I didn’t quite know where to put this post because it is about many different things. First of all it is about a man and his vision, a vision that is about to become a reality. Chef Jeff Williams is a man with a passion for food, and a heart that believes in the goodness of mankind. So what better place to hold this interview than in a great restaurant over lunch. So we had a great lunch and a wonderful, informative conversation about a vision to feed a community.
Chef Jeff’s love of his vision–The Taste Project, a not for profit restaurant is evident when he tells someone about it. The vision came to him years ago in 2003, but it was not until 2012 that he began to bring his vision to life.
The Taste Project will be a restaurant where everyone will be able to get a great tasting meal (Chef Jeff will be the head chef when it first opens). The Taste Project restaurant will be one where you pay what you can, pay what you would normally pay for a meal of that quality or if you can pay a little extra that would be great. This is a restaurant for everyone, but especially for those that have food insecurity which is a term that I was not familiar with. Food insecurity means that a person/family may not
have access to adequate food because of a lack of money and other resources at certain times during the year. This could mean that someone you know may be going without adequate healthy food, food that will sustain them. They may have something to eat, just not what they need to lead a healthy life. For the most part, the people who have food insecurity do not qualify for other types of supplemental assistance. They are in essence between a rock and a hard place.
The restaurant belongs to the community. Chef Jeff is quick to point out that the more people who the restaurant is able to assist, the better the community will be. He has worked at 4 other not for profit restaurants learning by doing so that he can make the Taste Project a success.
The Taste Project will be located in the Near Southside of Fort Worth, Texas on 1200 South Main Street, and is scheduled to have its grand opening on August 22 at 11 am for lunch.
Secondly, since this is the North Texas communities restaurant, it will need to be staffed by volunteers from the community. There are many volunteer opportunities from servers, painters to paint the building, graphic designers, food tasters, writers and so much more. If you have a skill, the Taste Project probably has a position for you. In order to help The Taste Project feed one community at a time, they need the assistance of the community.
If you are interested go to The Taste Project and learn how you can help to feed one community at a time at “our” restaurant–we are all owners.
Remember “thisisyourbestyear”–The Taste Project is making a difference.