As Australia continues to be devastated by bushfires, the New York City restaurant community has stepped up to do what it does best: feed people in the name of a good cause. Over the next few weeks, restaurants and cafés throughout the city will host dinners, fundraisers, and drives to help the people and wildlife of Australia. Below, Grub has put together a guide to these events. All you gotta do is pick one (or three) and show up with your wallet out.
Bourke Street Bakery
When: Ongoing
Last weekend, this Sydney import held a sold-out fundraiser and auction in support of the wildfires. That fundraiser is long past, but Bourke Street is still accepting donations via Chuffed for the NSW Rural Fire Service and Country Fire Authority Victoria. So far, they’ve raised $16,725, which is $11,000 more than their original goal. Donate here. There’s also an auction featuring all sorts of goodies that will run through 9 p.m. on Sunday.
Gran Tivoli
When: Ongoing
This Italian-Australian restaurant has organized a $20 cocktail flight where every flight sold will go to the Australian Red Cross. So sidle up to the bar and enjoy a coffee & cream cocktail; a 50/50 cocktail with gin, lillet, and orange bitters; and an Aussie Old Fashioned made with Australian single malt whisky. No tickets needed.
Crown Shy
When: January 17 and January 24
Tonight and next Friday, this Financial District restaurant will host a series of Australian wine dinners, spotlighting vineyards that have been affected by the bushfires while also raising funds for the Red Cross and Koala Hospital. The menu will feature Crown Shy’s greatest hits: roasted short rib, Gruyère fritters, grilled pears salad, and more. The entirety of the $200 ticket will go toward relief efforts. Find tickets here.
Gerber Group
When: January 22
The restaurant group behind spots like Mr. Purple, the Crown, the Campbell Bar, and all the bars at the new TWA hotel will donate 10 percent of the till next Wednesday to WIRES, a wildlife rescue organization.
Bluestone Lane
When: January 26
In honor of Australia Day, this chain of Australian all-day cafés will host fundraisers at multiple locations throughout the United States. (In New York, head to the Bowery Café at 19 Kenmare Street.) For $35, attendees will be invited to eat Australian dishes like meat pies and lamingtons as well as Australian beers and wines. There will also be auctions for prizes from Qantas, Soulcycle, Bandier, and other brands. Grab tickets here.
Estela
When: January 26
Ignacio Mattos & Co. will host a dinner benefiting the Australian Red Cross Disaster Relief fund. The collaborative menu will feature some Estela faves, like Iberico ham with anchovy and chicories and those ricotta dumplings, but you’ll want to grab any menu items with “**” next to them, as proceeds from those dishes will benefit the Red Cross. Get reservations here.
Sonnyboy
When: January 26
Next Sunday, this Australian restaurant will have a set dinner menu for Australia Day. There will be beet cashew dip, half-shell prawns, chicken Parm, pub salad, and all other manner of Australian delights. One hundred percent of sales from Australian wines on the menu will go toward bushfire relief efforts. Grab a 6 p.m. or 8:30 p.m. reservation here.
Del Posto
When: January 30
In a little under two weeks, chef Melissa Rodriguez will gather some of the biggest names in food at Del Posto for a dinner in support of bushfire relief. So far, the roster of participating chefs includes Victoria Blamey (Gotham Bar & Grill), Renata Ameni (Crown Shy), Angie Mar (The Beatrice Inn), Christina Tosi (Milk Bar), Eunjo Park (Momofuku Kāwi), and many, many more culinary stars. All of the proceeds from the $200 tickets will go to Red Cross Australia and Koala Hospital. Find tickets here.
Drexler’s
When: February 4
This bilevel bar in Alphabet City from the folks behind Mister Paradise, Paper Daisy, and other East Village cocktail spots will host a “Drink Up to Down Under” fundraiser to raise money for the Australian Red Cross, NSW Rural Fire Service and WIRES (NSW Wildlife Information, Rescue and Education Services). $20 will get you a free cocktail and access to a raffle and auction featuring a luxury hotel stay and dinner at speakeasy steakhouse Paradise Prime.
