New Canaan Chef Joins Drive To End Child Hunger

NEW CANAAN, Conn. — Brian Lewis, owner and chef of Elm Restaurant in New Canaan, is looking to put an end to children’s hunger in the country and will be holding a fund-raiser at his restaurant at the end of September.

Chef Brian Lewis of Elm Restaurant in New Canaan teaches kids about locally grown food during his "Lil Foodies" program.
Photo Credit: *Courtesy of Jane Beiles*

Brian Lewis will be hosting a fund-raising dinner at the Elm Restaurant in New Canaan on Sept. 30 geared towards ending hunger.
Photo Credit: *Courtesy of Jane Beiles*

by Anthony Buzzeo

08/27/2013 5:00 a.m.

“It’s hard to know, we live in a special place,” Lewis said, explaining that hunger is less visible in New Canaan than other places in the country.

He has partnered with Share Our Strength in holding the fund-raising dinner, which he decided to do after meeting representatives from the organization earlier this year and learning about what they do. He hopes that if he can get people from the organization in a room with others they will be inspired to help the cause as well.

Share Our Strength’s No Kid Hungry campaign is focused on ending child hunger in America and strives to provide children with healthy food that will help kids feel better and grow stronger. According to the organization it has raised more than $7 million since 2005 at dinners like the one coming up in September at the Elm Restaurant.

Lewis won’t be alone in preparing food for the fund-raiser as he will be joined by fellow chefs Carey Savona of Heirloom in New Haven, Geoff Lazlo of The Whelk in Westport, and guest sommelier Jeff Barbour of New Canaan Wine Merchants. The group of friends have already put the menu together and decided to come together for future events for Share Our Strength.

“It’s like a jam session among chefs,” Lewis said explaining that it is important to them as chefs to be a part of the solution, and to have a sense of community.

In addition to the dinner, Lewis also gives back to the community by holding the “Lil Foodies,” program with his wife, Dana, where one Saturday a month they take local kids to farmers markets and teach them about locally grown food, and the importance of eating healthy. He hopes to expand that program for less fortunate kids as well.

The event on Sept. 30 will begin with a cocktail reception at 6 p.m. and dinner at 7 p.m. There are 50 seats available at $200 each, with sponsor and benefactor opportunities available as well.

You can make reservations online here.

The Elm Restaurant is at 73 Elm St., in New Canaan. 203-920-4994.

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