Dine Around Downtown Goes Online To Spotlight Local Restaurants

The Downtown Alliance has been working to support local businesses that are adversely impacted by COVID — from creating rental-assistance grant programs to spotlighting essential workers who are making a difference for Lower Manhattan’s community. 

Next week this effort continues with the launch of “Dine Around Downtown: Cooking at Home,” featuring Rocco DiSpirito as host. For 20 years, the Alliance has held the neighborhood’s premier lunchtime festival Dine Around Downtown to connect neighbors with local restaurateurs. Since this year the festival couldn’t be convened in person, we’re instead making “Dine Around” available online so Downtowners can get cooking tips from top local chefs and support our favorite neighbors virtually.   

This month, DiSpirito is hosting free events (via Zoom) with Lower Manhattan chefs as they demonstrate easy-to-replicate dishes from their restaurants. Any donations go directly to a fund of the restaurant’s choice, which will support their staff or a local food-supply charity.  

The series begins with America’s first restaurant Delmonico’s (6.11), followed by Gnoccheria (6.25) and Taïm (7.09). Participants can pre-register here.