‘panettone inside’
courtesy of ‘willsfca’
The holiday season has arrived, and it’s the perfect time to start thinking about how to give back. It gets easier and easier every year – bring cans to work, send a text contribution, add an extra dollar to an online bill payment – you really have no excuse. Food lovers have a simple way to contribute as well. In the next few months many of my favorite restaurants are teaming up with local charities and coming up with creative ways to raise money. All you have to do is eat. Here are my top 3.

‘Chesapeake Crab Cakes with Pickled Watermelon Salad’
courtesy of ‘mrdestructicity’

1) Ring in the New Year at Minibar by José Andrés
Yeah, yeah, we all know how hard it is to get a reservation at minibar…but it’s worth it. This year you have a chance to get in those coveted seats (and on New Year’s at that!) by bidding away.

One lucky auction winner will receive all six coveted seats at 8:30 p.m. at minibar, located in Andrés’ American Eats Tavern in Penn Quarter. Bidding starts at $2,012 and takes place online. Anything above $2,012 will be donated to DC Central Kitchen, which provides breakfast, outreach, and counseling services to chronically homeless people living on the streets and also holds a culinary training class.

Minibar by José Andrés is located within America Eats Tavern, 405 8th Street NW. For more information, call 202.393.0812.

2)  Acqua Al 2 Sells Traditional, Handmade Panettone

One of my favorite spots in Eastern Market is getting into the spirit and going for dessert. Acqua Al 2 is selling Panettone, an Italian sweet bread, for charity throughout the entire month of December. The holiday cakes are being flown in straight from Italy and traditionally contain dried fruits such as candied oranges, lemon zest and raisins. Going for $22 dollars per loaf, 100% of the proceeds will be donated to local DC charity, So Others May Eat (SOME). I’m in.

Customers can purchase a Panettone from Acqua Al 2 by calling 202.525.4375 or stopping by the restaurant located at 212 7th Street SE.

‘Homemade German Chocolate Birthday Cake’
courtesy of ‘Dyanna’
3)  2012 Makes-Me-Wanna SHOUT! Chocolate Layer Cake Baking Challenge

You might remember Eatonville’s Coconut Cake Challenge from earlier this year.  On Saturday, December 10, 2011 from 2-4 PM, the 2012 Makes-Me-Wanna SHOUT! Chocolate Layer Cake Baking Challenge will have a kick-off event featuring 2011 winner Decoyise Brown, and Eatonville Executive Chef Oji Jaja in the Home Department of Macy’s Westfield-Montgomery Mall as part of the department store’s “Believe Day.”

Application forms for Makes-Me-Wanna SHOUT! Baking Challenge (amateurs only!) are available on-line and must be received by February 1, 2012.  The grand prize is $500 and the winning cake will be added to the Eatonville Restaurant dessert menu.  The contest takes place in March, and a portion of the proceeds will benefit Martha’s Table.

Happy eating!

Tricia Barba

Tricia is a native Washingtonian, born and raised in Columbia Heights. She loves DC so much that she was only able to leave the city for one year after college and immediately came running back. Tricia works in PR during the day, and spends her nights trying out new restaurants in DC with friends or watching The Good Wife, Grey’s Anatomy and Private Practice. Tricia recently decided to eat her way though all of Zagat’s 2011 restaurants until she realized she would be old and broke by the time she finished. Follow her on Twitter and email her at Tricia (at) welovedc.com.