Dine-It-4ward made its debut this past August with a mission to spotlight the Chicago restaurant industry in a new normal, while simultaneously shining a light on local charitable organizations. Their 2020/2021 Culinary Guide includes a tour of favorite Chicago restaurants, bakeries, and more through BOGO offers on dine-in and carry-out meals, participation in which comes at no cost to the businesses. By purchasing a Culinary Guide, readers help further Dine-It-4ward's goal of moving forward through community strength and support.
Dine-It-4ward's featured local charity is The Few Initiative for Children, which aims to empower Chicago's underserved youth through programs, services, and opportunities designed to teach lifelong communication and leadership skills. By using the code FEW20 at checkout, readers can purchase the Culinary Guide for a discounted $39, with 20% of each purchase benefitting The Few Initiative. Visit Dine-It-4ward's website to learn more, or follow them on Instagram @DineIt4wardChicago.
Jolt of Inspiration
Since the beginning of the stay-at-home order, upscale hotel Deer Path Inn has provided its Instagram users with funny and relevant videos to further engage their following and provide lighthearted content in an otherwise, well... heavy time. Their unique approach to social media has gained them recognition in Forbes and quickly amassed an Instagram following of 8,000+. By displaying a diverse range of content from safety measures, staff highlights, and Inn features, @DeerPathInn perfectly showcases what it means to build a community while maintaining one's brand.
A Jolt of Inspiration: Spread Love
Our team recently had the honor of working with The Fulton Street Collective and their artists, Kristin Wenc, Karol Hilker, and Laura Schueren on a colorful project for our Chicago neighbors! Located on the corner of Union and Ohio, the pictured mural was a collaborative effort, but always maintained one goal: Spread Love.
This goal aligned perfectly with the kickoff of the Born This Way Foundation's #BeKind21, a campaign that encourages practicing acts of kindness from September 1st through 21st in order to form a habit. Whether you reach out to a friend you haven't heard from lately, offer a socially distant smile to a stranger, or work on spring cleaning early this year to round up donations, no deed is too small.
While you don't need to officially participate in #BeKind21 to be kind, getting involved in the campaign is a great way to hold yourself, friends, and team accountable for spreading a little extra love in the world. Check out how others are participating @BTWFoundation, or see what acts of kindness our team is up to @CLouisePR.
A Jolt of Inspiration: Mark Domitrovich
The truth is, none of us know what life after COVID looks like just yet. However, Mark Domitrovich, Founder and CEO of Pioneer Tavern Group (Frontier, Ina Mae Tavern & Packaged Goods, Lottie's Pub, The Pony Inn), offers some clarity and discusses how his restaurants plan to rebuild in the post-COVID economy with Authority Magazine.
Mark says, "With adversity, there is always opportunity. We kept our restaurants open during the pandemic for carry-out and delivery at a loss so that we could keep the conversation going with our guests. We worked really hard to be creative, have fun, and be industry leaders, which has now given us the opportunity to re-open ahead of our competitors. We are seeing support from the community and customers are thanking us for being a positive part of quarantine. That is now giving us the opportunity to have a larger voice and reach, and it is allowing us to continue the conversation we started."
Among the challenges faced as a business owner during the pandemic, Mark also discusses the importance of doing what's right and always being open to adapting, "It sounds simple, but always do the right thing no matter the situation. Business gets hard, no matter the industry you are in, but if you stay true to yourself, your partners, and the business, you’ll be better off in the end."
You can read the full feature here.
A Jolt of Inspiration: Paola Velez
Pastry Chef Paola Velez of Kith/Kin (Washington D.C.) was almost broken by the restaurant industry many times throughout her career, and a pandemic forcing her to go on furlough should have been the breaking point. But Paola's fierce passion and eternal optimism pushed her to create a meaningful, collaborative project: Bakers Against Racism.
Paola and her co-founders' vision began as a way for bakers of all calibers to use their skill sets as a way to combat systemic racism. It has since snowballed into a worldwide effort with sales underway on 5 continents, 17 countries, and more than 41 states. Listen to Paola's story, from her start in pastry to her current activism, on Radio Cherry Bombe.
Follow @BakersAgainstRacism on Instagram + treat yourself in the name of a good cause while you're at it.
A Jolt of Inspiration: DL Mullen
DL Mullen, Owner of Semicolon Bookstore & Gallery, Chicago's only Black woman-owned bookstore and gallery space, was forced to temporarily close the store in March due to... well, you can guess. However, Mullen's mission of promoting literacy in the Chicagoland area didn't stop when she closed Semicolon's doors, in fact, she saw a greater need. Mullen and her employees put together 500+ bags full of what she considers "life-changing" books for kids of all ages and hosted a #ClearTheShelves event for those in need to pick up their free reading materials.
Mullen said, "It's necessary, and I think that's the position that independent bookstores are supposed to be in. We know that our margins are slim to nonexistent, but we should still be helping out the community in the most effective way that we can and that's through giving people books." (Read the full feature in Chicago Tribune)
Check out Semicolon on Instagram, and visit their website to purchase a book.
A Jolt of Inspiration: How to Support the Black Community Right Now
Thrillist highlighted "How to Support the Black Community Right Now," which includes insight from Chef Brian Jupiter (Frontier, Ina Mae Tavern & Packaged Goods) and Jahmal Cole (My Block, My Hood, My City).
"Right now, one of the ways you can help is to support Black-owned businesses in your community that have been affected by both the pandemic and this developing situation. From nonprofits and community efforts to donating to local businesses, [there are] ways you can safely make a difference right now."
Read the full feature
A Jolt of Inspiration: Henry Rich
Nation's Restaurant News highlights Henry Rich (The Oberon Group, New York) for maintaining the company's zero-waste ethos amid challenges brought on by coronavirus.
"Our mission has always been to serve our communities. Now we’re serving people in completely new ways. With Rhodora, we created a community around natural wine and sustainability so all current endeavors have built on that same philosophy: We’re now offering a weekly Rhodora Wine Club subscription as well as a weekly vegetable CSA [community supported agriculture, which is a subscription-based produce service]. Our in-person sustainability meet-ups have pivoted to online. All our physical concepts (Rhodora, June and Rucola) have shifted to online delivery platforms as well as wine retail shops."
Read the full story: "Henry Rich, Owner of The Oberon Group, Talks Staying True to a Company's Values in Times of Crisis"