“Give a man a fish, feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, feed him for a lifetime.” – Chinese Proverb

At FareStart, food is the tool that empowers lives, nourishes families, and builds communities. It is an organization that empowers homeless and disadvantaged men, women, and families to achieve self-sufficiency through life skills, job training, and employment in the food industry. It is the epitome of the famous Chinese Proverb.

Every Thursday night is Guest Chef Night, where leading local chefs work with FareStart students to create a gourmet three-course meal for only $25. My friend Lisa, an avid FareStart advocate, asks me at least once a month to join her for Guest Chef Night and we finally made it a date on October 15. Chef Alvin Binuya of Ponti Seafood Grill was at the helm and the menu featured macadamia-nut crusted albacore (it could have been nut-crusted anything and I would have been there.)

We ordered a bottle of wine to start, a 2006 Eola Hills Pinot Noir from Rickreall, OR. Soon after, the starter hit the table served by a gracious volunteer from Executive Women International. It was a Walla Walla sweet onion miso soup with crispy won tons, furikake, and scallion oil.

The entrée, the macadamia crusted Hawaiian albacore that lured me in, was served with a lemongrass-mango buerre blanc, spaghetti squash with cilantro and chilies, and soy syrup.

The dessert was a Theo moelleux au chocolate with alpine huckleberry compote. The insides oozed warm chocolate and the huckleberries added the perfect amount of tartness to the dish.

It was a nourishing meal not only for the ingredients, but for the meaning behind the preparation as well. I wrote on my life list to teach someone how to cook, preferably an underprivileged individual that I could essentially “teach how to fish.” Perhaps one day they will invite me to be a guest chef. In the mean time, I’ll give in often to the repetitious request of my dear friend and support FareStart from this side of the kitchen.