Hi, y’all! Jenny with Vino Pour Favor here, with a little guest blog to round up a few ideas for Valentine’s Day and foodie events in Austin. All of these businesses and events give back to the community, so by supporting them you’ll help give back to good causes. And really, that’s this month of love is all about!

Bites & Drinks

Mealshare Restaurants

Mealshare partners with socially responsible Austin restaurants to help provide meals to youth in need through the Central Texas Food Bank. When you order a Mealshare item (look for their logo), the participating restaurant donates a meal to youth in need. Buy one meal, give one meal! Restaurants include Contigo, L’oca D’oro, Andiamo, El Naranjo, and more.

Antonelli’s Cheese

Antonelli’s hosts a range of cheese classes every month, and in February there are 13 of them covering topics from Chocolate and Cheese to Cider and Cheese (collab with Austin Eastciders) to a Love Stinks (stinky cheeses) Class on Valentine’s Day. When purchasing a class ticket, you can donate to February’s designated charity, which is B.I.G. Love Cancer Care, a volunteer based organization committed to providing basic necessities and personalized care to cancer kids and their families. 100% of those contributions will go directly to the nonprofit. Additionally, the February 28 class, Cheese 101: The Seven Styles of Cheese, benefits the nonprofit via a portion of ticket and retail sales. Antonelli's Cheese, 4220 Duval St.

La Patisserie

Purchase a Boss Babes Rose Macaron, and a portion of the proceeds will benefit the Boss Babes URL Digital Artist Residency - a program that places six women-identifying and non-binary visual artist’ work throughout Boss Babes productions. Special runs now through March. La Patisserie, 602 W Annie St // 7301 Burnet Rd, Ste 102

Still Austin Whiskey

For the entire month, $1 from each Daisy Pepper will benefit the American Heart Association. Still Austin Whiskey, 440 E St. Elmo Rd

Soup Peddler

Purchase “The Yellow Bike” smoothie (mango, coconut cream, pineapple, lime, raw turmeric, cilantro, organic chia, and organic maca) and 25% of proceeds benefit Austin Yellow Bike, a nonprofit organization that has been working for 20 years to get more bikes on the streets of Austin through operating community bike shops, teaching bike mechanics and maintenance, and acting as a local bike advocacy group. Soup Peddler, various locations.

Food Events

TLC Grand Opening Party

Thursday, February 8th: The newest addition to the Lamar Union will feature specials to celebrate their grand opening, including: $5 ½ dozen oyster platters, $5 rotating signature cocktail specials (10 cocktails on tap), live music by The Bruce Smith Band beginning at 5pm, and giveaways. 10% of all seafood boil proceeds will be donated to the Sustainable Food Center, whose mission it is to cultivate a healthy community by strengthening the local food system and improving access to nutritious, affordable food. TLC, 1100 S Lamar, Ste 1150.

Jo’s 12th Annual Chili Cook-Off

Chili tasting and live music start at noon. All proceeds benefit Urban Roots, a non-profit using food and farming to empower youth and nourish community. Jo's Coffee, 1300 S. Congress Ave. Event details.

2018 Farmshare Farmraiser: “Love is in the Share”

Enjoy a wild boar, plenty of vegetarian sides prepared by Austin chefs and local libations, all set to live music by the Barn Owls, an old-time square dance band. Chefs include those from Dai Due, Parkside, Trace Austin, Escoffier School of Culinary Arts, Monument Cafe, Sawyer, Texas French Bread, and Curcuma. Beverage sponsors include the ABGB, Texas Keeper Cider, Austonian Spirits, and Tito's Vodka. Proceeds support Farmshare Austin's programs to train new organic farmers and improve access to affordable, healthy, fresh foods throughout the community. Saengerrunde Halle, 1607 San Jacinto Blvd. Tickets.

