Table Grace’s hours are Monday through Saturday, 11am-2pm. Its menu is equally simple: pizza, soup, and salad. The 33-year-old chef, a graduate of the Natural Gourmet Institute in New York City, offers two varieties of each menu item every day, including a vegetarian choice. On this particular day, the monitor atop a large stainless-steel counter listed cream of cauliflower or roasted chicken and vegetable soup, pepperoni or rainbow pepper pizza. “We like to serve organic food whenever possible,” said Matt. Donations from Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s keep the food quality high. While Matt and Simone, the parents of two girls, envisioned a well-heeled, monetarily generous lunchtime crowd eating alongside the less fortunate, Matt admits the majority of customers thus far have been among the latter. His patience never falters. “Can I just have some food?” asked Stephen, as closing time neared. Matt graciously answered, “Well, here’s our menu. Do you have a donation today?” “No, I don’t have any money. I’m sorry. I’ll
come back another time,” said Stephen quietly. “Well, that’s not how it really works. You can volunteer,” replied Matt. Stephen answered, “I don’t have any time.” Then he thought a minute. “Do you take food donations?” “Absolutely,” said Matt. And with that, Stephen handed Matt four cans of corn in a plastic bag. Another body…and soul…nourished. “He stopped long enough to consider what he could do, and that’s what the Café is all about,” explained Matt. “I want people to participate. We’re a restaurant, not a handout. Generosity is what each person is willing to give of themselves.” At Table Grace Café, even generosity and kindness taste good.
Weber relies on goodwill donations to fund Table Grace Café expenses. Both he and wife Simone believe charitable giving is important to expressing their faith.
Table Grace Ministries is a 501(c)(3) organization and all contributions to the Café are tax-deductible. Consider sponsoring a month’s operations at TGC. Sponsors will be recognized for their generosity on the Café’s storefront for an entire month. Individuals may also become sponsors. For more information on donating, visit www.tablegracecafe.com
Experience summer in an entirely new way. Midtown Crossing’s Summer of Wonder is filled with an entertainment lineup you won’t want to miss. World-renowned experiences. Treasured local favorites. It’s all right here - all summer long.
SundayS | May 27 - July 22
Yoga RoCks ThE PaRk 4 PM | Turner Park
WedneSdayS | June 6 - auguSt 8
WohlnER’s MIdWEEk MaRkET
MOndayS | June 11 - auguSt 13
MondaY nIghT aT ThE MoVIEs
thurSdayS | July 12 - auguSt 16
4 - 7 PM | 33rd & dodge sts.
8 PM | Turner Park
Jazz on ThE gREEn 7 PM | Turner Park
FrIdayS | auguSt 31 - SePteMBer 28
End oF sUMMER ConCERT sERIEs 7 PM | Turner Park
www.midtown crossing.com readonlinenow.com
the encounter | july/august 2012
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