eat + drink

"Fork the Fire" will allow diners to contribute in several ways. Dozens of local restaurants will offer specials that day at brunch, lunch and/or dinner -- the program is different at each location, so call ahead to verify -- with proceeds benefiting the two restaurants.

The list of participating restaurants is long -- too long for this short column -- but includes Victory 44, Spoonriver, Sea Change, Il Gatto, Craftsman, Pierre's Bistro, Prima, Grand Cafe, El Meson, First Course and Sen Yai Sen Lek. Find a complete list at www.startribune.com/tabletalk.

Capping the day is a pair of special events. At Mission American Kitchen (77 S. 7th St., Mpls.), diners can drop in for dishes prepared by Heidi's chef/co-owner Stewart Woodman and chefs from a dozen Twin Cities restaurants, including Sameh Wadi of Saffron Restaurant & Lounge, Jack Riebel of Dakota Jazz Club & Restaurant and Vincent Francoual of Vincent. Cost is $30, and the event runs from 2 to 8 p.m.

Meanwhile, at Cafe Twenty Eight (2724 W. 43rd St., Mpls.), diners can enjoy a collaborative open house with the cafe, Surly Beer and Blackbird chef/co-owner Chris Stevens from 6 to 9:30 p.m.; cost is $25.

Diners unable to attend an event on the 14th can make a donation to the Blackbird and Heidi's Benefit Fund at Central Bank (2120 Hennepin Av. S., Mpls., www.centralbnk.com).

"Fork the Fire" is the brainchild of Molly Broder of Broders' Cucina Italiana and Broders' Pasta Bar, Vincent Francoual of Vincent, Alex Roberts of Restaurant Alma, Kip Clayton of Parasole Restaurant Holdings, Anoush and Elli Ansari of Hemisphere Restaurant Group, Desta Klein of Meritage and semi-professional diners Sue and Bob Macdonald.

Restaurateurs and chefs aren't the only participants. "The wine people in particular have really made it easy for restaurants to donate by helping out on the other end," said Elli Ansari. "The outpouring of generosity and support has been incredible."

The reason behind the event? Peace of mind. "Insurance is designed for specific, tangible needs," said Elli Ansari. "But this benefit is meant to help fill the gap during the months ahead, and those needs that can't be addressed by the parameters of insurance. The money will be collected and pooled and then split evenly between the two restaurants."

"Fork the Fire" came together quickly. "This effort has really taken on a momentum," said Broder. "It's been unreal. No one that we've approached, from the biggest to the smallest, has said no. So far we've signed up 55 restaurants, and that number is growing by the minute."

For Modern Cafe co-owner Jim Grell, pitching in was a no-brainer. "We had a fire in 1995, and we were closed for six weeks," he said. "It was a difficult time emotionally, and it's especially hard for the employees, who are left in a weird spot. When I got the e-mail, I immediately thought, 'Let's do this.' It's so nice to see the city coming together like this. It never used to be this way."

RICK NELSON