On August 26, restaurants around the world will come together for the first international Pay What You Can Day, an initiative designed to promote food accessibility, community, and a more equitable food system. Sfizio, located at the corner of Claremont and 62nd, is Rockridge’s neighborhood participant (East Bay’s Understory, Reem’s, and Bombera are also participating).
The model is simple: diners pay the suggested price, less if they cannot afford it, or more if they are able—creating a shared system in which those who can contribute more help make meals accessible to others. This year, 75 restaurants in two dozen cities are preparing to participate, using the Pay What You Can model to promote greater access to food.
The concept has deep roots in the Bay Area. For several years, restaurants in Oakland, Berkeley, and Fruitvale have hosted this event, inspired by the ideas that “everybody eats”— a commitment to community, and the vision of a more equitable food system.
Norma Listman and Saqib Keval helped launch the project at their East Bay restaurant Masala & Maiz. The duo now operates a restaurant of the same name in Mexico City. Concerned about food scarcity and access to nutritious food, they decided to expand the initiative internationally this year.
“Some guests pay the suggested price, some pay less, and some pay more so that someone else can eat,” explains Jenabi Pareja of Understory in Fruitvale.
Organizers hope the initiative will help build a movement centered on “solidarity instead of scarcity” and “collective care instead of profit alone.”
Access to high-quality food and good nutrition is not easy in many communities. Here in Rockridge, residents are fortunate to have many sources of high-quality ingredients and prepared meals. Pay What You Can Day offers an opportunity to support the idea that more people should have access to good food at prices they can afford.
