The three-day takeout initiative brought together 13 restaurants for a worthy cause.

With restaurant shutdowns and lockdown restrictions amidst the pandemic, takeout has become the go-to when it comes to dining experiences. Instead of birthday celebrations or wedding anniversaries spent outside, one can simply log onto a delivery application, air out their finest tableware, dim the lights, and imagine they&rsquo;re eating in a restaurant.

Cue HAIN. Last weekend, the three-day takeout initiative launched their first edition. They helped bring the restaurant (or restaurants, rather) to homes. Offering their creative take on meal sets, they sent out the picturesque dining spreads of pre-pandemic dreams. That&rsquo;s a treat in its own right.&nbsp;
But there&rsquo;s actually more to HAIN than that.
The platform is fueled by UNKNWN, which is known for its musical and cultural experiences. The community-driven team noticed the effects of the pandemic on the small local restaurants, and they decided to get involved.&nbsp;

&ldquo;The idea behind HAIN stemmed from our desire to help the local food and beverage businesses that have been affected by these extraordinary times,&rdquo; says HAIN co-organizer and restaurateur Samantha Nicole. &ldquo;We also want to show that these struggling but surviving restaurants are endlessly creating and adapting and that ensuring our industry&rsquo;s place in the future would require a collective effort.&rdquo;&nbsp;
To do this, they tapped 13 restaurants from their direct community&ndash;Angel's Kitchen, The Bowery NYC Comfort Food, Lampara, OTO, Borough, Nic's Park Terraces, Hai Shin Lou, Futur:st, Square One Hospitality, Cheech &amp; Chang Hong Kong Roasts, TETSUO, Mijo Comfort Food, and The Bistro by Element Boutique Hotel.

These food and beverage businesses created curated set meals for the event, tweaking their existing menus using greens from Metro Manila-based urban farm Future Fresh.&nbsp;
&ldquo;We've elevated the experience through collaboration, community engagement, and content,&rdquo; shares Ashleigh Rye, HAIN co-organizer.&nbsp;
Each set meal became an invite into a restaurant, not its interiors or its physical establishment, but the people behind it. Only 15 meal kits were sent out daily per restaurant, and with the package came a QR card that directs to a video. Diners could learn the stories behind their meals, behind the restaurant, and behind HAIN.&nbsp;
Moreover, 15% of sales from the HAIN meals went to Rise Against Hunger PH, an organization that provides food and aid to vulnerable communities. &ldquo;This is also our way of supporting our charity partners in their activities that put food on the tables of their beneficiaries,&rdquo; says Rye.&nbsp;

On the outside, HAIN provided quality and unique takeout experiences for diners who have missed the feeling of dining out. Look deeper, and you&rsquo;ll find that they&rsquo;re creating an avenue for small enterprises and charity partners to thrive. It's a testament to how communities can grow together amidst uncertain times&ndash;a food-induced solace.&nbsp;
"We are excited to bring you more, both virtually and in person," shares Rye.
To stay tuned for their next editions, follow their Instagram page (<a href="https://www.instagram.com/hain_mnl/?hl=en">@hain_mnl</a>).

HAIN builds a connection between food and community

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