Food

Full Bowls

By Richard Mineards | November 22, 2018

Families supporting Empty Bowls (seated): Fisher Pennestri, Lincoln Grango, Dawson Pennestri, with (mother) Tricia Pennestri; (standing) Nalam Yim, Susan Jordano, Ella Pennistri, Kelly Jensen, Jeff Dell, Diana Svete, and (dad) Phillip Pennestri (photo by Priscilla)

The 21st annual Empty Bowls fundraiser at the Ben Page Youth Center was so oversubscribed, there had to be three seatings for the simple soup and bread meals, which allowed the 1,000 participants paying just $30 to choose a hand-crafted bowl and, after dining, take the colorful ceramic home.

Greeting the Empty Bowls supporters are Sarah Hanna, Danyel Dean, and Dennis Johns, volunteer from the Rotary Club for the 21st Annual Empty Bowls Lunch at the Ben Page Youth Center (photo by Priscilla)

The bustling event, founded by the effervescent Danyel Dean, who has been the committee chair for two decades, is now one of the most popular bowls events in the U.S., not to mention Argentina, Hong Kong, New Zealand, and France.

The event, which has raised nearly $2 million over the past two decades, providing nearly 16 million meals for needy residents, was expected to net a handsome $150,000 for the Foodbank of Santa Barbara County, which runs 300 programs annually.

More than 20 local eateries participated this year, including the Biltmore, Bouchon, Due Lune, Jane, Lucky’s, Olio e Limone, Opal, The Lark, Benchmark, Costco, The Little Door, Finch & Fork, Stella Mare, Wildwood Kitchen, Savoy Cafe & Deli, and the Bluewater Grill, whose delicious New England clam chowder I partook of.

Ladlers included Randy Weiss, Jordan Ben-Shea, Alison Hardey, Janet Garufis, George Leis, and Maryan Schall.

Santa Barbara police officer Hove Keld of Hove’s Loaves baked an eclectic selection of breads, and coffee was provided by the French Press.