Bowls of soup warm the spirit and the soul - tonight!

Two years ago, the Empty Bowl fundraiser for Hawaii Meals on Wheels and the River of Life Mission sold over 700 bowls filled with soup in less than two hours.

This year’s follow-up event is even more ambitious. With close to 4,000 ceramic bowls handmade by members of the Hawaii Potters Guild to be “filled” with gourmet soup made by 20 of the city’s top chefs, the goal for 2011 is to raise $60,000 for those same social services. (The soups are usually served in plastic containers, so as to keep the purchased bowls clean for home use.)

Participating restaurants are Alan Wong’s, Big City Diner, Brasserie Du Vin, Cafe Laufer, Great Life Cuisine, Indigo, JJ Bistro & French Pastry, Le Bistro, Mariposa at Neiman Marcus, Murphy’s Bar & Grill, Phuket Thai, Sansei Seafood Restaurant & Sushi Bar, Side Street Inn, Stage, Tango Contemporary Cafe & Market, Tiki’s Bar & Grill, 3660 on the Rise, Town, 12th Avenue Grill and Whole Foods.

The Carmen Haugen Quartet will provide Hawaiian music.

Hawaii Meals on Wheels delivers over 400 meals a day year round to the homebound, and the River of Life Mission downtown serves approximately 106,000 meals per year to the hungry on Oahu.

Where: The ARTS at Marks Garage, 1159 Nuuanu Ave.
When: 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. today
Cost: $20 donation per bowl with soup and bread
Info: 384-4000

Of course we hope that everyone goes to Chinatown for their soup and then heads to Tiki's to catch Vaihi on stage! It's a great cause, a great event, and GREAT SOUP!