Chicago Chefs Cook's 11/9 Benefit for Migrants
Chicago Chefs Cook's 11/9 Benefit for Migrants
Deluxe dinner at Venteux restaurant to raise funds for Pilsen Food Pantry
Chicago Chefs Cook Benefit for Pilsen Food Pantry
Chefsgiving — the Chicago Chefs Cook coalition’s next fundraising event — is a dinner to benefit the Pilsen Food Pantry. Proceeds from the November 9 event at downtown Chicago’s Venteux restaurant (224 N. Michigan Ave.) will help the Southside pantry’s “New Migrant Program,” which provides shelter, food, clothing, and healthcare resources to Chicago’s newest arrivals.
Venteux is located on the ground floor of the Pendry Chicago hotel.
The chef lineup for the dinner is amazing: Marcel Heiduk of Venteux, Devon Quinn of eden, Dudley Nieto of Fat Rosie’s, Rodolfo Cuadros of Amaru, D’Andre Carter of Soul & Smoke, Manny Mendoza of Herbal Notes, and pastry chef extraordinaire Felicia Mayden. Matthew Rodrigues, co-host of NBC 5’s Chicago Today program, is the emcee.
Chicago Chefs Cook is led by Chef Sarah Stegner of Northbrook’s Prairie Grass Cafe; Jodi Fyfe, founder/CEO of The Paramount Group catering and eden restaurant; and Good Food advocates Eda Davidman and Darren Gest.
Its first pop-up was a massive tasting event at Navy Pier in March 2022 to raise funds for World Central Kitchen’s effort to feed those displaced by the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Including that event, the group has raised more than $1 million dollars for immediate needs and recovery after earthquakes in Syria and Turkey, floods in Northern Italy, a disastrous hurricane in Puerto Rico, wildfires in Maui, and a civil war in Ethiopia’s Tigray region, while also supporting local food organizations such as Green City Market and food education non-profit Pilot Light.
Now the team turns its attention to the rising number of displaced migrants arriving in the city. “Our view is that no one goes hungry or unnoticed. With winter fast approaching, we’re racing against time to make sure that people have their basic human needs met,” Darren said.
To read more about Chicago Chefs Cook’s good works, visit the new Local Food Forum website and enter Chicago Chefs Cook in the search box.
Chicago Chefsgiving is part of a larger charity initiative for Pendry Hotels & Resorts, with their first event held at Pendry San Diego in 2018, raising funds for the San Diego Food Bank to provide meals for 125 families. A portion of each ticket for each Chefsgiving event is donated towards a local cause in each of the property’s respective markets, in line with the spirit of giving back during Thanksgiving.
If you need a clincher to buy a ticket for the mission-driven November 9 event, here is the evening’s over the top menu:
COCKTAIL HOUR WITH CANAPES
Tostone: smoked prawn, grilled creamed corn, black truffle, finger lime (Chef Manny Mendoza, Herbal Notes)
Wine Pairing: Chandon Brut
FIRST COURSE
Pan-Fried Brussels Sprouts: sourdough sikil pak, spiced chili oil, corn chow chow, Mick Klug Farm grapes, pepitas (Chef Devon Quinn, eden)
Birria en Salsa Fresca: slow braised short rib, guajillo adobo, tomatillo-serrano avocado salsa in a small tostadita (Chef Dudley Nieto, Fat Rosie’s)
Wine Pairing: Terrazas Chardonnay
SECOND COURSE
Fall Inca Salad: quinoa, maiz cancha, white wine cranberries, cucumbers, roasted corn, basil, cilantro, eneldo vinaigrette, kabocha squash (Chef Rodolfo Cuadros, Amaru)
Wine Pairing: Whispering Angel Rose
THIRD COURSE
Turkey Au Vin: roasted turkey breast, confit turkey leg, local chestnut mushrooms, crispy pancetta, Robuchon-style pomme purée using fingerling potatoes, le Beurre Bordier (Chef Marcel Heiduk, Venteux)
Cajun Grilled Pork Loin: pork loin, Soul & Smoke Gold Sauce (Chef D’Andre Carter, Soul & Smoke)
Wine Pairing: Skyside Pinot Noir
DESSERT
Caramel Apple Swiss Roll: spiced cake, apple butter, vanilla cream, toasted walnuts (Chef Felicia Mayden)
Cocktail Nitecap: Hennessy VSOP, oloroso sherry, vanilla bean, lemon, cane sugar, nutmeg
This Weekend’s Regional Markets Schedule
Friday, October 20
Gary Comer Youth Center Farmers Market, 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., 7230 S. South Chicago Ave., Chicago
Olde Schaumburg Center Farmers Market, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., 190 S. Roselle Road
St. Charles Farmers Market, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., Baker Memorial Church, 307 Cedar Ave.
