenhouse standby and 100 percent of the $7 cost will go to the Montrose Center for Hurricane Harvey LGBTQ disaster relief and the Best Friends Animal Society. More into beer? $1 from each Avery Perzik Saison also gets donated to the cause.
Vernick
2031 Walnut St.
Greg and Julie Vernick’s Rittenhouse destination has chosen a pasta dish to feature, and 100 percent of the proceeds from the special will go into the #Chefs4Houston pool.
Will BYOB
1911 E. Passyunk Ave.
Through Thursday, Aug. 31, chef Christopher Kearse will be donating all proceeds from the sale of a squid ink pappardelle with tomato butter, sepia and lobster bottarga sold at his East Passyunk BYOB.
William Street Common
3900 Chestnut St.
Grab a counter-service cocktail and snack at this FCM Hospitality indoor beer garden in West Philly on Thursday, Aug. 31, and 100 percent of your check will go to the Harvey fund.