FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Angie Pappas
916.431.2731  
apappas@calrest.org

Note: Interviews and demonstrations with restaurateurs, chefs and participating charities are available upon request.

Farm-to-Fork Restaurant Weeks kick off Saturday

Presented by the CRA Sacramento chapter, event will benefit food banks, Food Literacy Center through Sept. 28

(SACRAMENTO, Sept. 8, 2014) - Farm-to-Fork Restaurant Week officially kicks off Saturday, leading into two weeks of the region-wide Farm-to-Fork Festival. Nearly 50 restaurants have already signed on to participate in the event, which is presented by the California Restaurant Association (CRA) Sacramento chapter in partnership with the Sacramento Convention and Visitors Bureau.

"We're proud to see the restaurant community stepping up to highlight our deep-rooted practices, and finding new and innovative ways to grow and give back," said Chris Jarosz, CRA Sacramento president. "For two weeks, we can come together as an industry and do everything we can to truly showcase what the region has to offer - in terms of agriculture, creative cuisine and philanthropy."

In addition to driving interest and traffic among participating restaurants, organizers have incorporated a charitable aspect to the event, with restaurants pledging to donate a portion of Farm-to-Fork menu sales to regional food banks and the Food Literacy Center.

"We've been fortunate to have the support of local restaurants since the beginning. Chefs truly understand the need for food literacy education. What better advocates to show families how delicious vegetables can taste! Farm-to-Fork Restaurant Weeks are an invaluable opportunity for diners to contribute to the cause - and eat their veggies- while supporting local businesses," Food Literacy Center Founding Executive Director Amber Stott said.

"As the region turns its attention to our incredible agricultural bounty, it's critical that we include those who don't always have access to fresh local foods," Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services President and CEO Blake Young said. "Sacramento restaurants are showing tremendous leadership by giving diners the opportunity to both celebrate and give back, and proceeds from this incredible event will allow Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services to purchase fresh produce families who need it most in our community."
Though more locations continue to sign on daily, participating restaurants include:

• Broderick Roadhouse (West Sacramento)
• Cabana Winery & Bistro
• Café Bernardo (All locations)
• Cafeteria 15L
• Capital Dime
• Centro Cocina Mexicana
• Chops (Downtown and Folsom)
• Crystal Basin Bistro (Camino)
• Dawson's Restaurant
• deVere's Irish Pub
• Dos Coyotes (Arden, Davis, Roseville)
• Downtown & Vine
• Ella
• Esquire Grill
• Fat City Bar & Café
• The Firehouse
• Foundation
• Frank Fat's
• Grange
• Hock Farm
• Il Fornaio (Sacramento and Roseville)
• Mayahuel
• The Melting Pot
• Mix
• Mulvaney's Building & Loan
• The Old Spaghetti Factory (Downtown and Rancho Cordova)
• Piatti
• Pizza Rock
• The Porch
• River City Brewing Co.
• Scott's Seafood
• Shoki Ramen House
• Taqueria Jalisco Mexican & American
• Thai Basil
• The Waffle Experience (Natomas)
• Trick Pony

For more information, to see the full list of participating restaurants and explore their menus, go online at www.farmtofork.com/restaurantweek.

About the California Restaurant Association: The California Restaurant Association (CRA), with more than 22,000 member restaurants, is the definitive voice of the California restaurant and hospitality industry and has served to protect and promote its success since 1906. The restaurant industry is one of the largest private employers in California, representing more than 1.4 million jobs. Restaurants produce more than $58 billion in sales annually and generate more than $4.5 billion in sales tax for the state. For more, go online at calrest.org.

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