From the Page to the Plate—Literally

Local restaurants will offer an evening of food and drinks to help support literacy at the San Diego Council on Literacy’s “Eat. Drink. Read.” fundraiser on Wednesday, May 18, at the NTC Promenade.

Attendees will taste dishes created by local chefs and inspired by their favorite books.

“We feel like we’re offering one of the best deals in town because people get to enjoy this quality food and support a great cause,” said Jose Cruz, chief executive officer of the San Diego Council on Literacy.

The second annual event will help raise awareness for literacy and support the educational efforts of the council. About 450,000 San Diegans have a below-standard reading level, according to the council.

“There’s not an area in San Diego County that’s not touched by this issue,” said Nancy Rohland-Heinrich, the chair of the San Diego Council on Literacy.

Chef Brian Johnston of The Red Door will offer a dish inspired by Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs, and Brian Malarkey of Searsucker created his own version of Green Eggs and Ham. 

“What a fun premise for an event,” said Trish Watlington, the owner of The Red Door. “Usually, we just get asked to bring something. This time, we got to play with it a little bit and have a little fun.”

Executive Chef Bernard Guillas and Chef de Cuisine Ron Oliver of drew inspiration from their own book, Flying Pans, for their hibiscus-infused lemon bars and chocolate Kahlua tarts.

Participating restaurants include: Alchemy, Cafe Moto, Craft & Commerce, Flavor Del Mar, The Marine Room, Quality Social, The Red Door, Searsucker, Sessions Public, Snake Oil Cocktail Co., Tender Greens and Urban Solace.

“With all the cuts being done in the schooling system and the layoffs of the teachers, it’s really important that we, as chefs and as restaurateurs, do our part when it comes to education,” Guillas said.

The San Diego Council on Literacy serves children and adults. Cruz said about 40 percent of the services benefit adults. Many of them are parents, he added.

“The parent is the child’s first teacher. The home is the child’s first school,” Cruz
 said. “The parent’s impact upon the child, especially as it relates to preparation for school and success in school, is highly significant.”

Last year, the San Diego Council on Literacy served more than 165,000 children and adults in San Diego County with its 24 partner literacy programs, Cruz said.

Maggi Hall’s student is one of the thousands who benefited from the programs.

Hall, who is a volunteer tutor with READ/San Diego, one of the council’s partners in the literacy programs, has worked with a learning disabled adult for more than four years.

Her student could barely read when they first met, she said. Now, she can read material that high school students can read, Hall added.

Her student recently told her that she began crying when buying a birthday card for her daughter, Hall explained.

“I said, ‘Why were you crying?’ She said, ‘Before, I couldn’t even read the cards to select a card that really matched what I wanted to say to my daughter.’

“That’s the best part,” Hall said. “The best part is seeing your student improve.”

Hall and her student meet for two 90-minute tutoring sessions each week.

“It’s nice to feel useful and feel like you’re making a contribution,” Hall said. “I like the READ organization. I like the kind of people that I meet.”

Programs like READ/San Diego are offered at central locations, such as libraries, throughout San Diego County communities.

“It’s very community-based,” Rohland-Heinrich said. “People are more likely to participate, and it’s accessible.

“I think you can really improve society and improve quality of life for a lot of people if you can give everybody a chance to read,” she said.

About 150 people attended the inaugural Eat. Drink. Read. fundraiser, which was held downtown last year, Cruz said. Organizers expect 250 or more attendees this year, he added.

“Our vision is for 100 percent literacy. For us to have that, we need 100 percent community engagement,” Cruz said. “If it takes hitting people in their stomachs, which means Eat. Drink. Read., and having a good time to bring them into our circle of supporters, we’re up for it.”

Eat. Drink. Read. will be from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at the McMillin Event Center, or Building 177, located at 2875 Dewey Rd. in San Diego. A silent auction will take place from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Tickets cost $60.

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit eatdrinkread.com.