This fun two-fer will get you a big thumbs-up: a video cookbook from celebrity chefs that also helps raise money to support first responders battling the wildfires of 2020.
“ChefsGiving 2020,” a collection of more than 30 holiday recipes for a minimum donation of $25, shares intimate cooking lessons from 30 top chefs and mixologists, including Jacques Pépin, Marcus Samuelsson, David Rose, Sammy Hagar, Andrew Zimmern, Emily Lucchetti, Dominique Crenn, Martin Yan, Tanya Holland, Chris Cosentino and others.
Filmed primarily in chefs’ and bartenders’ home kitchens, the video collection includes recipes such as bourbon glazed smoked ham, rotisserie prime rib, roasted and barbecue turkey, rack of lamb, rustic spinach soufflés, oyster mushroom cream sauce, grilled sourdough stuffing, beef Wellington, duck salad and stir fry, shepherd’s pie, bacon cheddar biscuits and gingerbread trifle with apple compote.
The video cookbook purchase offer is available through Jan. 3 at chefsgiving2020.org, which provides online access to all recipes for one year — until Jan. 3, 2022. Viewers can watch the videos and download the written recipes.
The goal is to raise at least $1 million to support firefighters and first responders, say organizers Jason and Michelle Glover, Chef Jim Modesitt and TV host Liam Mayclem, who have deep roots in the Northern California restaurant community. After seeing the devastation of the 2020 wildfires and searching for a way to help, they created ChefsGiving 2020, partnering with Williams Sonoma. All proceeds will support the Gary Sinise Foundation’s First Responders Outreach Program, and The Tiny Pine Foundation, which builds tiny houses for those who have lost their homes to fire.
The Glovers produce the digital cooking show “Dads That Cook,” which has established DTC Helping Hands as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit to be able to give back, beginning with ChefsGiving 2020. Modesitt, owner of Big Jim’s BBQ, has fed first responders for several years. Mayclem, an Emmy award-winning KPIX-TV personality in San Francisco, founded the first ChefsGiving Gala in 2017, which raised more than $750,000.
The Gary Sinise Foundation was established under the philanthropic direction of actor Gary Sinise, who portrayed an injured military veteran in the film “Forrest Gump.” The foundation’s mission is to serve U.S. defenders, veterans, first responders, their families and those in need. Programs are designed to entertain, educate, inspire, strengthen and build communities. For details, visit garysinisefoundation.org.
The Tiny Pine Foundation materialized out of the need for affordable, safe housing for those impacted and devastated by the wildfires in the Western U.S. CEO Alyssa Nolan-Cain has built over 20 tiny homes along with hundreds of volunteers, secured grants and donations, and led multiple wildfire relief events. The foundation plans to build tiny home villages in multiple locations. Through the support of ChefsGiving 2020, the foundation will be able to house additional fire survivors including wildfire first responders (each tiny home costs $7,000 to build) and provide training to other communities across the country. For details, visit tinypinefoundation.com.
To donate or for more information about Chefsgiving 2020, including a full list of chefs and recipes, visit chefsgiving2020.org.
