Courtesy of Michael Fojtasek
One of the biggest efforts to feed Austinites in need of hot meals during the Texas winter storm crisis and its aftermath has been led by Olamaie owner and chef Michael Fojtasek. This was all with the help of a monetary donation from the LEE Initiative, a Louisville, Kentucky-based nonprofit run by co-founders chef Ed Lee and Lindsey Ofcacek. Since Friday, Fojtasek and the Olamaie staff have been providing meals for the Palmer Events Center, one of the city’s designated warming centers for people who lost power and heat.
The connection began on Instagram. Fojtasek wrote out a lengthy post last week detailing the severity of the winter storm situation, especially for those in the restaurant industry (who were already dealing with the pandemic), and his frustration with the lack of clear resources and leadership from government officials on all levels. Lee, who knew the Austin chef already, reached out and told him, “‘‘I’m gonna send you a bunch
As the Texas winter storm continues and people are stuck without power, heat, and food, Austin restaurants have taken it upon themselves to feed their neighborhoods.
Cajun Cherrywood restaurant Vic & Al’s has been regularly making and giving away gumbo this week. The effort is in line with the ethos of co-owners and cousins Nicholas and Matt Patrizi, who used the space as a service worker community kitchen during the early days of the novel coronavirus pandemic.
“I don’t have any power, so I’m just living in the restaurant, eating all my pickled eggs,” says Nicholas Patrizi. “So I figured I might as well try to make some people happy and fed while I’m here.” The restaurant already had food products on hand, meant for Mardi Gras specials, but Vic & Al’s also wanted to offer a space for people. “It feels like people need some outlets for food, purpose, conversations, happiness,” he tells Eater.