MOST RESTAURANT WEEKS work on a pretty simple pay-for-play basis. Not Italian Restaurant Week. Its existence owes to the Extraordinary Italian Taste campaign, an effort backed by both Italian government agencies and North American associations, such as Italy-America Chamber of Commerce of Texas, to promote certified Italian food products. The campaign donated ingredients including artisan cheeses, balsamic vinegar and prosciutto di Parma, to name a few.

With a limited amount of product with which to work, the IACC chose eight Houston restaurants (four in Austin are participating as well) already working with the chamber to take part in the first Italian Restaurant Week from November 14 through 20. A portion of proceeds from every meal will be donated toward earthquake relief in Italy, more necessary now than ever after this week's latest spate of natural disasters.

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Source: http://www.houstoniamag.com/