East Bay artists carry on the folk tradition of pysanky to benefit Nova Ukraine. (Courtesy Peaceanky)
5 Beautiful + Delicious Ways to Support Ukraine in the Bay Area Now
30 March 2022
Foodies can delight in a benefit dinner put on by some of our most awarded chefs or a virtual varenyky cooking class, while music lovers can get funky with Fantastic Negrito for the cause. Here are five ways you can support Ukraine around the Bay Area now.
PS: If you're unable to participate in any of the following, your direct donations to organizations such as the Bay Area–based nonprofit Nova Ukraine, chef José Andres' World Central Kitchen, and Unicef will go directly toward humanitarian relief in Ukraine.
Fantastic Negrito, Stone Foxes, and High Noon will come together for a live show and rally. Donations will benefit Bay Area–based nonprofit Nova Ukraine and the food relief agency World Central Kitchen in order to deliver food, equipment, and other necessary aid to Ukraine and the neighboring European countries that are now hosting more than three million Ukrainian refugees. Scheduled speakers include members of the Ukrainian community living in the Bay Area. Enjoy munchies from food trucks plus wine and beer while you jam out for the cause.
// 2pm to 6:30pm, Sunday, April 3rd at Napa Valley Expo, 575 3rd St. (Napa); tickets at eventbrite.com.
Our regions's most celebrated chefs are coming together for a one-of-a-kind, 10-course dinner at Nari in San Francisco, with proceeds directly benefitting World Central Kitchen's refugee relief work in Ukraine. The dinner will feature dishes from Lord Stanley, Lazy Bear, SingleThread Farms, Commis, Crenn Dining Group, Viridian, Avery, Acquerello, Dabao Singapore, Cultured Butter, The Sunday Group, and Tarts de Feybesse. Wines have been donated by Lioco Wine Company, Peay Vineyards, Gail Wines, and Valkyrie Selections.
// 6:30pm, Tuesday, April 12th at Nari, 1625 Post St. (Japantown); reservations ($750 per person, pre-paid) at opentable.com.
Purchase a beautifully painted egg to support Nova Ukraine's humanitarian relief efforts. Typically crafted by Ukrainian babushkas in the folk tradition of pysanky to celebrate Easter and spring rituals, these eggs have been painted by East Bay artists to carry on the tradition in the midst of war in Ukraine and to give back to the cause. A silent auction for the hand-painted eggs is currently live online with a closing party on Monday, April 11th to hand eggs to winning bidders.
// See the Peaceanky folk art exhibit through April 10th at 2946 College Ave. (Berkeley); peaceanky.com
On April 13th, head to Birch & Rye for a collaborative vegetarian dinner by chefs Anya El Wattar (Birch & Rye) and Dominique Crenn (Atelier Crenn). In addition to a five-course meal with wine pairings, speakers for the evening include James Beard Award winner Traci Des Jardins,Dr. Marina Sapritsky-Nahum of the London School of Economics, and writer Aleksandra Bulatskaya who is a refugee from Ukraine. All of the profits will go to World Central Kitchen and their efforts in #chefsforukraine.
// 6pm, Wednesday, April 13th at Birch & Rye, 1320 Castro St. (Noe Valley); tickets (starting at $2,500 per person, pre-paid) at exploretock.com.
Make cherry dumplings not war in this virtual cooking club led by Ukrainian chef Anna Voloshyna, a Kyiv to Bay Area transplant whose family is still sheltered in Ukraine. This chef is inspired to do everything she can to support her people. With your donation, you’ll get access to her recipe, shopping list, and recorded class to make these dark cherry dumplings called varenyky. One hundred percent of your donation will go to Unicef for relief in Ukraine.
// Learn more at food-la-la.com.