Kevin DeAngelis and Miranda DeAngelis. (Rob Rich)

Water Mill - Another innovative endeavor is in front of Tim Gannon, Co-Founder of Outback Steakhouse and its subsidiaries; this time it is about the human condition.

In addition to Gannon's historically enterprising businesses, he has launched a institutional cooking model to answer the country's hunger crisis. Gannon has found that the over-looked extension to the nation's food pantry industry can continue the life of fresh food, and build a resounding answer to children and families in need of a nutritious meal in the U.S. According to Feeding America, the nation's leading food bank, one in eight American families now rely on food pantries to survive.

Gannon, of Water Mill and Palm Beach, FL has founded "Kettle Comfort: Cooking For America" a non-profit 501(c)(3) in West Palm Beach, FL and will use kettle equipment and technology to feed 20,000 to 30,000 people per day. He plans on using the staples - red beans and rice, New Orleans inspired jambalaya, and traditional etoufee recipes shared by world famous chefs to reach the homeless children and the hungry in Palm Beach County, FL.

"I want to end hunger in Palm Beach County and around this great country of ours. We have been feeding thousands of people per day in Iraq, the aftermath of Katrina, and 911 and I want to bring this model to the people who need our help in our own backyard on a consistent, daily basis, this is my legacy."


Gannon and his wife Christy opened their beautiful home in Water Mill on Friday July 29, 2011 to a private intimate group of 75, and served Kettle Comfort's shrimp etoufee, and red beans and rice, that he intends to serve to the country's most vulnerable this Thanksgiving in West Palm Beach; with the goal of replicating additional kettle facilities across the U.S.

Chef Michael Maenza and Brian Reynolds. (Rob Rich)

"We can feed people nutritious food that tastes wonderful to help restore families, create interdependency and engage whole communities." Gannon envisions a true social enterprise business model overlay to his non-profit, where he will introduce a line of food, a trucking distribution channel, a culinary training model, and an adjunct to the agribusiness through hydroponic farming and strong public and private partnerships.

Johns Hopkins University, (JHU) representatives were also in attendance. Impressively, JHU is conducting a 10-year longitudinal study of "Kettle Comfort: Cooking For America," for its innovative approach to end hunger and its ambitious goal of moving the non-profit sector to sustainability and self-sufficiency.

Stacey Guzas Dowdle, formerly Vice President of The American Heart Association has been retained as Kettle Comfort's Executive Director. Culinary giant, Chef Paul Prudhome is in discussion with Kettle Comfort to introduce their world renowned spices to complement Kettle's recipes.


The following well heeled and staunch supporters of Palm Beach and New York's philanthropic circles were in attendance enjoying the healthy and tasty cuisine that is about to change and save lives: Catherine and Bryan Carey, Amy and Bob Gianos, Emilia and Pepe Fanjul, Pat and Brian Reynolds, Afsy and Carter Pottash, Beth de Woody, Charlene and James Nederlander, Polly Onet, Tim and Susan Malloy, Lauren and Bob Roberts, Jill and Barry Weintraub, Marjorie and Ken Wilpon, Ariane Herrera, Catherine and Fred Adler, Jeff and Maise Green, Lyne Kaiser, Maureen Cronin, Anne Keating, Denise De Luca, Michelle and Bob Assately, Magee Hickey, and Robyn and Ken Joseph.

Guests were treated to the exact food that will be served at Kettle Comfort's formal launch on Thanksgiving Day 2011. A New York kettle facility is projected for 2013.