Chicago Chefs Cook Up Another Fundraising Success
Event to help feed Turkey/Syria earthquake victims packed Avli on the Park
Faith, Hope and Charity
The photo above captures the spirit of the Chicago Chefs Cook tasting event Monday night (March 20) to raise funds for World Central Kitchen’s effort to feed victims of catastrophic earthquakes in Turkey and Syria.
At right holding the microphone is Chef Nikolaos Kapernaros of host restaurant Avli on the Park. On the left are the members of the core team behind the phenomenal Chicago Chefs Cook project: Chefs Tony Priolo (Piccolo Sogno) and Sarah Stegner (Prairie Grass Cafe); Darren Gest, a member of the Green City Market Board of Directors; Eda Davidman, Chicago Chefs Cook’s sponsorship and outreach lead; and Jodi Fyfe, founder/CEO of The Paramount Group catering company and Eden restaurant.
And behind them, a throng of generous people whose ticket purchases will provide many meals to people in dire need. They enjoyed small plates from 45 of Chicago’s best restaurants, free-flowing beverages, and each other’s company at one of the buzziest events so far this year.
This was the third Chicago Chefs Cook benefit for World Central Kitchen, and the first graced by the presence of Chef José Andrés (center above), the beloved humanitarian who created the non-profit organization and turned it into a first responder for people displaced by disasters around the world and in desperate need of food.
The first of these events was held just more than a year ago to help feed those displaced by the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Then in September, Chicago Chefs Cook raised funds for World Central Kitchen’s operation in the wake of a hurricane that devastated Puerto Rico.
The other Chicago Chefs Cook fundraiser to date, also held last September, raised money for Health Professionals Network for Tigray to address the humanitarian crisis in Tigray, a war-torn province in northern Ethiopia. The event was sparked by Chef Tigist Reda (in the photo above with Chicago Chefs Cook team member Darren Gest), owner of Chicago’s Demera Ethiopian Restaurant and a native of Tigray.
I have attended and written about all four of the Chicago Chefs Cook events. This ad hoc organization has combined culinary talent, humanitarian generosity, and teamwork to create magic. As the one-man-band behind this little niche newsletter about our local food community, it has been one of the honors of my lifetime to attend their events.
And the next Chicago Chefs Cook event is already in the works — this time focusing right here in Chicago. And whereas the first four fundraisers have focused on urgent need in the face of great suffering, the April 26 event has a much happier theme.
“Ina’s 80th Birthday Bash” celebrates the recent milestone reached by Ina Pinkney, whose Ina’s Restaurant helped her gain acclaim as the “Breakfast Queen” of Chicago and helped kick-start the transition of Randolph Street in the West Loop from the heart of the city’s meatpacking district to its Restaurant Row.
And the beneficiaries of the fundraiser are Green City Market, the trailblazer among our region’s large-scale producer-only farmers markets, and Pilot Light, the non-profit that helps bring the Good Food movement to our youngest eaters by integrating food education into public schools’ curriculums.
The party for Ina will be held between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. on Wednesday, April 26 at The Geraghty, 2520 S. Hoyne Ave. in the Heart of Chicago neighborhood.
Click the button below for tickets, then enjoy some more photos from Monday night’s event.
Monday’s Chicago Chefs Cook Fundraiser for Earthquake Relief packed the house at Avli on the Park restaurant in downtown’s Lakeshore East community.
Chefs Tony Priolo (top photo) and Sarah Stegner were the driving forces and team-builders for the Chicago Chefs Cook for Ukraine event at Navy Pier in March 2022, produced in just three weeks have the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Sebastian White of The Evolved Network — which is working build a holistic experience for underprivileged youths that includes restaurant, urban farming and business skills plus therapeutic services — participated in his first Chicago Chefs Cook event. Sebastian, a clinical psychologist and primarily self-taught cook, has benefitted greatly from Sarah Stegner’s support and kitchen mentorship.
Jason Hammel (foreground) of Logan Square’s Lula Cafe and downtown’s Marisol is a longtime farm-to-table leader and also is a co-founder of the Pilot Light food education non-profit.
Brian Jupiter is chef/owner of Ina Mae Cajun-focused restaurant in Wicker Park and Frontier restaurant in the Noble Square neighborhood.
Christine Cikowski and Josh Kulp are the chef/owners of the popular Honey Butter Fried Chicken in the Avondale neighborhood.
Just a small sampling of the amazing food served at almost four dozen serving stations at the Chicago Chefs Cook event.