PASTA POMODORO ENCOURAGES CALIFORNIANS TO “MANGIA” AND SUPPORT ROOTS OF PEACE PROGRAMS IN AFGHANISTAN

February 3, 2009—San Francisco, California—Pasta Pomodoro, a prominent Italian restaurant chain, has selected ROOT OF PEACE as the recipient charity for a state-wide celebration “Mangia for Peace!” All Pasta Pomodoro restaurants will donate 20% of food sales on February 24 and February 25 to help the people of Afghanistan when patrons mention ROOTS OF PEACE. The proceeds of this special effort will benefit the Roots of Peace programs that remove dangerous landmines and help Afghanistan’s farmers replant agricultural fields. The California community is invited to eat at Pasta Pomodoro restaurants during these two special days, dedicated to bringing forth hope and change in Afghanistan, while enjoying fine culinary delicacies inspired by Owner/Chef Adriano Pananini.

Roots of Peace, which began in September 1997 with a vision to transform MINES TO VINES, worked in Afghanistan, once dubbed “The Garden of Central Asia” since 2001. There, the organization has trained over 100,000 Afghan farmers to grow alternative agricultural crops to poppies – empowering farmers to grow cherries in Badhakshan, oranges in Jalalabad, pomegranates in Kandahaar and fresh grapes in the Shomali Plains, north of Kabul. Please visit www.rootsofpeace.org for more information.

The Italian word “pomodoro” literally translates into “tomato” and inspires our local community to further its efforts to cook up peace. Like Afghan families, Italians like to gather family and friends around a table to enjoy “good food” and friendship. So, gather your American families and friends together to “plant the roots of peace” so that Afghan farmers living across the world may cultivate a bountiful harvest for future generations.

Pasta Pomodoro Owner and Chef Adriano Paganini grew up near Milan and hails from a family of Italian tailors, but Adriano chose a different path. He studied culinary arts in Italy and worked in restaurants throughout Europe before coming to San Francisco. Adriano wanted to create a stylish restaurant featuring contemporary, high-quality, healthy, authentic Italian food. In 1994, he opened his first Pasta Pomodoro in San Francisco’s Marina District. Instantly popular, Chef Adriano opened a second and the rest is history. As the restaurant has expanded Adriano remains committed to a simple menu based on quality of ingredients.

EVENT DETAILS

MANGIA FOR PEACE
Tuesday February 24th and Wednesday February 25th
All Pasta Pomodoro restaurant locations, all day
For restaurant locations, www.pastapomodoro.com
20% of food sales (with the exception of tax and gratuity) will be donated to Roots of Peace,
with the mention of “Roots of Peace”
www.rootsofpeace.org

1299 Fourth Street, Suite 200 San Rafael, CA 94901 • Tel: 415.455.8008 • www.rootsofpeace.org