Restaurant Week continues for a good cause

Chez Lulu is among a group of restaurants participating in a “second helping” of Birmingham Restaurant Week this week. It runs Monday, Aug. 24-Saturday, Aug. 29.

Other participating restaurants with pre-fixe menus are Black Market Bar & Grill – Five Points South, East 59 Café, The Grill at Iron City, Little Savannah, Primeaux Cheese and Vino, Moe’s Original BBQ, Oscar’s at the Museum, ROJO, Silvertron Café and Slice.

The week-long fundraising event will also help create healthy food access in Birmingham’s food deserts at local low-income corner stores through the Farm to Corner Initiative created by REV Birmingham’s Urban Food Project.

“BRW’s Second Helpings allows food lovers and supporters of local cuisine another opportunity to experience Birmingham Restaurant Week while benefiting a worthy cause,” says Taylor Clark, director of the Urban Food Project. “During Second Helpings, people can dine out to do good, as a portion of their dining purchase will help contribute to Birmingham’s food desert solution.”

The Urban Food Project distribution system supports the Farm to Corner initiative that connects Alabama farmers to store owners, making fresh fruits and vegetables more affordable and accessible in communities that would otherwise not have access to fresh produce — a growing need for the 88,000 Birmingham residents living in food deserts.

Many of the items found on Restaurant Week menus are made from the same fresh ingredients that are sourced through REV and making their way into many of Birmingham’s food deserts. For example, Chez Lulu’s Summer Fruit Trio appetizer featured on its BRW dinner menu includes cantaloupe and parma ham, watermelon with chili powder and feta and a grilled peach with Alabama honey, all sourced locally from the Urban Food Project.

For more information, visit bhamrestaurantweek.com/second-helping.php or TheUrbanFoodProject.org.