Culinary and ceramic arts come together for a good cause once again with the return of Empty Bowls.
The Eastern Market fundraiser hasn’t happened in a few years, but it’s back Friday with two sessions featuring soups from some of the area’s best restaurants and hand-crafted pottery to support Gleaners Community Food Bank.
Your $40 ticket supports the cause and gets you two bowls of soup from your choice of several top restaurants. All guests get a handmade ceramic bowl to take home, too. Organizers hope the event will draw 2,000 people and raise $80,000 for Gleaners’ hunger-relief efforts.
“Our goal is ambitious but grounded in the strength of this community,” said co-organizer Brian Kakas in a press release. He is the president of the Michigan Ceramic Art Association. “Empty Bowls has always been about generosity, access, and shared responsibility. In this moment — socially, economically and culturally — it feels more necessary than ever.”
The event is broken into two sessions Friday afternoon inside spacious Shed 3. Selden Standard, Echelon Kitchen & Bar, Casa Amado, Takoi, Leila, Marrow and Oak & Reel will serve soup at the first session. Enjoy bowls from Mabel Gray, Barda, the Rind, Baobab Fare, Medusa, Detroit Athletic Club and Grey Ghost at the second session.
mbaetens@detroitnews.com
Empty Bowls 2026
11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. and 2:30-5 p.m. Fri.
Eastern Market’s Shed 3
2934 Russell, Detroit
$40, must be purchased in advance
emptybowlsdetroit2026.org
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Empty Bowls Detroit brings art and food together for a good cause
Reporting by Melody Baetens, The Detroit News / The Detroit News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
