New Restaurant Partner Shares in the Cooking for Community Mission to Serve

As the demand for our comforting, nutritious meals continues to grow, we are delighted to welcome our new restaurant partner, Leeward, to the Cooking for Community family. Especially exciting is how closely their vision for serving their neighbors aligns with ours.

“At their heart, restaurants exist to feed, nourish, and care for people,” says Raquel Stevens, who co-owns Leeward with her husband Jake Stevens, specializing in pastas made with local, fresh ingredients. “We always envisioned Leeward as a safe, inclusive, and restorative space.”

Unfortunately, putting that dream into action was placed on hold almost before it began. The restaurant opened only three days before the coronavirus shutdown in March. Since that time, their doors have remained closed, with only takeout service available. Yet, the opportunity to work with Cooking for Community has allowed Leeward to shape and realize their position in the community, particularly in regards to food insecurity.

“At its core, our restaurant exists as a space from which to serve,” says Raquel. “We're basically command stations, and we're effectively activated by organizations like Cooking for Community.”