Austin Restaurant Weeks, Feeding Central Texans

by Lisa Davis on August 12, 2019 in Food+Drink, Nonprofit, Austin,
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One in seven Central Texans suffer food insecurity.

The Central Texas Food Bank serves almost 46,000 people every week in 21 Central Texas counties. That’s the reason Austin restaurants, breweries and bars are banning together once again August 15 – September 2 to provide much needed help for those in need. Yep, the annual Austin Restaurant Weeks (ARW) are back! 

“It’s a delicious and easy way to help fight hunger, while enjoying some of the best restaurants our food-centric city has to offer,” says Mark Jackson, Chief Development Officer for the Central Texas Food Bank.
Photo courtesy Austin Restaurant Weeks

ARW is a dining extravaganza where participating restaurants offer prix fixe meals and beverages with a portion of the price going to the Food Bank. The spectacular two-week event is planned entirely by Food Bank staff and volunteers and gives diners a delicious and simple way to help fight hunger while exploring culinary options and enjoying some of the best food and drink Austin offers.

Just a few of the restaurants taking part are The Driskill Grill, The Capital Grille, It’s Italian Cucina, and Copper Restaurant & Dessert Lounge. This year, diners have more choices including a 2-3 course lunch or brunch, 3-4 course dinner and Tito’s Handmade Vodka-based cocktails.

100% of the contribution from each meal or beverage bought at participating restaurants during Austin Restaurant Weeks goes directly to fighting hunger in Central Texas, where a staggering 1 in 5 children are food insecure. Photo courtesy Austin Restaurant Weeks

 Sponsoring ARW for a second time is Tito’s Handmade Vodka, whose Chief Joyologist Amy Lukken says, “ARW raised enough to provide nearly 550,000 meals to Central Texans in need last year, so we didn’t need to think twice about returning for 2019. We’re honored to play a part in the fight against hunger in our community.”

Menus for ARW restaurants are searchable by food type, location and other variables, with more added regularly. OpenTable is making it easier for diners to book reservations at participating restaurants.

Every dollar donated during Austin Restaurant Weeks provides four meals through the Central Texas Food Bank. It’s a great opportunity to bring new guests to local restaurants while helping the Central Texas Food Bank at the same time. Photo courtesy Austin Restaurant Weeks

Other returning sponsors of the annual event are Bank of America, Edible Austin, ProductionFor, Reagan Outdoor Advertising, Screamer Co., and Tabulate, and new sponsors Becker Vineyards and Delta Airlines.

Austin Restaurant Weeks is August 15 – September 2  

Cover photo courtesy Austin Restaurant Weeks

Lisa Davis lives in Austin and is the Editorial Assistant for Texas Lifestyle Magazine and an honors graduate of Concordia University Texas with a Bachelor’s Degree in Communication and Public Relations.