Gillibrand calls for $60B in additional independent restaurant aid
BY DEAN MOSES
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand is asking for the government
to open up the tab for the hospitality industry
before more businesses are closed and workers lose
their jobs.
New York’s junior senator was joined by renowned chef
Tom Colicchio, owner of Crafted Hospitality and founding
member of the Independent Restaurant Coalition, on
Zoom Thursday afternoon to remind the government
that despite the COVID-19 recovery efforts, independent
restaurants are still wrestling to stay afl oat amid crippling
debts to landlords built up over the course of the pandemic.
The pair also cited additional costs incurred due to the
pandemic, such as air ventilation upgrades, as contributing
factors to the fi nancial losses of business owners. Colicchio
himself admits that he is among the hundreds of entrepreneurs
in the restaurant business who owe a seemingly
insurmountable sum in back rent payments.
“I am fortunate enough to have my landlords work with
me. I’ve had one landlord that wouldn’t, and that restaurant
closed. But they are deferring rent, so in one turn alone I
own $1.2 million in back rent. I have my landlords working
with me and I have a period of time before I have to start
paying that back but that’s the reality of it,” Colicchio said.
Additionally, the Independent Restaurant Coalition
reported that the future of 50,153 restaurants and bars
SCREENSHOT
Senator Kirsten Gillibrand calls for $60 billion in
relief to help independent restaurants.
are at stake and are depending on COVID relief funds.
They estimate that 31.6% of the jobs lost in New York
were from the leisure and hospitality industry.
“The $28.6 billion originally allocated in the Restaurant
Revitalization Fund was a huge step in addressing
the ongoing and unique economic crisis that our nation’s
restaurants weathered this past year. The demand for the
fund simply outpaced the supply, and we need to ensure
these businesses get the resources they desperately need,”
said Gillibrand. “Independent restaurants are critical to
our economy and this additional $60 billion funding boost
will provide direct aid to the restaurant owners Congress
initially intended to assist and help these vital businesses
keep their doors open.”
The American Rescue Plan was enacted in March, aiding
millions of individuals through COVID-Relief funds.
While Gillibrand and members of Congress pushed for the
$28.6 billion to be awarded to restaurants, food establishments
and others in the hospitality industry through the
Restaurant Revitalization Fund, the sheer infl ux of those
needing help has surpassed the amount of money available.
Coupled with the court cases that have put a halt on
prioritizing applications.
The goal of this fund was intended to focus on those who
needed it the most and disproportionately affected by the
pandemic such as women, minorities, and veteran owners
— approximately less than one-third of the 362,000
applicants have actually received funding.
Last August, it was reported that 90% of bar and
restaurant owners could not afford their rent due to the
economic crisis and the expenses made to accommodate
CDC requirements as well as outdoor dining.
Dan’s Rosé Soirée to come to Nova’s Ark in Water Mill later this month
BY DAVID TAYLOR
Sample some of the best food the
Hamptons have to offer during Dan’s
Papers’ Rosé Soirée!
Rosé Soirée takes place Saturday, July 24,
at the renowned Nova’s Ark Projectin Water
Mill—the Hamptons’ largest privately
owned sculpture park and art center, featuring
the works of founder Nova Mihai Popa.
The event is hosted by Fox5 Good Day New
York anchor Rosanna Scotto and features
reserved outdoor seating with a multi-course
tasting and pairing menu from the East End’s
top chefs, but more on the food later.
As always, Rosé Soiréeboasts a wide
selection of the Hamptons’ favorite summer
drink, rosé wine, as well as other wines
from vineyards across the East End and
beyond, tons of specialty spirits, cocktails
and beers. Featured wineries include local
favorites Wölffer Estate Vineyard, Paumanok
Vineyards, Palmer Vineyards, RGNY, Pindar
Vineyards, Clovis Point Vineyard, Borghese
Vineyard & Winery, McCall Wines, Jamesport
Vineyards and Chronicle Wines, as well
as renowned wines from Monte Xanic, The
Expressionist, The Great Oregon Wine Company
and Jesse Bongiovi’s Hampton Water.
A sommelier will circulate throughout the
event providing details and explanations of
each wine. (Check DansTaste.com for the
latest updates on wine offerings!)
Each course features dishes prepared
by the Hamptons and North Fork’s most
beloved chefs and perfectly paired with a
refreshing rosé. These chefs are masters of
bringing the richest fl avors out of the freshest
ingredients, and they’re sure to impress even
food connoisseurs with the most discerning
of palettes. And where there’s wine, there’s
often chocolate or another sweet to enjoy it
with, and Rosé Soiréedelivers in a big way
– showcasing two innovative North Fork
chocolatiers and the queen of the Westhampton
Beach ice cream scene.
The 2021 Dan’s Rosé Soirée chef roster
includes:
PHOTO COURTESY OF DAN’S PAPERS
SCOTT KAMP F Union Sushi & Steak
in Southampton
BOB ABRAMS Calissa in Water Mill
SPIRO KARACHOPAN Spiro’s in
Rocky Point
SAMEER MOHAN Saaz Indian Cuisine
in Southampton
RAUL CRUZ Bamboo Restaurant in
Southampton
STEVEN AMARAL North Fork Chocolate
Companyin Aquebogue
URSULA XVII Disset Chocolate in
Cutchogue
ELYSE RICHMAN Shock Ice Cream in
Westhampton Beach
ZACH ERDEM 75 Main in Southampton
EVAN SAYER NAIA Hamptons in
Southampton
ED MCFARLAND Ed’s Lobster Bar in
Sag Harbor
A portion of Rosé Soiréeticket proceeds
will be donated to local nonprofi t organizations.
These groups include Little Flower
Children and Family Services of New York,
a charity serving people with developmental
disabilities across Long Island and New York
City;All For The East End(AFTEE), which
raises funds for more than 1,000 East End
charity organizations and helps those in need
directly through its Feed the Need program;
and US Autism Homes, which provides safe,
independent and joyful living for autistic
adults living in Southampton and beyond.
Once again, Dan’s Rosé Soiréeis on
Saturday, July 24, from 7 to 10 p.m. at
Nova’s Ark Project. Nova’s Ark is located at
60 Millstone Road, Water Mill. Early bird
general admission tickets are $150, and
VIP tickets, which include lounge seating
and an exclusive bar, are $250.
Get tickets at DansTaste.com before you
miss out on this unique wine and dining
experience. The website also offers a sneak
peek of our next wave of events: Dan’s
GrillHampton, Dan’s Taste of Two Forks,
Dan’s Dinner in the Vines and more! All
Dan’s Taste 2021 events are intended only
for adults at least 21 years of age.
10 JJuullyy 2222,, 22002211 Schneps Media
/DansTaste.com
/DansTaste.com
