Copyright Joliet, IL Patch
Top local chefs and wineries unite at Tellers Next Door in Islip to support Long Island Cares. The Chefs Against Hunger campaign wrapped up at Tellers Next Door in Islip on Tuesday, uniting some of Long Island’s top chefs and wineries to help fight hunger — and raising more than $46,000 to feed food-insecure families through Long Island Cares – The Harry Chapin Food Bank. Michael Bohlsen, co-owner of the Bohlsen Restaurant Group and a board member of Long Island Cares, brought together nine acclaimed chefs and partner wineries for eight sold-out dinners throughout October and November. “We sold out all the dinners and raised about $46,500,” Bohlsen said. “For Long Island Cares, that feeds a whole lot of people.” Each Chefs Against Hunger dinner paired a local chef with a Long Island winery. Participants included: John Fraser (North Fork Table & Inn) with Macari Vineyards Stephen Gallagher (Trattoria Restaurant) with Anthony Nappa Wines Ben Hoffman and Julio Genao (Prime: An American Kitchen & Bar) with Raphael Wine Thomas Gloster (Trahanas Hospitality) with Palmer Vineyards Eric LeVine (317 Main Street) with RG/NY Gregg Lauletta (Louie’s Prime Steak & Seafood) with Bedell Cellars Armond Joseph (Leon 1909) with Channing Daughters Winery Francis J. Derby (The Halyard) with McCall Wines “It’s a way for us to give them a way to give back, but they don’t have to do all the heavy lifting of the organization and marketing,” Bohlsen said. “They really got to do what they do best — come up with a great menu, serve people, talk about their food.” An East Islip resident, Bohlsen first launched Chefs Against Hunger in 2019, just before the pandemic, as a series of intimate dinners for small groups. That early effort raised around $25,000, but COVID-19 temporarily halted the initiative. Bohlsen said his perspective on hunger deepened during the early months of the pandemic, when his restaurants were shuttered for 11 weeks. “We learned that a lot of our employees were working paycheck to paycheck,” he said. “Once the paycheck stopped, we found out that a lot of them were hungry. So we started our own program called the Buddy Box program and ended up feeding about 175 families every week.” Despite the industry’s challenges during that time, Bohlsen and his team reignited the campaign with renewed energy and purpose. “We weren’t able to do it again in 2020 — it took a few years to get it back off the ground,” he said. “A lot of people were just trying to keep restaurants afloat, but we were able to bring a team together this year. The chefs were excited, the wineries were eager to help, and it’s been a terrific experience for everybody.” More than 313,000 Long Islanders now face food insecurity — including working families stretched thin by inflation and reduced federal aid, according to Long Island Cares. Bohlsen, who later joined the organization’s board, said the need is greater than ever. “There are a lot of people food insecure on Long Island,” he said. “With the government shutdown and SNAP benefits being held back … it’s a difficult road. A lot of people have to decide between rent, heat, transportation and food. And sometimes they leave food off. And these are people that are gainfully employed, that are just trying to make ends meet.” The revived Chefs Against Hunger campaign not only provided critical funds for Long Island Cares but also gave participating chefs and wineries a meaningful way to give back. Each $195 ticket represented roughly 122 meals for Long Islanders in need, according to the food bank. “It’s always important to patronize the restaurants in your local community,” Bohlsen said. “Those are the places that hire your neighbors and keep the community alive. You do a lot of good by doing something fun.” Bohlsen, whose family has been in the restaurant business for generations, said he and his brother Kurt plan to continue the campaign. “We’re going to reach out next week and start planning for next year,” he said. “We’re definitely doing it again next fall.”
