Saturday, October 6, 2012

Haiti Fundraiser at Trattoria restaurant - Help Elodie help others!

HAITI FUNDRAISER  and   BENEFIT LUNCHEON 
SUNDAY, OCTOBER 21 @ 1:30 
Trattoria Athena 

One of the great aspects of having such a small intimate restaurant, is that we get to know many of our customers very well. Getting the latest news on "life" or asking for (or providing) advice on any number of topics is something that we look forward to when we see regulars' names on the nightly reservation list. And that's from all of us here: front of house and back of house employees. We know who's a vegetarian, who's allergic to shellfish, who craves the exotic, who likes the "off the wine list" wines, or who loves to be surprised. In that vein, we have become great friends with Elodie LE NEZET, or simply to us, Elo (with an over-exaggerated horrible French accent by me) who is a transplant from France teaching at l'Ecole Française du Maine in South Freeport. 
In our many conversations, it has come out that she is a passionate supporter of the Haitian relief effort, and is planning her second trip down there to volunteer by teaching the French-speaking teachers through grammar workshops, vocabulary, and other pedagogical practices in great need. She has also built a relationship with many of the residents of Terroir Rouge: a town with no electricity. Elo is planning on raising enough money to bring the maximum number of Bogo Lights (solar powered) to Terroir Rouge to help students study and work at night. Extra funds will be used to sponsor students throughout a school year which provides them with an education, a uniform, a hot meal each day and medical care among other benefits. 
To support the above causes, we will be hosting a benefit dinner in which all Trattoria Athena employees will be donating their time and efforts in helping out with the event. The event will feature typical Haitian food using, of course, the best local ingredients around. The menu is still a work in progress as we try and research Haitian cuisine (not my expertise!). I promise as always, everything will be delicious! And, Elo, who is quite the French pastry chef, will also be helping out with the dessert! There is no "set cost" for this event, but rather a suggested donation of $50/pp which obviously includes a four course meal with wine. 

Please call for reservations for this truly wonderful cause!
EFHARISTO  GRAZIE!!! Marc, Tim and the rest of the Team Trattoria Athena 
25 Mill St. Brunswick, ME 721.0700 info@trattoriaathena.com