Evolved Network Dinner Really Cooked
Non-profit working through food to uplift city youth wraps up a busy month
Setting The Table for Mission-Driven Growth
I accepted an invitation to meet Chef Sebastian White on an October 1 tour of Green City Market, and it turned out to be one of the most fortunate decisions I’ve made in a while.
Sebastian is president of The Evolved Network, a Chicago non-profit he founded last year. I immediately became inspired by his goal of serving underprivileged youths by creating a restaurant and urban food garden where they can work and build skills, providing counseling and therapeutic services (Sebastian is the rare combination of chef and clinical psychologist), and teaching business management and financial literacy.
I did not anticipate that October would become The Evolved Network month on Local Food Forum, but I took the opportunity to attend the packed schedule of three events scheduled to raise the organization’s visibility: a hands-on October 8 culinary demo, Sebastian’s chef demo at Green City on October 15, and the pop-up five-course dinner with wine pairings last night (October 24) at Uvae Kitchen and Wine Bar in the Andersonville neighborhood.
The first two events gave strong indication of Sebastian’s skills, and last night’s dinner was the clincher: There are some city kids who are going to have their minds expanded about food, and I bet some of them will be inspired to become chefs themselves.
After this month’s breathless pace, The Evolved Network is taking a event break, and Local Food Forum will give them some space (after I share the article I wrote about Sebastian for the upcoming issue of Natural Awakenings Chicago, which should drop any day now). But I will continue to report on the organization and its inspiring mission, and urge you to click the button below to learn more about The Evolved Network and its important work.
BTW, the photo at top was the first course of last night’s dinner: duck liver mousse with kumquats, blueberry glaze, fried shallots and microgreens. Now enjoy some more appetite-inducing food photos.
Scallop atop a potato and ginger puree with fennel and chive.
Smoked and herbed ricotta stuffed ravioli with lobster, chive, chili, parmesan and purple basil (the ravioli was delicious and that sauce was just off the charts).
Strip steak and duck breast with caulifower/potato puree, cipollini onions and bordelaise sauce.
Warm coconut pecan cookie with yuzu whipped cream and peaches.
All courses were beautifully paired with wines selected by Lindsey Anderson, Uvae’s owner and sommelier. If I’m going to splurge, I’m glad it is for a good cause.
Friday: Upper Midwest CRAFT Farmer Social
Upper Midwest CRAFT (Collaborative Regional Alliance for Farmer Training) is holding a farmer-centric social this Friday (October 28) at Angelic Organics Learning Center in Caledonia, Illinois. Without further adieu, here are the details from the organization:
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Come hang out with farmers, CRAFT steering committee members, and a community of workers and revelers at the Fall Upper Midwest CRAFT Social at Angelic Organics Learning Center, on October 28th.
ALL farmers are invited. You don't need to be a UM CRAFT Member to join us! Quite frankly, even if you're not a farmer, you are welcome to join.
This event is free to attend; please register so we can scale our prep & cooking of pulled pork and dal (lentil stew) main dishes appropriately.
Come on over to Angelic Organics Learning Center, and join us for fun, games, and community!
Clarification! We will be providing pulled pork and dal (lentil stew) main dishes. If potlucking, please bring sides and desserts!
Families with children are welcome! Be aware that you'll be responsible for them!
We have farm animals on-site, so please, no dogs (not even if you consider them children).
If you're interested in helping us out - please reach out and let us know! We're running off volunteer energy and time, so we really appreciate any help we can get!
If you're interested in camping, let us know so we can plan for it!
I’ve Seen Better Days
We need rain pretty badly, but man, it’s crummy-looking out there today. Here’s yesterday’s sunrise to hold you for a while. Check out that painted sky.
