By Victoria Hurley-Schubert, Staff Writer
Food naturally brings people together and parishioners at Trinity Church are hoping a meal can bring a community closer and offer a special dining experience for those that may not have had the means to take advantage of Princeton’s fine eating establishments.
”I love food and I’m a foodie at home; food is a way to reach across the table and meet people,” said Meg Novins Hanington, a parishioner at Trinity Church who has been helping plan the dinner series, known as One Table Café. Everybody needs help at some point and I’m proud I was asked to join the committee. I get a sense of warmth from doing something good for the community and helping people.”
Attendees won’t be charged at the Jan. 21 dinner at Trinity Church, 33 Mercer St., it is a pay-what-you-can honor system.
”I believe you have to give back, we’re in a great community and you have to give back, and we can do that through our businesses. Fortunately we have a business that makes it easy and where there is no other excuse except come have a meal,” said Carlo Momo, owner of Mediterra with his brother Raoul. “I got involved because I think it’s a great idea, and we try to get involved as much as possible in any community activity.”
Mediterra, a Mediterranean restaurant on Palmer Square, will donate the first meal next week. All three Momo restaurants have committed to the events, with Eno Terra and Theresa’s donating later in the winter. Witherspoon Bread Company, also owned by the brothers, will support all the events by providing bread and dessert for each night.
Piccolo’s in Pennington will be showcased at the Feb. 18 dinner.
”Hopefully the under-served community comes out and takes advantage of this. It’s important for other restaurants to get involved, we shouldn’t be the only restaurant doing this,” said Mr. Momo. “That’s how they can give back, this is a nice program Trinity has come up with.”
The first menu will be a mix of signature items from Mediterra’s menu with tapas, salad of local greens, a salt-crusted salmon dish with braised greens and squash and dessert. A vegetarian selection will be available. The menu is subject to change upon availability of the ingredients.
All the dinners will be held at Trinity Church’s Pierce Hall. There were practical reasons for using church facilities, as there was no overhead and to get people to come to the church, said Don Mann, a parishioner on the church’s outreach committee and co-chair of One Table Café.
”We wanted to practice outreach in the community within the church,” said Ms. Hanington. “The concept of a community restaurant is meant to reach out across the various social, denominational and economic divides and bring people together. Feeding is such a basic and spiritual need that it seemed like the perfect area to devote our energy. Plus there was nothing like this in the area.”
”We want people to come in and feel comfortable, and pay what you can or volunteer what you can,” added Mr. Mann.
To spread the word, the threesome is trying to reach out to the communities that would benefit the most such as families that qualify for free membership to the YMCA, those who are served by Crisis Ministries, and the senior housing facilities and other area churches. They also had invitations printed in Spanish.
Outreach is important “because we all have a desire to help people,” and a core part of their Episcopalian faith is to help people, said Mr. Mann.
Attendees must make reservations so the group knows how much food to plan. Children are welcome. The maximum capacity is 150; although the organizers would be thrilled to have 100 people at next weeks’ dinner.
The group has been planning these dinners since April 2010, and each person on the 12-member committee has contributed hundreds of hours. “Each one of those people has gone out and recruited someone to help,” said Ms. Hanington. About 30 volunteers will be on hand for the first meal next week.
The Momos’ staff will train the volunteers and hold a pre-dinner meeting, just like at the restaurants. “The experience should feel like you’re going out to dinner,” said Mr. Momo.
To create the restaurant atmosphere, tables will have linens and decorations.
Restaurant sponsors will donate the food. “Our expectation is that a percentage of the patrons will be donating the cost of their meal,” said Mr. Mann. Between donations, food sponsors, underwriters and patrons the group hopes to break even. “We have some overhead,” such as printing posters, he said.
Dr. Cornel West, Princeton University professor in the Center for African American Studies and a champion for racial justice since childhood, will be speaking at the dinner next week.
”I feel like that’s my job, to spend part of my life trying to help other people, otherwise I’m being selfish,” said Mr. Mann. “I think there is a lot of families, especially children, that don’t get the joy of a restaurant and great food because they can’t afford it. We’ll be very happy to see a full hall with well-fed people.”

