Some local restaurants are hoping to attract diners by helping the region’s neediest residents. The effort, called Princeton Restaurants Against Hunger,
is intended to both boost area restaurant business and feed those in need by inspiring diners to celebrate the spirit of the holidays.
Participating restaurants will implement one of several charitable promotions, ultimately benefiting three local nonprofits: the Trenton Area Soup Kitchen, HomeFront and The Crisis Ministry.
So far, restaurants that have signed up to participate in PRESTAH are: The Bent Spoon, Blue Point Grill and Witherspoon Grill run by Jack Morrison, Camillo’s Café, Ichiban, JL Ivy, Main Street Euro-American Bistro & Bar, the Whole Earth Center, the Yankee Doodle Tap Room at the Nassau Inn, and the Momos’ restaurants — Eno Terra, Mediterra and Teresa Caffe. The campaign’s motto is: “Eat local, share local.”
The campaign offers an interesting way to connect those who still have some disposable income during these difficult times to those facing the hard times. The campaign hopes to raise $50,000 through sales and donations by the end of the month.
Participating restaurants have pledged to donate a portion of their sales from operations on Sundays through Thursdays in December. Each participating restaurant is given the discretion to develop its own mechanism for raising donations.
John Marshall, co-owner of Main Street Euro-American Bistro in the Princeton Shopping Center, said the campaign is designed to highlight the connections between the restaurants and the local economy and that
dining out benefits everybody: food banks, diners, restaurants and those in need, Mr. Marshall said. “It’s a benevolent time of year. You want to do something,” he said.
Hank Kalet 