I would either end up 300 pounds or I'd beat it, but I couldn't continue to live with this monkey on my back. In 1974 I opened a natural foods restaurant in Greenwich Village. It was the best thing I ever did.

With today's fast-paced fine dining kitchens and a demanding restaurant clientele, I often forget that the real purpose of eating out for many is usually more about the companionship than the food.

With four successful restaurants and a midtown food truck in the works, Anita took a moment from her hectic day to sit down with me over lunch at her West Village restaurant, Bar Q.

We asked for you, our readers, to tell us how you or someone you know is serving the community and you sent in stories of volunteerism from across the...