Get a chef-made private meal to help out the hospitality industry

Columbus area food lovers have a chance to get a private meal from top local chefs to benefit a good cause. 

Nonprofit Service Relief for Hospitality Workers, which was started during the pandemic to support hospitality industry workers, has kicked off the Service Chef Auction. The eight-week initiative was designed to raise money for Service’s grant program to address financial insecurity among service-industry professionals, according to a release. 

The auction will give bidders the opportunity to have a private meal cooked for up to six people. Minimum bids start at $250, and bidding is open for a week at a time. 

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Service Board Secretary Shelley Mann said the organization will hold eight weeks of auctions, one each week, via online silent auction platform Air Auctioneer. The first started March 1. 

“Service was founded in direct response to COVID, so we’ve had to be creative when thinking up fundraising ideas—we can’t do the typical large events or galas,” Mann said. “We wanted to showcase ways to continue to support local chefs and restaurants during the pandemic, and we came up with this idea of asking local chefs to donate their time and collaborate on a menu for private [meals] for a small group dining experience.”

Participating chefs include Andrew Smith with Roys Avenue Supper Club, Jay Kleven with Cleaver, Service Founder Sangheeta Lakhani with Tiffinwali, Jonathan Olson with The Keep, Sharareh Bayegan and Rezvaneh Haghiri Ghazvini with Charmy’s Persian, Stephan Madias with Wario’s Beef and Pork, Matthew Heaggans with Preston’s: A Burger Joint, and Avishar Barua with Service Bar.

“You can bid on one of these meals, and do anything from a romantic date for two to a family meal for up to six,” Mann said. “All funds raised will help fund our grant program for service-industry workers.”

The link to each week’s auction can be found via the bio link on Service’s Instagram profile, @service_relief_kitchen. To participate in this week’s auction, click here.

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