Dining Out And Supporting A Great Cause

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and selected members of the Bay Area restaurant community are doing their part by participating in "Taste for the Cure" - an event co-sponsored by the UCSF National Center of Excellence in Women's Health, the Golden Gate Restaurant Association, and the UCSF Carol Franc Buck Breast Care Center.   Here's how it works.   Each participating restaurant has identified a goal in terms of the amount of money that it is willing to donate to the UCSF Carol Franc Buck Breast Care Center.   When a diner visits one of these restaurants this week, he or she will be given a small contribution envelope along with the check.   If the diner elects to make a donation, the restaurant will provide matching funds - at least up until the point that its predetermined goal has been met.   And, of course, the restaurant can continue to collect contributions even after that point.   One hundred percent of the donated amounts will go directly toward providing patient services to women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer.

The goals that have been set by the participating restaurants apparently range from $250 to $500 - not particularly high dollar values, to be sure.   Nevertheless, these restaurants really do deserve to be commended for their efforts, and for a number of different reasons.   First, every dollar counts, and the restaurants involved here are not simply turning over their own money, they're actually providing an incentive for diners to do so as well.   Second, the restaurants and the event itself are providing an important public service, raising awareness about this deadly disease and publicizing the important work being done at UCSF.   And finally, the establishments taking part this year are paving the way for what I hope will be broader restaurant participation - perhaps even at higher contribution levels - in future years.

Here, then, are the restaurants participating in this year's Taste for the Cure:

• A. Sabella’s


• Alfred’s


• Asqew Grill


• Aziza


• Beach Chalet Brewery & Restaurant


• Bix


• Bob’s Steak & Chop House


• Brazenhead


• Harrington’s


• Hawthorne Lane


• Julius’ Castle


• Just Desserts (Metreon, Church St. & Embarcadero 3 locations)


• Liverpool Lil’s


• Lou’s Pier 47


• Max’s (Union Square & Van Ness Ave. locations)


• MoMo’s


• Palio d’Asti


• Park Chalet Garden Restaurant


• Pier 23


• Sabor of Spain


• Ristorante Milano


• The Grove (Chestnut St. & Fillmore St. locations)


• Tia Margarita


• Trader Vic's (Emeryville & San Francisco locations)

So, if you have an opportunity to visit any of these restaurants between now and Sunday and are able to make a donation, please do so.   And even if you are unable, I encourage you to stop in at these establishments at some later date and let them know if you appreciate their involvement in this important event.