First, if you’re looking for the contest, click here.

Second, if you’re looking for a list of restaurants that are hosting Tsunami-relief fund raisers the week of Jan. 10-14th, click here.

Now for the ‘This Just In’.  Here is a press release regarding the first round of fundraising that took place on Thursday, Jan. 6th.  Kudos to all the management and staff and diners at all the restaurants!

RESTAURANTS

FOR RELIEF

RAISES MORE THAN

$12,000

“It was such an incredible experience,” says Wild Rice co-owner Andrew Wong of last night’s Restaurants for Relief.  “When all the cheques came in this afternoon, we were thrilled to see the total grow to $12,300.  That represents 25 per cent of food sales for the evening.  On behalf of the group we have donated all the cheques to the Canadian Red Cross’s Tsunami Relief Fund.  What’s even better is that we understand that the Canadian government will match the funds, so that means our group of 14 restaurants has added more than $24,000 to the relief effort.”

“In addition to raising some serious money, the best part was the tremendous support shown by everyone to the project,” says Wong’s partner Tom Poirier.  “Most of these restaurants are smaller, moderately priced places.  Everyone pulled together with enthusiasm and dedication.  For instance, the folks at the Banana Leaf even sold gift certificates to patrons in order to increase the average food bill.“

“We want to thank everyone who worked so hard to make this possible – the 14 restaurant participants and their staffs, the media for getting the word out so quickly and thoroughly and most of all the public, who braved the snowy conditions and bad roads.  It’s been a very gratifying experience.  One we’ll never forget,” says Wong.