Leadership Toledo’s Anna Toney touts 15th annual charity event
TOLEDO – It’s time for the 15th Annual Restaurant Week! As Toledo eateries prepare their specialty menus for a deluge of curious, thrifty and adventurous palates, customers are busy figuring out which of the 40 restaurants they want to sample.
Organized by Leadership Toledo, the week-long event, which begins Monday and ends March 2, benefits the program’s fundraising efforts for youth involvement in our city. To get a grasp of the growth of the event and its financial contribution to charity, the Toledo Free Press caught up with Anna Toney, executive director of Leadership Toledo, who gave us insight in the event’s overall contribution.
Ian Hubbard: What has been the impact of Restaurant Week since its inception?
For us, it’s one of our largest fundraisers to support our tuition-free youth programming. Since 2010, this fundraiser has raised over $1 million. Many restaurants tell us it’s one of their busiest weeks of the year. What began with a dozen restaurants has grown to over 40! I’ve been with the organization since 2012 and it’s been incredible to see how it has evolved. We’re excited for another fantastic week!
Is there a metric you use to trace the event’s impact? Is it feedback from the community?
We measure the impact primarily by the dollars raised. The feedback we receive from community members and local restaurants is incredibly heartwarming. It reinforces how much our community values coming together to support locally owned businesses.
Is Leadership Toledo primarily a youth program?
Youth Leadership Toledo is a nine-month experiential program that brings together nearly 60 high school sophomores from over 30 area high schools. The program is designed to inspire community involvement and help students recognize their vital role in shaping the future of our communities.
Do you have any personal favorite participating restaurants or dishes?
Hard to choose! Local Roots offers really fun and tropical dishes during the event. I’m excited to try some new partners this year, like Regalo and Bluewater Grille. I do a lot of coffee meetings, so all of the coffee shops will be high on my list!
What is a misconception locals should get over when dining at these establishments?
The colder months are often the slowest for the restaurant industry, so supporting them makes a big impact. We always say it’s a win-win-win – for the restaurants, for customers enjoying great deals and creative menus, and for Leadership Toledo. Additionally, it’s important to know that you can order off the Restaurant Week menu or the regular menu, and it still benefits the fundraiser.
Locally owned recommendations
If you want to spend a day during Restaurant Week playing the role of “townie,” here are a few selections to get you from breakfast to dinner:
Maddie & Bella: Start the day off right with a slice of in-house coffee cake and a Cup of Joe (or tea, if you prefer less of a jolt). I’m fairly basic when it comes to caffeine – a hot coffee with a touch of cream always does the trick. If you want to be fancy, try their homemade scone, smeared in jam, and a hot matcha latte.
Balance Pan-Asian Grille: If you’re looking to change it up, the Mongo and Korean BBQ tacos are light fare for your money. Ask for two of the red dipping sauces. The mix of savory between the proteins and spiral-cut vegetables and the heat of the sauce is a tip-top combination. Grab an order of their Eye of the Tiger butterfly tea. The sweetness of the passion fruit, pomegranate and lemonade mix will cleanse the palate.
Home Slice Pizza: If you don’t want to venture away from downtown and crave a classic combination, there’s this St. Clair staple. I’ve had many pies there, and they’ve always hit the spot. Restaurant Week will see Home Slice offer two for $25 combos (large pizza and appetizer/dessert), as well as a Nashville Hot Chicken Pizza and a Spicy Meatball Pizza to benefit the event.
Souk Mediterranean: You’ll have to stop home for a nap and change into your Saturday night attire before heading to Souk’s fine dining atmosphere. They’ll offer a three-course dinner (or a two-course lunch) in benefit of Leadership Toledo. In case that doesn’t fit your bill, I recommend the Roman Mussels to start, followed by either the Lamb Ragu or Garlic Roasted Duck Breast for your entrée.
For a full list of the participating restaurants and their specialty menus, go to restaurantweektoledo.com.
