THREE STAR NYC RESTAURANTEUR AVOIDS MEAT AND FEEDS THE POOR

Chef Daniel Humm is coming out of the pandemic changed; he is using his platform and engaging others by taking action to start a conversation about the food supply system and to provide quality meals to those who need them. Recent headlines report that Eleven Madison Park, the three Michelin-Starred NYC restaurant, will re-open featuring a no-meat menu (no meat, fish, or other animal products). I heard this news on radio and TV, and when I noticed the piece in print, I almost skipped it. I’m glad I read it, because buried in the last lines is the important fact that for every meal purchased, the restaurant provides five meals to food-insecure New Yorkers. Even better, this effort is a collaboration among guests, staff, suppliers and the nonprofit, Rethinkfood.org. Chef Humm is responding to the needs of the planet and the needs of his New York community. He is heeding the “cry of the earth and the cry of the poor”, as Pope Francis recommends in Laudato Si’. Check out Chef Humm’s open letter explaining his pandemic experience, motivation and purpose on elevenmadisonpark.com. This bold action makes me wonder how I might expand my actions in response to Laudato Si’ to include care for others as I try to care for creation. One thought for me is my essential cup of morning coffee. For years, I’ve used a reusable coffee pod for the Keurig     machine to avoid the waste of K-cups. I can combine waste reduction  with  supporting education among low income students by purchasing fair trade coffee through a program where proceeds benefit university scholarships for children of the coffee growers in Haiti. I’m going online to place an order now! This is a small act, but it keeps me thinking about the impact of my decisions in daily life. “Everything is interconnected, and that genuine care for our own lives and our relationships with nature is inseparable from fraternity, justice and faithfulness to others.” Laudato Si’ #70.