High-End Restaurant in New York Helps Provide Food Amid Pandemic

Category: Human Interest

Listening

Unlocking Word Meanings

Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.

  1. frontline / ˈfrʌntˌlaɪn / (adj) – related to the most active and important position in any field
    Example:

    Frontline workers are still required to work despite the closure of many businesses.


  2. underprivileged / ˈʌn dərˈprɪv ə lɪdʒd / (adj) – lacking sufficient money, food, or other basic needs
    Example:

    The government proposed new plans to help underprivileged people.


  3. soup kitchen / sup ˈkɪtʃ ən / (n) – a place that provides food to poor people
    Example:

    The soup kitchen relies on volunteers to continue its operations.


  4. cease / sis / (v) – to stop or not continue
    Example:

    Classes were ceased for a week while the school underwent renovations.


  5. give back / gɪv bæk / (phrasal) – to show kindness, often by donating money or doing volunteer work
    Example:

    The company gives back to the community by donating a portion of their profits to charity.


Article

Read the text below.

Eleven Madison Park, a Michelin-starred restaurant in Manhattan, has partnered with a nonprofit organization to give food for health workers and other people in need.


In an Instagram post, chef and restaurant owner Daniel Humm announced that Eleven Madison Park would lend its facilities and manpower to provide food during the COVID-19 crisis. The establishment teamed up with Rethink Food NYC, a nonprofit organization that uses excess food from restaurants and grocery stores to make ready-to-eat meals for its recipients.


Eleven Madison Park will prepare the food, while Rethink will deliver it to frontline health workers and underprivileged communities that are affected by the closure of soup kitchens.


The food will be cooked by Humm and 12 other chefs who work for the restaurant, which had to cease operations in March due to the outbreak. Initially, Humm and his team will make 1,000 meals every day, but they plan to step up production to make up to 3,000 meals daily.


The cost of each meal is $5 to $6, similar to the price of emergency food from other providers. American Express and another company will help Rethink and Eleven Madison Park fund the initiative. 


People responded to Humm’s news positively, with thousands liking his post and adding comments expressing praise and support.


According to Humm, he had struggled to find a way to give back to the community since the restaurant shut its doors. He said he wanted to help during the global crisis and expressed gratitude that the initiative with Rethink allowed him to contribute significantly.


Viewpoint Discussion

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.

Discussion A

• If you were Daniel Humm, would you agree to use your restaurant to help other people during this crisis? Why or why not?
• What additional support can help the restaurant continue its initiative to help frontline workers and underprivileged communities (e.g. financial aid for the chefs, protective gear)? Discuss.

Discussion B

• Aside from food, what other necessities should be prioritized for distribution during a global health crisis (e.g. medicine)? Explain.
• How can these necessities be made available to people who need them most (e.g. delivered to houses, for pick-up at centers)? Explain.