Local Restaurants Combat Asian Hate With #DoughSomething Fundraiser

With the number of violent crimes against Asian people on the rise, the local and national restaurant industry has rallied together to show its support for the Asian community. Restaurants around the country have joined the Dough Something initiative to raise money through the month of April for the national chapter of Asian Americans Advancing Justice.

This national campaign has very local roots. Dough Something was spearheaded by Chef Beverly Kim of Avondale’s Parachute (3472 N. Elston Ave.) and Wherewithall (3472 N. Elston Ave.) after the March 16, 2021 attacks in Atlanta, Goergia claimed the lives of eight people, including six Asian women. Restaurants participating in Dough Something are donating proceeds from select dough-related items. The funds will go towards Asian Americans Advancing Justice’s work to “advocate for the civil and human rights of Asian Americans and underserved communities.”

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There are a number of Logan Square chefs and restaurants participating in Dough Something this month:

• Bang Bang Pie (2051 N. California Ave.) is donating $1 for every slice of Key Lime pie sold to Asian Americans Advancing Justice.
• Bungalow by Middle Brow (2840 W. Armitage Ave.) is donating $1 from every pack of Japanese milk buns sold.
• Cellar Door Provisions (3025 W. Diversey Ave.) is donating all proceeds from their bread loaves sales.
• Longman & Eagle (2657 N. Kedzie Blvd.) is donating all proceeds from each pretzel sold.
• Lost Lake (3154 W. Diversey Ave.)
• Lula Cafe (2537 N. Kedzie Blvd.) is donating the proceeds from sales of their Royale breakfast sandwich.
• Mini Mott (3057 W. Logan Blvd.) is donating the proceeds from all donut sales.
• Parson’s Chicken and Fish (2952 W. Armitage Ave.)
• Paulie Gee’s (2451 N. Milwaukee Ave.) is donating $1 of every whole pizza sale and $0.50 for every slice.
• Pretty Cool Ice Cream (2353 N. California Ave.), in collaboration with Justice Cream, is donating $1 from every Serve The People Ice Cream plant pop to the Asian Pacific Environmental Network and Scarlet Cha Cha.
• Reno (2607 N. Milwaukee Ave.) is encouraging patrons to add $1, $3, $5 donations to their orders when using the Reno website. All proceeds will go directly to Asian Americans Advancing Justice.

Click here for or a complete list of participating bars and restaurants across Chicago and the country.

To learn more about Asian Americans Advancing Justice’s work, including their bystander intervention training classes, please visit their national website or the Chicago chapter site.

Featured photo: People take to the streets during a community protest to denounce Asian hate March 20 in Logan Square. Photo: Ariel Parrella-Aureli