Chicago Chefs Cook's Latest Event: Gourmet Generosity Writ Large
More Than 30 Leading Chefs Raised Money for the Organization and Many Charities
Local Food Forum predicted that Chicago Chefs Cook would outdo itself with its latest culinary fundraiser, the "I Cook For" Benefit held at Chicago's Four Seasons Hotel..
It wasn't just that the chef lineup and the food bites served at the event were awesome: That's a given for a philanthropic organization created and supported by celebrated culinary artists since 2022.
This was a Chicago Chefs Cook event with a twist. Most of CCC fundraisers have benefited one or two organizations, and were quickly produced in the wake of humanitarian disasters around the nation and the world. This event, though, is divvying up proceeds among charities selected by each of the participating chefs.
This Local Food Forum article has the amazing lineup of culinary rock stars who participated in the Chicago Chefs Cook event, with photos that hopefully provide some idea about how much fun this virtuous feast was.
Also a reminder, Local Food Forum is doing some philanthropy too. To mark the publication's 4th anniversary, we are conducting a paid subscription drive with 20 percent going to Farmers Rising, the Chicago region's leading farmer education and training non-profit. There's a link at the end of the article to learn more and subscribe.
Let's Get It Startered — Chicago Tomato Man Pick-Up Slots Are Filling
Bob Zeni's Starter Plants Span Wide Variety of Colors, Shapes and Sizes
Bob Zeni, aka Chicago Tomato Man, is one of our favorite subjects at Local Food Forum. His e-commerce site has an astounding variety of tomato plant starters — the 187 (!) types of tomatoes in all kinds of shapes, sizes, colors and sometimes fanciful names.
His pre-sales for this year's tomato plants are well under way, and the pickup slots for orders, at locations around Chicago and the suburbs, are starting to fill up. This Local Food Forum article lists Chicago Tomato Man's pickup locations and times that are still open (the slots that are filled are not listed).
Bob’s World, and Welcome to It
Today (April 9) is another Chicago day that feels like extended winter. Gray. Chilly.
But there are lots of signs of our spring rejuvenation getting ready to pop. I took these photos of a flowering tree in Lakeview East on Sunday, a prettier (if still cold day).
The forecasters predict more springlike temperatures this weekend, and warmer still earlier next week. Fingers crossed!
It's Our 4th Birthday — 20% of New Subscriptions Go To Farmers Rising
Help Local Food Forum Grow While We Help This Great Farmer Education Non-Profit
Local Food Forum is marking its 4th anniversary (April 1) by asking you to become a paid subscriber and help make this unique, mission-driven publication more self-sustaining. It is the honor of a lifetime to be of service to the community of people working to build a better food system.
But this isn’t just a subscription campaign. It’s a fundraiser: 20 percent of the proceeds from all subscriptions initiated through April 30 will go to Farmers Rising, the farmer education non-profit based in the north-central Illinois community of Caledonia.
For each new $50 Local Food Forum subscription, Farmers Rising receives $10
For each new $100 premier subscription, Farmers Rising receives $20
For each new $5 monthly subscription, we will multiply by 12 to assume a $60 full-year commitment and send $12 to Farmers Rising
Want to get even more involved with Local Food Forum while providing greater benefits to Farmers Rising? There’s a link in the article to contact me to discuss.
I am a longtime admirer of Farmers Rising (known as Angelic Organics Learning Center until its 2023 rebranding), which plays such an important role in helping new and early-stage small farms build their businesses and grow. I have been happy to support its efforts in many ways.
Naturally Chicago and Farmers Rising will truly appreciate any and all support. Please join us in standing for small farmers and working together to build a better food system.