e.terra Cares
e.terra Kitchen was born out of a desire to help the culinary community by providing a production facility and support for small food businesses, a majority of whom are minority owned. The e.terra team is made up of food entrepreneurs, immigrants and people who genuinely are keen to make a positive difference in our community. As part of this mission, e.terra launched its Monthly Team Volunteering (more on our MID Initiative below) in December 2021 and in 2023, we launched our Makers Pantry corporate gifting division to give a voice to our amazing and talented food & beverage members AND to support Southern Smoke Foundation and their initiatives in providing mental health and wellness support for the hospitality industry.
Makers Pantry was launched in 2023 and we make a line of biscotti cookies. The biscotti is a pride and joy and passion for our CEO Bella Karakis, a dream that she has had for 17 years.
Bella was born in Odessa, Ukraine and growing up, one of her favorite cookies were her grandmother’s almond Mandelbrot which the whole family enjoyed during Jewish holidays and on special occasions. It is an Eastern European version of biscotti but traditionally was only made with almonds as other add-in ingredients were scarce in the former USSR. Bella’s biscotti are based on her grandmother’s prized recipe but has been updated to include premium nuts, chocolates, and dried fruit available in the US.
In 2007, while still practicing trademark law full time, Bella’s dream was to launch her own line of biscotti, honoring her grandmother’s legacy. Having initial capital, a business plan and a fully developed line of flavors, Bella was unable to launch as she lacked the essential commercial kitchen close enough to where she lived to allow her to launch while still working her full-time legal job.
Fast forward to now having access to a state-of-the-art commercial kitchen! All biscottis are baked, packaged and shipped at e.terra Kitchen. Our products are available for nationwide shipping; please reach out to inquire: [email protected]
Additionally, Makers Pantry curates and produces gift baskets for corporations and individuals looking for tasty gifts that support local NYC artisans.
Based on e.terra’s desire to help the culinary community and make a difference, it made all the sense in the world that we launched our Monthly Impact Day (MID) initiative in December 2021 to do our part in making a positive difference in our community, both in Harlem and in NYC more broadly.
Our MID initiatives continued in 2022 with a focus on food insecurity and monthly team volunteering which included food prep, packaging and delivery of food for seniors and health compromised adults, serving at soup kitchens, large volume food rescues and urban farming to provide nutritional food for economically challenged. We have had the privilege of serving amazing charitable organizations such as City Harvest, Gods Love We Deliver, Encore Community Services, Project Eats, Union Settlement and more. We look forward to continuing our MID initiative into 2023 and beyond!
Free Food Harlem at their new home; Emanuel AME Church(September)
The e.terra Team volunteered with Free Food Harlem and helped this amazing non-profit create meals as they transition into their new home!
We’re honored to have been a part of your journey!
God's Love We Deliver
(August)
e.terra volunteers at God’s Love We Deliver!
Here’s our team volunteering to help prep meal for people with special dietary needs and people living with serious illnesses.
Manhattan Borough President’s office (July)
e.terra volunteers at the Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine’s office. Helping to assemble bags for the community.
The Manhattan Borough President’s office is committed to creating a more equitable, resilient, affordable, and healthy city for all New Yorkers.
Free Food Harlem
(June)
The e.terra Team volunteered with Free Food Harlem and helped this amazing non-profit create meals for this holiday weekend’s serve! For a peak at our volunteering session:
God’s Love We Deliver (May)
Cooking and delivering medically tailored meals for people living with serious illness. All meals are free to clients and “full of love.”
Here the e.terra team helps with scooping pancake batter & blueberries into individual servings and clamping the trays.
Encore Community Services (May)
Founded in 1977, Encore provides seniors living on the West side of Manhattan with a range of services to help them live independent and dignified lives.
Here the e.terra team helps to sort vegetables and fruits; groceries to seniors.
Encore Community Services (March)
Founded in 1977, Encore provides seniors living on the West side of Manhattan with a range of services to help them live independent and dignified lives.
Here the e.terra team packages cold meal kits to go out to seniors.
All Saints Church (January)
e.terra team volunteers with All Saints Church on the Upper East Side; handing out free food as a part of their “Monday Night Hospitality” program. The church is “devoted to initiatives in our community that help build justice and equity for all people.”
Encore Community Services (December)
Founded in 1977, Encore provides seniors living on the West side of Manhattan with a range of services to help them live independent and dignified lives.
Here the e.terra team helps to package hundreds of hot meals.
God’s Love We Deliver (November)
Cooking and delivering medically tailored meals for people living with serious illness.. All meals are free to clients and “full of love”.
Here the e.terra team helps with packaging of the meals.
NYC Food Bank (October)
Food Bank for New York City provides food and hope to New Yorkers in need throughout the five boroughs.
Here Harry from e.terra helps with dropping off 30 boxes of produce to their UWS location.
City Harvest NYC (September)
City Harvest is the world’s first food rescue organization, dedicated to feeding NYC neighbors in need.
Following the Ace Endico food show to the trade at Yankee Stadium, the e.terra team helped to collect leftover food, a “Food Rescue”.
Project EATS (August)
A non-profit organization founded by Linda Goode Bryant. Project EATS is an installation of neighborhood-based farms growing food on vacant lots and rooftops across NYC.
Here the e.terra team is helping to harvest radishes, beets, and summer squash.
City Harvest NYC (June)
City Harvest is the world’s first food rescue organization, dedicated to feeding NYC neighbors in need.
Following the Fancy Food Show at the Javits Center, the e.terra team is a part of their “Food Rescue”, salvaging all the leftover food from the trade show. Thirty two pallets of food in 3 hours!
Project EATS (May)
A non-profit organization founded by Linda Goode Bryant. Project EATS is an installation of neighborhood-based farms growing food on vacant lots and rooftops across NYC.
Here the e.terra team is helping to pick herbs and prep garden spaces for planting.
Encore Community Services (March)
Founded in 1977, Encore provides seniors living on the West side of Manhattan with a range of services to help them live independent and dignified lives.
Here the e.terra team helps to deliver hot meals to seniors.
Union Settlement (January)
A community organization that strives to empower East Harlem residents. Founded in 1895, this organization helps 10,000 residents each year.
Here the e.terra team helps with packing of meals outbound to those in need of food.