Wu Chow Chinese New Year Celebration: Year of the Dog

The restaurant will donate 100% of proceeds of their plush pandas ($10 ea) sold Feb. 16-Feb. 19 to Austin Pets Alive!. On Monday, Feb. 19, the Chinese New Year Party will have family-friendly festivities, including an Austin Pets Alive! Puppy Party from 5-7 pm. Wu Chow, 500 W 5th St, #168

Breakfast Bash benefiting No Kid Hungry Austin

Join Austin's finest chefs and mixologists for Breakfast Bash for No Kid Hungry, a new event supporting No Kid Hungry's work to make sure every kid starts the school day with a healthy breakfast. Chef Bryce Gilmore (Odd Duck, Barley Swine) and Pastry Chef Amanda Rockman (South Congress Hotel) have teamed up to curate more than 30 top chefs and bartenders, who will present tastes of their breakfast and brunch favorites. Fair Market, 1100 E 5th St. Tickets.

VEG OUT: A Pop Up Dinner

This event features a 4-course vegetarian meal by Chef Monique. A portion of proceeds will benefit Asian Family Support Services of Austin. Forthright, 35 Brazos St. Tickets.

Austin Entertains

The Junior League of Austin presents Austin Entertains, a culinary experience led by Austin’s greatest female chefs who are leading Austin’s culinary scene, with tastings, libations from local mixologists, and a live music showcase. All funds raised through this event will benefit The Junior League of Austin’s programs including FIT – Food in Tummies, Coats for Kids, and more than 36 local, community non-profits. Fair Market, 1100 E 5th St. Tickets.

Austin Oyster Festival

Oysters served raw, grilled, roasted and fried...alongside delicious seafood accompaniments, Bloody Marys, beer, wine and spirits...with a side of Cajun, Bluegrass, and "Newgrass" music. Event benefits Central Texas Food Bank. The Lawn at Seaholm, tickets.

Toast & Roast

The Wine & Food Foundation of Texas partners with Texas Monthly for an exclusive tasting of their "Top Texas Wines of 2017" to celebrate and support Texas' growing wine industry. The Texas Wine of the Year will be announced and guests choose this year's Fan Favorite. Along with a sip and stroll tasting of the best Texas wines produced last year, renowned Texas chefs will prepare a farm to table feast. The WFFT invests in the wine and food community through education, appreciation, and enjoyment. Grant recipients have included Urban Roots, Central Texas Food Bank, Dell Children’s Medical Center, and more. Stonehouse Villa, 15110 Fm 150 W, Driftwood. Tickets.

Just Because...

Flyrite Lunch Money Fund

Did you know 55% of Austin students require assistance to purchase a school lunch? Support Austin ISD school lunches by using Flyrite Loyalty Points to donate or adding $1 to your next order at either Flyrite location. Every $3 that is donated helps ensure a child has a meal. Details.
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The Do Good / Then Party Holiday Edition has arrived! We're partnering with Mealshare to volunteer at the Central Texas Food Bank and help others during the holidays. We hope you'll join us on December 12!

6-8:30pm: Join us at Central Texas Food Bank (6500 Metropolis Drive) for the volunteer shift. Wear your festive sweaters and gear, and watch a screening of the classic holiday movie ELF while you work to help our hungry neighbors in need. This shift is open to volunteers ages 16 and older. Volunteers ages 16 and 17 must be accompanied by an adult age 21 or older. Shirts with sleeves and closed-toe shoes are required to volunteer.

You must REGISTER HERE to volunteer: http://mealshare.cafb.volunteerhub.com/

Join us at El Taquito (1713 E Riverside), one of Mealshare Austin's restaurant partners, and hang out with your new friends after the volunteer session.

Mealshare partners with restaurants to offer a "buy-one, give-one" initiative that allows guests to order a Mealshare branded item to provide a meal to youth in need through Central Texas Food Bank. #Giveadamn about ending hunger, y'all!

Good Party ATX presents: Local Luau

The Good Guide: February in Austin