In light of recent tragic events, we are organizing an Orlando fundraiser and silent auction 100% directly benefiting World Central Kitchen and their efforts. World Central Kitchen (WCK) is a not-for-profit, non-governmental organization that provides food relief.
It was founded in 2010 by Michelin Award winning Spanish American chef and restaurateur José Andrés following the earthquake in Haiti, and has subsequently responded to Hurricane Harvey, the 2018 lower Puna eruption, 2023 Turkey–Syria earthquakes, and the ongoing Gaza humanitarian crisis.
Food, shelter, healthcare, the basic building blocks of life and community.
My hope is to help send our love and support to the great humanitarian work that Chef Jose Andres and his team are doing day in and day out to help people in great need in the most difficult of circumstances, risking literally their life to give hope and sustenance to others.
For so many months, watching tragedy after tragedy, it began to feel utterly hopeless – despite calls for peace and justice, we only find more violence, death and tragedy.
May this small effort from our community be a spark for change and I hope it lets those people around the world seeking peace and comfort , that we, humanity, are with them.
We raised $10K for World Central Kitchen’s Ukraine efforts in the past and we hope to surpass this in this effort.
Currently, the silent auction items include:
- Somebody Zoom Phil plus Autographed Book – A Zoom call with Phil Rosenthal
- Private Chef’s Collaboration Dinner for 10 at Your Home featuring James Beard Finalists Chef Lordfer Lalicon and Chef Tim Keating
- A Taste of Orlando Mills 50 Lunch with Ricky Ly of Tasty Chomps
- On Assignment with Orlando Sentinel’s Amy Drew
- Restaurant Critic for a Day with Faiyaz Kara of Orlando Weekly and Eater
- Sama Sama Chef’s Tasting for Two with Beverage Pairing at Kaya (Recent Finalist for James Beard Awards 2024)
- Seats for Two at Chef Kevin Fonzo’s La Tavola
- 3 Day / 2 Night stay at The Celeste Hotel
- Dinner for 4 at Simply Capri Italian
- CFC Arts Symphony of Orchestra Call of the Champions
- Winter Park Magazine Full Page Advertisement
- Deli Fresh Threads Package
- Disney Cook Books package signed by Pam Brandon
- PBS Season 2 The Great American Recipe Cookbook signed by Finalist Salmah Hack
- Saveur Print Relaunch Kitchen Pack
- Gift Cards to Smoke and Donuts, Pigzza, Tornatore’s, Pig Floyd’s, Nona Street Pizza, Chef Art Smith’s Homecomin at Disney Springs, Splitsville Luxury Lanes, Gravity Taproom, Nauti Lobster, Everglazed Donuts, Se7en Bites, Cuisiniers Catered Cuisine, The Pastrami Project and more
More items are needed for the silent auction, which ends April 15. Individuals and businesses interested in donating items can email us at tastychomps@gmail.com or visit tastychompsorlando.betterworld.org/donate-an-item.
Direct donations: donate.wck.org/team/574295
Silent auction: tastychompsorlando.betterworld.org/auctions/orlando-world-central-kitchen
Chef Jose Andres: “Today @wckitchen lost several of our sisters and brothers in an IDF air strike in Gaza. I am heartbroken and grieving for their families and friends and our whole WCK family. These are people…angels…I served alongside in Ukraine, Gaza, Turkey, Morocco, Bahamas, Indonesia. They are not faceless…they are not nameless. The Israeli government needs to stop this indiscriminate killing. It needs to stop restricting humanitarian aid, stop killing civilians and aid workers, and stop using food as a weapon. No more innocent lives lost. Peace starts with our shared humanity. It needs to start now.”
WCK Statement: https://wck.org/news/gaza-team-update
