American Express : Restaurants Share the Power of Backing their Communities

Resy Shines a Light on Organizations that Inspired the Restaurant Industry

While the idea of emotional connection has sometimes seemed out of reach in our virtual-heavy world, our collective experiences with food have stood strong. Whether ordering in with family to bring your favorite restaurant into your home or safely dining at local spots while catching up with close friends, the figurative act of breaking bread together has continued to spark the power of connection.

Many restaurants that pivoted their operations to deliver these experiences were inspired to pay it forward to communities and causes that are dear to their businesses. Some restauranteurs who are part of American Express' Global Dining Access by Resy program recently shared their thoughts with the Amex-owned dining platform:

James Beard award-winning chef, Chris Shepherd, owner of Underbelly Hospitality which includes Georgia James and One Fifth in Houston, TX, shared his passion for his own Southern Smoke Foundation's efforts to provide financial relief for the food and beverage industry throughout the pandemic. For Shepherd, this enthusiasm has inspired his business' partnership with Mental Health America of Greater Houston and the University of Houston to provide free mental healthcare to every food and beverage worker and their children in the state of Texas, with plans to expand the program into California.

For Nick Wong, executive chef of Georgia James Tavern in Houston, TX, Food is Love's fundraising support to provide free meals and moral support to employees of local restaurants has left an admirable impression and appreciation for community backing.

To read more on the organizations that inspired the restaurant industry in 2021, visit Resy here.