Last Weekend in August, Best Weekend in August?
Three great upcoming Chicagoland events, plus this weekend's market schedule
Saving the Best for the Last (Weekend)
During my years working in the Good Food/local food community, I’ve often remarked that there always seems to be one or two days each year in which a cluster of amazing events are scheduled. Darned if it isn’t happening again over August 26 and 27, the last weekend of the last full month of summer.
Chef Fundraiser for Victims of Hawaii Wildfires
One that just popped up is a fundraiser to help victims of the horrific wildfires in Hawaii, and it will take place in the afternoon and evening of Sunday, August 27 at Prairie Grass Cafe in north suburban Northbrook.
Prairie Grass Cafe is home base for Chef Sarah Stegner, the multiple James Beard Awards winner and social activist who also co-founded Chicago Chefs Cook, the collaboration among leading regional chefs that — since its initial event to raise funds to feed victims of the Ukraine war in February 2022 — has raised more than $1 million to benefit humanitarian causes and our local food community.
There are two separate events on August 27, with proceeds benefitting The Hawai’i Community Foundation—Chef Hui Fund. Here is how the organizers describe the day:
Prairie Grass Cafe in Northbrook, Illinois (601 Skokie Blvd., 847-205-4433) and Ricky Sakoda, former chef of Merriman’s in Kapalua, Maui, will host a fundraiser Sunday, August 27 to benefit The Hawai’i Community Foundation—Chef Hui Fund to help victims of the devastation caused by the wildfires in Maui, particularly for the community of chefs in Hawai’i.
The fundraiser is in partnership with Chef Sarah Stegner of Prairie Grass Cafe; Ricky Sakoda, former chef of Merriman's in Kapalua, Maui; Randall Sabado, Sr. Executive R&D Chef of Cooper's Hawk; Arshiya Farheen, chef of Verzênay Patisserie; and Sebastian White, chef of The Evolved Network.
First, Prairie Grass Cafe is sponsoring a Happy Hour, 3-5 p.m., Sunday, August 27 at the bar area of Prairie Grass Cafe. The $50 admission per person includes tasting stations, passed canapés and wine. A cash bar for cocktails and beer will be available. Gratuity is not included.
Second, beginning at 5 p.m. and priced at $100 per person (not including gratuity for the staff), guests can participate in a family-style dinner, with wine, prepared by the five participating chefs and served in the Prairie Grass Cafe private dining room.
Reservations may be made by calling Prairie Grass Cafe at (847) 205-4433. Please specify if you will be joining us for happy hour and/or the family-style dinner. Payment for the events will be taken upon arrival on August 27. The full ticket price for both events, $150, will be donated to the Hawai'i Community Foundation—Chef Hui Fund, but we ask that you leave a cash tip for the Prairie Grass Cafe staff.
Thank you to our generous sponsors for this event: Chef Consultant Jared Batson, owner of Onion Bulb Productions.
If you cannot attend the event but would like to donate to the cause, please email sarah@prairiegrasscafe.com with the amount so that they can include your donation in the amount raised. To donate, go here and in the comment section, say “donation to Hawai’i Community Foundation—Chef Hui Fund.’’ If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Chef Sarah Stegner (sarah@prairiegrasscafe.com) or Chef Ricky Sakoda (Rsakoda@gmail.com).
Pizza City Fest
This is a reminder that the 2nd annual Pizza City Fest Chicago will be held August 26 and 27, from 12 to 5 p.m. each day, at The Salt Shed, the concert and events venue located in the former Morton Salt building at 1357 N. Elston Ave. in the West Town neighborhood.
Pizza City Fest is presented by Steve Dolinsky — the TV food reporter known as The Food Guy on NBC 5 Chicago after a long stint as The Hungry Hound on ABC 7 Chicago — and his wife, Amy Dordek Dolinsky.
Pizza City Fest is an offshoot of their Pizza City USA walking and bus tours in Chicago neighborhoods, and Steve’s two books on the topic: Pizza City, USA: 101 Reasons Why Chicago Is America’s Greatest Pizza Town (Northwestern University Press, 2018), which documented all of the available styles of pizza in the region, with rankings, and The Ultimate Chicago Pizza Guide (Northwestern University Press, 2021), which contains recipes, history and much more.
Each of the two days of Pizza City Fest will feature 20 of the city’s top pizzerias (a completely different lineup each day); salad and dessert makers; unique collaborations; and expert panel discussions. Click the button below to learn more and buy tickets. And to learn more about Pizza City Fest, check out two previous Local Food Forum articles: one defining the 10 pizza styles that Steve says are well-represented in Chicago, and the other a Q&A with Steve.
Tomatoes, Tomatoes, We Love You, Tomatoes
The peak summer season for those beautiful, juicy field tomatoes is one of the most eagerly awaited events of our growing season. Who better to highlight the arrival of peak tomatoes than Chicago Botanic Garden, which is presenting its two-day Heirloom Fest (August 26 and 27) from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Chicago Botanic Garden is located in north suburban Glencoe. Here’s how they describe the event:
The weekend features programs about growing and using heirloom tomatoes and other heirloom vegetables, with displays, seed saving how-tos, select vendors, and more. Presenters will be on hand for special programs. Stop by Heirloom Fest and learn new ways to make life delicious!
Ways to explore:
See a variety of seasonal vegetables, herbs, and fruits growing at the Regenstein Fruit & Vegetable Garden.
Learn about heirloom tomato varieties from Bob Zeni, the Chicago Tomato Man.
Visit our Discovery Carts and explore many types of heirloom tomatoes and vegetables you can grow in your home garden.
Discover heirloom fruit varieties with the Midwest Fruit Explorers.
While supplies last: Take home an 'Orangelo' thyme plant through our August plant giveaway.
And here’s what Local Food Forum friend Bob Zeni, aka Chicago Tomato Man, says about his portion of the program:
• Love heirlooms? Let’s talk tomatoes at Heirloom Fest at the Chicago Botanic Garden.
• I’ll have a dazzling display of tomatoes grown by fellow fanatics. All sorts of shapes, textures and sizes – romas, beefsteaks, saladettes, cherries and more. Astonishing colors – black, yellow, orange, green, purple and red.
• Ever seen a dwarf or tabletop plant? Perfect for a balcony or that lone sunny spot in a deeply shaded yard. I’ll bring along the plants – containers and all. They’re really that small. Yet still productive and flavorful!
• Want to start your own? I’ll have a sample of the soil I use to start my plants. Plus seed packets from trusted sources who specialize in heirloom tomatoes.
• Also: Jesse Quinonez, Executive Chef at the Botanic Garden, will demo luscious recipes using heirloom fruits and veggies on Saturday, August 26 at 11:30 & 12:30. And the Midwest Fruit Explorers will introduce you to exotic and unusual heirloom fruit varieties.
And as for this coming weekend, here’s…
The Chicago Regional Farmers Market Schedule
Note to Green City Market customers: Green City’s flagship location in Lincoln Park will close at 12 p.m. this Saturday (August 19), one hour earlier than usual, to avoid conflict with the Chicago Air and Water Show taking place nearby. Green City’s West Loop satellite location will be open until 1 p.m., as usual.