August 08, 2018

Restaurants across the city to participate in fundraiser for Philly's immigrants

The event, Building Bridges, will support Puentes de Salud

By Sinead Cummings
PhillyVoice Staff

Thom Carroll/PhillyVoice

Craving something simple but delicious? Go for the spaghetti and meatballs.

Francis Cratil-Cretarola and Cathy Lee, owners of Le Virtù and Brigantessa, and four other restaurant owners have teamed up to create Building Bridges, a fundraiser for Philly's immigrants.

On Saturday, Sept. 15, participating restaurants across the city will each serve a different, one-night-only dish with 100-percent of the profits going to Puentes de Salud, a nonprofit dedicated to ensuring Philadelphia's immigrants have access to physical and mental healthcare, as well as English language instruction and a food bank.

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The confirmed restaurants participating in Building Bridges include:

• Brigantessa (1520 E. Passyunk Ave.)
• Le Virtù (1927 E. Passyunk Ave.)
• Tequila’s (1602 Locust St.)
• Saté Kampar (1837 E. Passyunk Ave.)
• Bing Bing Dim Sum (1648 E. Passyunk Ave.)
• Stargazy (1838 E. Passyunk Ave.)
• Pistolas Del Sur (1934 E. Passyunk Ave.)
• Jose Pistola’s (263 S. 15th St.)
• Sancho Pistola’s (19 W. Girard Ave.)
• El Compadre (1149 S. 9th St.)
• Tria Cafe Rittenhouse (123 S. 18th St.)
• Tria Cafe Wash West (1137 Spruce St.)
• Tria Taproom (2005 Walnut St.)
• The Franklin (112 S. 18th St.)
• El Rey (2013 Chestnut St.)
• Bistrot La Minette (623 S. Sixth St.)
• Rosy's Taco Bar (2220 Walnut St.)

"Immigrants from all over the world are fueling Philadelphia's renaissance...our [restaurant] industry, in particular, has profited from the arrival of immigrant workers and entrepreneurs that make our scene what it is, and our own businesses possible," said Cratil-Cretarola.