Here’s How Australian Chefs in the US Are Fighting Against Bushfires Back Home

Here’s what we’ve learned from the countless bake sales from Los Angeles to New York City to fundraise for reproductive rights and immigration reform: when the hospitality community gets a whiff of turmoil, it heads to the kitchen to do something about it.

With recent bushfires causing devastation across Australia, chefs and restaurateurs in the United States are fundraising to support farmers, residents, and wildlife that have been impacted. One of those chefs isCurtis Stone, whose Michelin-starred Los Angeles restaurant,Maude, is donating 100% of profits from its current menu toDrought Angels, an organization that supports farmers who have lost their homes and livelihoods. “I was home from the week before Christmas. I landed in Sydney and the fires were 150 kilometers from the city, and you couldn’t see three cars in front of you for the smoke,” Stone says. “It was like this apocalyptic thing. You think they’re probably only showing the worst images [in the media], but it’s really real. It’s traveling at 100 kilometers an hour, it’s a fire that travels faster than a car.”

Stone is far from being the only chef raising awareness for climate change while sending help back home to Australia. Below, we’ve compiled a list of other American businesses that are holding fundraisers, and we'll keep updating it as we find more.

Samuel Jackson, the Aussie owner of Boston’sKO Catering & Pieshas banded together with other local restaurants and chefs (including former F&W People’s Choice Best New Chef Jamie Bissonnette) to host theBoston Barbie for Bushfire Supporton January 28.

At Sofra, chef Maura Kilpatrick will host a bake sale on January 26th to help raise funds for wildlife safety and rehabilitation.

On January 26, the Aussie founders of L.A. basedE.P. & L.P.Grant Smillie and David Combes, will be donating 100 percent of proceeds from lunch and their Great Aussie BBQ to relief efforts.

Last week, Aussie-owned upscale coffee chainBluestone Lanedonated all profits from their 48 locations in the U.S to the bushfire appeal. On January 26th (Australia Day; a national holiday Down Under), they are holdingticketed events at eight of their locationsincluding New York City, Philadelphia, Boston, and Washington D.C. Proceeds from all ticket sales, raffles and auctions will be donated to the appeal. Says Bluestone Lane’s founder and CEO Nick Stone: “It’s just heartbreaking seeing my homeland in so much pain. All of our teammates feel compelled to help support families and animals impacted by this catastrophic disaster. Our entire company has been mobilized to raise funds and awareness in support of the Australian bushfire appeal, giving back to our first home.”

Not strictly Australian, but they just might become honorary citizens after this, a NYC chef supergroup led by Melissa Rodriguez of Del Posto will host a multi-course dinner, donating 100% of ticket sales to raise money for the bushfire recovery efforts. Theevent on January 30将维多利亚布莱梅高谭市的酒吧和烧烤吗, Renata Ameni of Crown Shy, Laetitia Rouabah of Benoit, Angie Mar of The Beatrice Inn, Christina Tosi of Milk Bar, Eunjo Park of Momofuku Kāwi, Ariel Arce of Tokyo Record Bar, Stephanie Prida of Major Food Group, Laura Maniec of Corkbuzz Wine, Pascaline Lepeltier of Racines, Jordan Salcito of Momolongplay.

Australian caféHole in the Wallin New York City is throwing an Australia Daybashon 1/26 with all funds raised via a raffle and silent auction going to the Red Cross Bushfire Appeal.

Aussie-run restaurantsBanter,Good Thanks,Sonny BoyandTwo Handsin New York City joined forces for an event last Friday that raised $24,000.

Sydney-import Bourke St Bakery in New York City teamed up with our fave plant-based cookbook authors, Aussie expats Hetty McKinnon and Amy Chaplin to host an event last Saturday. They also have an online auction you can accesshere.

This week, all profits fromBoundless PlainsEspresso in NYC’s financial district will go to the Bushfire appeal.

这个周末,人们的酒吧是捐赠的20%亚搏电竞proceeds of Australian wines purchased at the shop and 100% of proceeds of their special bolognese jaffles at the bar to Red Cross Australia.

Upscale restaurantCommon Lotrun by Aussie expats in New Jersey is holding a fundraising dinner on January 26th.

Tuckerin Easton, PA (owned byFood & Wine’s very own resident Aussie, Deputy Editor Melanie Hansche) isholding a benefitthis Sunday, Pies & Pavlovas.

• ByOset Babur
• ByMelanie Hansche