It Happened Last Meeting
by Benjamin Harris
President Vera McKissic called the meeting to order and invited Laurie Bianco to give the prayer and lead us all in the Pledge of Allegiance. We then sang “God Bless America.”
Following this, Dr. Iggi Nunez was called to the front to announce our visiting Rotarians and guests. Andrew Walley from Sunrise Rotary dressed in a duck costume because he doesn’t mind getting up at the quack of dawn. He forgot to bring his wallet, so we had to put lunch on his bill. Anyway, I’ve got to stop making jokes and be more pro-duck-tive at writing this.
Vera called for people with announcements to form a line.
Vera then called Walter up to lead us in singing. Walter led us in “Take Me Out to the Ballgame.” We Rotarians sang lustily, but for the subject matter John Wesley might have been proud of us.
At some point we did birthdays and anniversaries. It may be slightly out of order.
Randy Hendricks introduced our program for the day, Julie Williams from
Taste Project and Taste Community Restaurant. Taste Community Restaurant is a ‘pay what you can restaurant” that focuses on caring for all people in the community.
Taste opened its first restaurant in Fort Worth in 2017. Taste recently opened an Arlington location. To date Taste has served more than 250,000 meals. They are rated one of the top 100 places to eat in the U.S. and Texas per Yelp
Julie relayed to us that this all started from started as a crazy dream from her husband, Jeff Williams (not the former mayor, a different Jeff Williams). Their flagship restaurant is located at 1200 S. Main St. Fort Worth. Their mission is “to feed, educate, and serve our community so they may ‘…taste and see the Lord is good.’ Psalm 34:8.” Therefore, they seek to both serve good food and to educate people.
Approximately 80% of their workforce is comprised of volunteers. If you want to see what it’s like to work in restaurant go volunteer!
Taste is not just a soup kitchen, they prepare healthier food and more nutritious food. Much of the food is fine dining quality. They have a goal that all members of the community, regardless of their ability to pay, may come and have good food.
In addition to feeding people, they provide culinary job training. So far, about 94% of their students have become certified from the training they received at Taste. Further, they have a Sues Chef apprentice program. They assist with employment, job training, nutrition education, financial literacy, and access healthy food. At the For Worth location that also have a community garden.
Julie shared the story of how they eventually managed to expand and add a location in Arlington. They then saw rise in need for low cost nutritious services. The Arlington location is at 200 N Cooper. They opened at the beginning of the month.
Julie shared, and I fully concur, that It is the job of the community to feed its members. It is a responsibility for each of us to love our neighbors.
Taste Arlington is open for lunch Wednesday through Sunday. Go enjoy some good food and support a worth charity. Alternatively, you could volunteer or donate funds to support their goal to share Christ’s love by serving the community. If you choose those who volunteer, eat, or give regularly, you may earn the title “Taste Bud.”
After discussing the origins and operations of Taste, Julie opened the floor for questions.
- Do professional chefs conduct the training? Prior to starting Taste, Jeff was in IT. He is now trained as a chef and has previously served as an instructor at CM. They have two other instructors and are looking for a third instructor. They have authorizations from industry organizations as an instructional organization.
- Laurie Bianco shared a “big thanks” for sharing God’s love through this mission and business.
- Someone asked about how Leslie Eades became involved. Lessie is a member of our Rotary club and was in our performance of A Christmas Carol this last year. Leslie began as volunteer. Driving from Dallas to Fort Worth each morning to volunteer with breakfast.
- Mac Martin asked about whether they have any partnership with UTA. Currently Taste shares a building with UTA. But they don’t o they coordinate with that department, as it’s the architecture lab in same building. However, UTA is working to create some type of hospitality studies certificate or degree and that will be working with and through Taste. The UTA students will manage dinner Mon-Wed using sues chef apprentices from Taste to make the food that the students menu plan. Apprentices may be working through UTA as well.
Vera presented Julie with a book to sign that we will then donate to the Webb library.
Tom approached the mic with his usual saunter
He told of deceased preacher who had been a vaunter
Who once inside Heaven’s lock
Received quite a shock
And found he wouldn’t be a flaunter.
Vera gave the quote of the week. She thanked everyone for coming to Rotary then led us all in the Four Way Test and adjourned the meeting. Prost Y’all!
