Local businesses pitch in with gusto for Empty Bowls Soup Supper

The list is long, and the enthusiasm strong with ten local businesses contributing delicious food to this year’s Empty Bowls Soup Supper on March 23. This fundraising event for Upper Valley MEND, in its 21st year, continues to grow, helping to provide local families with housing, food and other needs. Supper coordinator (aka Soupervisor), Heather Knight, lends her vast experience in the food industry to this year’s event, being held for the first time in the Festhalle. 

Heather and her husband, Kevin, have owned and operated Anjou Bakery just east of Cashmere, for over 20 years. Through hard work and dedication to innovation and quality they create scrumptious baked goods. They’ll be contributing their award-winning artisan bread to the soup supper this year as they have done most every year since Empty Bowls began. 

Kurt and Nadine of Good Mood Food have been contributing delicious and nutritious creations to the Empty Bowls Soup Supper ever since they opened in 2009. Prior to that the two European-trained culinarians worked at local restaurants (Kurt at Sleeping Lady and Nadine at Viscontis). They are very enthusiastic about Empty Bowls. “It’s great to see all ages getting involved in decorating the bowls and in the end they have helped a good cause and gone home with a souvenir,” stated Nadine. And they go one step further by purchasing bowls every year for their employees to paint. 

Watershed Café, which opened in June of 2015, participated last year and will once again be serving up one of their delicious soups at the supper this year. Co-owners Dan, Joey and Brian, are happy to help support the community. The Empty Bowls project also speaks to their core values, which include food security and environmental responsibility. 

Another restaurant contributing to the soup supper for the second year is Wok About Grill. Co-owners Shon and Janeen will be whipping up one of their delicious stir-fry dishes for this year’s event. After operating Wok About Grill in Wenatchee for 20 years, they expanded into Leavenworth in 2014. According to Shon, “We like to use our restaurant as an outreach and thank you to the community”.

Amber and Colin, co-owners of Mana, will be joining the team of Empty Bowls culinary wizards for the first time this year. Known for their unique 8 course farm to table ‘journey through the senses’ dining experience, their contribution is welcome. 

Chef’s Joe and Bill from JJ Hills at Icicle Village Resort will be serving up their tasty Mulligatawny soup. Supporters of Empty Bowls for over 10 years, they’re extending this classic St. Patrick’s Day dish for all to enjoy at the soup supper.    

Two more local restaurants, Viscontis and Alley Café, deserve special recognition and appreciation as they have contributed every year since this amazing fundraiser for Upper Valley MEND began 21 years ago. Viscontis owners, Dan and Candy, have a real commitment to giving back to the community, evident in their participation. Alley Café owner, Steve, is also incredibly involved in the community and continues to apply this dedication by contributing and tirelessly helping out with the soup supper. 

In addition to Anjou, several other local bakeries will be providing delicious bread for the supper. Dan’s food market, which owns Homefires Bakery, has been a long-time supporter of Empty Bowls. Leavenworth’s Bavarian Bakery and Sure to Rise Bakery from Cashmere will also contribute bread as they have done for many years. 

While the generous contributions of all the above-mentioned businesses will provide ample delicious food to the Soup Supper, Heather points out that this event is not only about raising funds for Upper Valley MEND, but about raising awareness about food insecurity in our community. According to Heather, “The point is not about having a dinner. Not everyone gets to eat until they are full or choose what they eat. The bowl is symbolic.” We appreciate all the work of ‘Soupervisor’ Heather Knight and the enthusiasm and generosity of all of these local businesses to help make the Empty Bowls Soup Supper 2017 a success.