On Wednesday, March 20, top Indy chefs and bartenders will join forces at Bankers Life Fieldhouse for an evening of delicious food, live music, local beer, wine and craft cocktails in support of local hunger relief. 

Katie Prine, Senior Director of Philanthropy at Second Helpings, previews the annual Corks & Forks fundraiser, and Zach Beeson, bartender at Libertine Liquor Bar, prepares a signature cocktail called “La Parola” (see recipe below).

One in six Central Indiana residents faces food insecurity. Through Corks & Forks Presented by Kroger, Second Helpings will take a big step to reducing those numbers. This event will send more than 217,000 free meals to more than 90 nonprofit partner agencies, ensuring kids enrolled in after school programs at Boys and Girls Clubs will have a healthy, delicious meal at the end of the day, and victims of domestic violence at Julian Center will have the strength they need to overcome the vicious cycle of abuse. Corks & Forks will also send more than 542,000 pounds of rescued food to local pantries. This is BIG. 

The success of Corks & Forks is a testament to Indy’s vibrant restaurant scene, and its willingness to rally behind a cause they’re passionate about. Participating restaurants at Corks & Forks include: Best Chocolate in Town, Delicia, Late Harvest Kitchen, Northside Social, James Beard semifinalist OAKLEYS Bistro, Rooster’s Kitchen, Northside Social, The Alexander and more. Participating bartenders will showcase signature cocktails from Tito’s Handmade Vodka, Hotel Tango Distillery, Libertine Liquor Bar, West Fork Whiskey, 12.05 Distillery and others alongside craft beer from Sun King Brewing and local artisans like Ash & Elm Cider Co. 

Since its founding in 1998, Second Helpings has rescued more than 32 million pounds of food that would otherwise end up in a landfill, transforming it into 12.6 million meals, while training more than 840 unemployed adults for meaningful careers in the restaurant industry – fighting hunger and poverty at its source. Currently, Second Helpings staff and volunteers prepare and deliver more than 4,000 meals to over 90 social service agencies across Central Indiana each day. That’s one million meals each year. 
In 2018, Corks & Forks became the first event in the history of Bankers Life Fieldhouse to qualify as zero waste, achieving a diversion rate of 92%. Second Helpings remains committed to continuing this zero waste effort, and is thrilled this event now reflects its commitment to reduce waste throughout the year. 

Get more details at www.secondhelpings.org. 

La Parola 

•    Vodka
•    Blueberry-thyme syrup
•    Ginger syrup
•    Lemon juice
•    Campari
•    Habanero