The Market by the River, 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., 333 W. Wolf Point Plaza, Chicago
Saturday, October 21
Batavia Farmers Market, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m., N. River St. betw. Willow and Spring
Deerfield Farmers Market, 7 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Park Avenue between Jewett Park & Hazel
Division Street City Market, 7 a.m. to 12 p.m., 100 W. Division St., Chicago
Downers Grove Farmers Market, 7 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Main St. Train Station
Downtown Evanston Farmers Market, 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., University Place and Oak Ave.
Elk Grove Farmers Market, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., 901 Wellington Ave.
Englewood Village Farmers Market, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., 58th and Halsted Sts., Chicago
Glenview Farmers Market, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m., 1510 Wagner Rd.
Grayslake Farmers Market, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., 201 Center St.
Green City Market Lincoln Park, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., 1817 N. Clark St., Lincoln Park, Chicago
Green City Market West Loop, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., Mary Bartelme Park, 115\ S. Sangamon St.
Kankakee Farmers Market, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m., S. Schuyler Ave. & Merchant St.
Naperville Farmers Market, 7 a.m. to 12 p.m., 200 E. 5th Ave.
Northcenter Farmers Market, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., 4100 Damen Ave.
Oak Park Farmers Market, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., 460 Lake Ave.
Park Forest Farmers Market, 7 a.m. to 12 p.m., 152 Main St.
Park Ridge Farmers Market, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., 15 Prairie Ave.
Palatine Farmers Market, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., Palatine Train Station
Plant Chicago Farmers Market, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Davis Square Park, Chicago*
61st Street Farmers Market, 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., 6100 S. Blackstone Ave., Chicago
South Chicago Farmstand, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., 9000 S. Mackinaw, Chicago
Streator Farmers Market, 8 a.m. to 12 p.m., Streator City Park
The Lincoln Park Farmers Market, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., 2001 N. Orchard, Chicago
Winnetka Farmers Market, 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., 510 Green Bay Rd.
Woodstock Farmers Market, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., Historic Woodstock Square
*Plant Chicago holds a full-scale market in Davis Square Park every 3rd Saturday of the month and mini-markets on other Saturdays at 4459 S. Marshfield Ave. The last full market of the season is on October 21 (this week).
Sunday, October 22
Farmers Market at the Dole, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., 401 Country Club Rd., Crystal Lake
Frankfort Country Market, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Breidert Green & 1 N. White St.
Glenwood Farmers Market, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., Glenwood Ave. betw. Morse & Lunt, Chicago
Independence Park Farmers Market, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., W. Irving Park Rd. & Hamlin, Chicago
Jefferson Park Farmers Market, 8a.m. to 12:30 p.m., 4818 N. Long Ave., Chicago
Logan Square Farmers Market, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., 3107 W. Logan Blvd., Chicago
Maxwell Street Market, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., 800 S. Desplaines St., Chicago
Mount Prospect Lions Club Farmers Market, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., Northwest Hwy. & Main St.
95th Street Farmers Market, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., 1835 W. 95th St., Chicago
Pilsen Community Market, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., 1821 S. Blue Island Ave., Chicago
Skokie Farmers Market, 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., 5127 Oakton St.
Wicker Park Farmers Market, 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., 1425 N. Damen Ave., Chicago
Bob’s World, and Welcome to It
Wednesday (October 18) was the first day this fall on which I could see (and photograph) the sunrise from my living room. Still had to lean pretty hard against the window to get the sun in the frame, but I think it was worth it. These pix will continue to get easier as the sun moves to its southern terminus on the first day of winter, and then starts its long trek northbound toward spring.
These just-pre-dawn photos came out pretty nice too.
