LA Kitchen’s Anti-Gala: A Citywide Party to Fight Food Waste, Hunger, and Unemployment

BCK FILE: FOOD DEMOCRACY-At least several times each week, well-heeled Angelenos gather at galas to raise money for various causes.

Robert Egger, CEO & Founder of LA Kitchen wanted to make this experience more universal. 

“We thought, why throw dinner for the few when we could invite the whole city!” says Egger. “This is our third year of Shared Plates.  We love that more and more people from across the region are hosting simple dinners in their homes to support LA Kitchen. We love that there’s no age, income, or geographic barriers to our event. Anybody can be a host, anyone can participate, and everyone can benefit. This is food democracy.” 

Over the weekend of October 5-7, Angelenos across the city will host their own dinner parties to benefit LA Kitchen through the Shared Plates initiative. Instead of purchasing tickets to a black tie formal, friends can gather in dining rooms, kitchens, restaurants, or backyard barbecues. 100% of the ticket sales go to feeding LA’s homeless and senior populations. 

The proceeds also fund a program that provides culinary job training to formerly incarcerated or formerly homeless, as well as to divert thousands of pounds of food that would have ended up as waste. 

Those interested in hosting a party or co-hosting with a friend can sign up on the website, choosing the time and date of their party. Hosts will cover 100% of the food costs but will receive a Shared Plates Host Kit with decorations, special discounts, and recipes. After signing up, hosts will be provided with a unique RSVP ticket link to share with friends. Hosts will also be invited to a VIP Host Reception on September 12. 

Last year, 1,000 Angelenos participated in Shared Plates, raising over $120,000 for LA Kitchen. 

For more information or to sign up, visit the Shared Plates website. 

(Beth Cone Kramer is a professional writer living in the Los Angeles area. She covers Resistance Watch and other major issues for CityWatch.)Prepped for CityWatch by Linda Abrams.