Empty Bowl.

• Author: Anderson, Tasha
• Position: DINING

Starting February 1, tickets go on sale for one of Anchorage's long-standing charity events, now in its 21st year. Empty Bowl Project raises money for Bean's Cafe, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit agency; its mission is to feed the hungry and shelter the homeless, without discrimination, during the day.

The actual Empty Bowl Project takes place this year on Saturday, March 14 at the Egan Center in downtown Anchorage from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Those with a bowl ticket are able to choose a hand-crafted bowl made by Alaskan locals.

According to Lauren Nelson, the marketing/outreach officer for Bean's Cafe, in the past all of the bowls were made from clay. Starting this year, "We're opening the call for bowls to different mediums," including bowls from glass blowers, papier-mache bowls from local elementary school students, and yarn bowls. "It's about reminding people about empty bowls--it's not about what the bowl is made of, but the message," Nelson says.

Guests can either use their purchased bowl for soup accompanied by cornbread, or can be provided a paper bowl. Recipes for the soups...