New Map Shows Seattle Restaurant CSA Offerings and Community Kitchens

Those looking to see which restaurants are helping out those in need can consult a handy new resource. The Seattle Good Business Network — a 10 year-old coalition of area businesses, nonprofits, residents, and municipal organizations — launched an interactive map called Restaurants at Home that identifies establishments serving take-home meal kits, pantry items, community supported agriculture (CSA) boxes, and other locally-sourced offerings. There’s also a “community kitchen” filter that identifies places offering free meals, whether to frontline workers or those experiencing housing insecurity.

The purpose of the map is to help diners not just support the area’s restaurants during the pandemic, but also identify those that are developing strong ties to local farms, producers, and the community as a whole. Seattle Good Business Network’s program manager Mariah DeLeo says she gathered the info through surveys, social media, word of mouth, and personal research.

Though the interface and platform is similar to one that the city of Seattle created this spring to help residents find restaurants open for takeout and delivery, the focus on meal kits, CSAs, and more charitable work is welcome. Though many restaurants have been developing such models for months during the COVID-19 pandemic, and several have already pivoted right back to traditional offerings in the state’s phased reopening plan, the urgent need to support community kitchens and local suppliers in Seattle isn’t going away anytime soon.

DeLeo also notes that part of the goal for the interactive map is think about the big picture. The effort will help support the network’s free b2b resource the Good Food Forum, which aims to connect those who are building a more sustainable and just local food economy in Seattle. “My hope is that this map will help us get a sense of who was doing what and finding success,” she says.

• Seattle Good Business Network [Official]