Feeding Tampa Bay is hard at work making sure that local, food insecure families have a little bit less to worry about—and those families are about to get a little help figuring out what to do with the food they procure from the local nonprofit.
Starting tonight, “Master Chef” contestant and Bay area food scene cheerleader Jeff Philbin is teaming up with Élavage Executive Chef Jason Bamford for a weekly cooking show being shot at the Feeding Tampa Bay warehouse.
“The idea is that with safe distance, Chef Bamford from Élevage and I will be making a meal using items that a recipient of Feeding Tampa Bay would be receiving,” Philbin told Creative Loafing Tampa Bay. “Other elements used in the dishes are common or easily accessible and affordable ingredients someone probably already has in their pantry to create an elevated meal.”
Each week will have a different guest chef joining Philbin, and “LIVE: Dining-In with Feeding Tampa Bay” kicks off tonight, April 1 at 6 p.m. via Feeding Tampa Bay’s social media channels.
“I love people first, and food second,” Philbin told CL.
“I have been given such an incredible platform coming from FOX TV's ‘MasterChef’ and just want to do good in our community and believe that is what people will want to see as it will help so many… As they say, a rising tide will float all ships, and my friend, I just want us all to sail to better days together.”
Philbin hopes that viewers from every demographic will make the dishes alongside him and then feel compelled to send money to the organization.
“All funds raised will be going to support the mission for bringing food to those who need it inside Feeding Tampa Bay's eleven counties and extended partners,” Philbin added.
He’s working out final logistics, but he expects the show to happen each Wednesday at 6 p.m. EDT.
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This article appears in Mar 26 – Apr 1, 2020.