Chicago Chefs to Cook for Earthquake Relief
Fundraiser for World Central Kitchen on March 20 at Avli on the Park
Chicago Chefs Cook for Earthquake Relief on 3/20
Breaking news: Chicago Chefs Cook, the ongoing collaboration of leading Chicago chefs and Good Food advocates, has scheduled a tasting event to raise money to provide healthy meals to survivors of the catastrophic earthquake that struck Turkey and Syria.
The event will take place on Monday, March 20 at Avli on the Park restaurant, 180 N. Field Blvd. in the Lakeshore East neighborhood just north of Millennium Park. Tickets are available for a VIP hour running from 5:00-6:00 pm. and for general admission, with runs from 6:00-8 p.m.
All proceeds from the event will go to World Central Kitchen, the nonprofit founded and headed by Chef José Andrés, which rushes to disaster areas around the world to provide millions of meals to displaced people. World Central Kitchen was also the beneficiary of the Chicago Chefs Cook for Ukraine event held last March 16 following the Russian invasion and the Chicago Chefs Cook for Puerto Rico event held September 28 following a devastating hurricane.
There also was Chicago Chefs Cook for Tigray, held September 21, with proceeds going to Health Professionals Network for Tigray to provide health care for those displaced by warfare in that Ethiopian province.
Chicago Chefs Cook is led by Chefs Tony Priolo of Chicago’s Piccolo Sogno and Sarah Stegner of Northbrook’s Prairie Grass Cafe and longtime Good Food advocates Eda Davidman and Darren Gest. Tony and Sarah jointly received the Illinois Restaurant Association’s Restaurateurs of the Year Award on February 9. The full Chicago Chefs Cook was lauded of Illinois U.S. Sen. Richard J. Durbin in a speech on the Senate floor on February 16.
Demera’s Ethiopian Food a Find at TimeOut Market
I have gotten to know Tigist Reda of Demera Ethiopian Restaurant through my coverage of the Chicago Chefs Cook for Tigray event last September. This was a passion project for Tigist, who is a native of Tigray and has close family members who live there.
Just last week, Tigist opened a stand in the TimeOut Market food hall in West Loop, a spinoff of her popular restaurant at Broadway and Lawrence in the Uptown neighborhood. My food worlds often collide and last night (February 16) I was part of a Naturally Chicago Community Social held at TimeOut Market. So I took the occasion to enjoy one of the most sumptuous meals that I’ve ever carried to a table on a tray.
The main dish, on the left, is Doro Wat, an Ethiopian classic that was as spicy as advertised, rich and delicious. It was accompanied by a big pile of collard greens (I love me some collard greens) and Ethiopian farmer cheese.
The beer I chose from the TimeOut bar, Forbidden Root’s sweet/tart Strawberry Basil, paired very well with this spicy dish. Demera at TimeOut has a extensive selection of dishes, most of them less fiery, to choose from.
As you may have heard, I have a fondness for the craft beer. So I capped off the fun evening with an Orange Blossom from Chicago’s culinary-focused Moody Tongue. Like every other Moody Tongue beer I’ve had it was excellent.
Have a great weekend. I’ll have a farmers market haul and some more community news to share along the way.