Green Tomato: Rock the Earth
29 April 2015
Chef Charlie Ayers and other celebrity chefs support Earth Day San Francisco in honor of Earth Month.
Rock the Earth of Denver and Calafia Café of Palo Alto, Calif., held a joint fundraiser in honor of Earth Month on April 17. The popular café, owned by celebrity chef Charlie Ayers (pictured), hosted Dine Out for Earth California to celebrate the local food movement.
Several renowned Bay Area chefs joined Ayers in preparing a prix-fixe six-course meal starring locally sourced ingredients. Brews were provided by Palo Alto Brewing Company and wines were donated by Whitcraft Winery, Seamus Winery and Domenico Winery. The event also celebrated music provided by the Bay Area’s Dan Lebowitz (ALO), and Bo Carper and Rajiv Parikh (New Monsoon).
Proceeds from the evening benefited Rock the Earth and Earth Day San Francisco. Rock the Earth is a national not-for-profit environmental organization that works to protect and maintain America’s natural resources to ensure a healthy and sustainable environment through partnerships with the music industry and the worldwide environmental community. Earth Day San Francisco commemorated the 45th anniversary of Earth Day.
Ayers is an ardent supporter of the environmental movement and a long-time music lover. He is credited with spearheading Google’s legendary corporate cafeterias and building out its sustainable dining program. He has been involved with Rock the Earth since 2006.
Calafia Café & Market A-Go-Go is the embodiment of Ayers’ belief that food should be healthy, delicious and accessible to everyone. He set out to create a restaurant that could offer “slow food fast” while maintaining the “soul of California” that is central to his cuisine. Local, sustainable and organic whole foods are showcased in a collection of modern comfort foods with a global influence. The restaurant offers a full vegetarian menu as well as several gluten-free and vegan items. The adjoining Market A-Go-Go offers made-to-order salads, smoothies, sandwiches and a collection of entrées to heat and serve at home. Biodynamic wines, organic beers and homemade sodas complement the cuisine.
Besides Ayers, other chefs cooking for Dine Out for Earth California were Frank Otte of Calafia Café; Alexander Ong, formerly of Betelnut in San Francisco; Hiroo Nagahara, formerly of Bar Charlie (Charlie Trotter Restaurant Group) in Las Vegas; Mani Niall of Sweet Bar Bakery in Oakland; James Hall of Rawdaddy Foods; and Kelly Olazar of Calafia Café.