Buy a drink to help aid the crisis in Ukraine? Now that’s a happy hour we can get behind.
7:04 pm, Thursday July 28th, 2022
7:04 pm, Thursday July 28th, 2022
Heart for Hospitality
In Eat, July 2022/August 2022, Web Exclusive by Lauren KruchtenJul 11, 2022
It’s been almost five months since Russia invaded Ukraine, but many local businesses are still doing what they can to provide aid to the country. Most recently, LM Restaurants (of Carolina Ale House, a’Verde and Vidrio fame, to name a few) committed to a companywide goal of raising $100,000 for World Central Kitchen by the end of July—and you can do your part in helping them reach that goal just by buying a drink!
Throughout the month, all 29 of the company’s restaurants will feature a special Ukraine cocktail made with with Ketel One Botanical Peach and Orange Blossom Vodka (P.S., It’s Dutch vodka, not Russian), peach liqueur, fresh lemon juice, housemade simple syrup and fresh mint. 100% of the proceeds will be donated to World Central Kitchen.
LM Restaurants’ fundraising efforts began after Vidrio Executive Chef Saif Rahman—who previously worked for World Central Kitchen—reached out to LM owners Lou and Joy Moshakos about hosting an event at Vidrio in June in which a portion of proceeds would go toward World Central Kitchen’s efforts to feed people displaced by the Russian war in Ukraine.
The Moshakos took the idea and ran with it, committing 100% of the event’s ticket sales to World Central Kitchen and expanding the program across the rest of their restaurants.
“LM Restaurants is a hospitality-focused family, and we work to nourish our community, day in and day out,” says Lou. “We are excited for all of our restaurants to come together in a companywide fundraising effort to support the people of Ukraine. We fully support and admire the work of World Central Kitchen, especially in Ukraine and the surrounding countries. Together, we can significantly impact our global community through food and hospitality.”
In addition to purchasing the Ukraine cocktail in July, diners can also add $5, $10 or $20 to their tab to be donated to World Central Kitchen. And if you’re heading to the coast, LM’s Oceanic is hosting a Sunset Soiree on July 21 with live music, hors d’oeuvres and a reception cocktail. Tickets are $45 and 100% of proceeds will be donated. Who says there can’t be fun in fundraising? Cheers!