BEAVER CREEK The night before President Joe Biden signed the American Rescue Plan and gave the green light for a $28.6 billion grant program to help struggling independent restaurants and bars across the country, guests dining at Splendido at the Chateau in Beaver Creek raised $110,000 during an event held to support the Independent Restaurant Coalition (IRC).
On Tuesday, March 9, chef-owner Brian Ackerman and his team hosted notable culinary figures Dominique Crenn, Andrew Zimmern, Billy Dec and Bobby Stuckey for a four-course fine dining experience that brought in an overwhelming amount of flavor and philanthropy.
“First of all it proves our model that there are people that would like to contribute to our cause and do it with an event like this one,” Zimmern said. “But more importantly, I was really excited that the confluence of this dinner’s date met up with the eve of this necessary push by Congress.”
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#SaveRestaurants was created by the Independent Restaurant Coalition (IRC) as a part of the group’s efforts raise awareness and support for independent restaurants and chefs impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. It’s a harsh reality that many restaurants across the country are struggling, and many will never open their doors again.
Brian Ackerman, chef-owner of Splendido at the Chateau in Beaver Creek, is bringing the IRC’s support efforts to the Vail Valley with the Blue Tape Project, a fundraising event on Tuesday, March 9, with renowned culinary personalities including Andrew Zimmern making appearances.
“We’re calling it the Blue Tape Project because the idea is to have restaurants that are doing okay help restaurants that are not okay,” shares Ackerman. “So this would only be the first fundraising dinner of many.”