More than 70 of Chicago’s top chefs will be cooking their specialties at “Chicago Cooks for Ukraine” at Navy Pier on Wednesday, March 16 from 6 to 9 p.m.
The grassroots effort to raise funds for humanitarian relief came about when Tony Priolo, chef and co-owner of Piccolo Sogno, one of the city’s most renowned Italian restaurants, sent an email to about 40 other chefs and restaurateurs that floated the idea of a chef-driven fundraiser to help the people of Ukraine.
Priolo explained, “After seeing the events unfold in Ukraine, we rallied our restaurant community together. We are a passionate bunch. We are united and we are going to make this happen.”
Sarah Stegner, owner of Prairie Grass Cafe in Northbrook, was first to reply and she said “Let’s do this.”
Throughout the chef community enthusiasm for the project exploded. Within a short time 70 chefs (and counting) had come onboard.
All procedes from the chef-curated tasting event, “Chicago Cooks for Ukraine,” presented by Lifeway Foods” will be provided directly to World Central Kitchen, the organization that is first to the frontlines to provide meals in response to humanitarian, climate, and community crises.
“We are proud to be the presenting sponsor,” said CEO of Lifeway Foods Julie Smolyansky. “I, myself, was born in Kiev and was granted asylum in the US as a refugee as an infant in 1976. A large portion of Lifeway team members are refugees & immigrants from the Former Soviet Union, Ukraine, Russia and the surrounding regions. We are grateful for the chef community for coming together on a moment’s notice to respond to this humanitarian crisis with great empathy and compassion.”
Tickets
In addition to the chef-curated tasting event, the event will feature a special VIP meet and greet chef experience. Tickets (150-500) can be purchased here.
List of participating chefs as of March 10
1. Rodolfo Cuadros from Amaru
2. Lewis Alexakis from Avli On the Park
3. Linda Bacin from Bacinos
4. Ken Polk from Batter & Berries
5. Alex Pitts from Bazaar Meats by José Andrés
6. Linda Friend from Big Fat Cookie
7. Martial Nougier from Bistronomic
8. Art Smith from Blue Door Kitchen & Garden
9. Hector Guerrero from Blue Door Kitchen & Garden
10. Charles Haracz from Blue Plate Catering
11. Lee Wolen from Boka Restaurant
12. Carrie Nahabedian from Brindille
13. Chris Pandel from Cira
14. Meg Galus from Cocoa + Co
15. Bernie Laskowski from Craft Urban
16. Tigist Reda from Demera
17. Kevin Hickey from The Duck Inn
18. Lamar Moore from Eleven Eleven
19. Marc Schumann from Eli’s Cheescake
20. Dudley Nieto from Fat Rosies
21. Jonathon Sawyer from Four Seasons Hotel Chicago and Adorn Bar & Restaurant
22. Zach Steen from Frontera Group
23. Cristiano Bassani from Gene & Georgetti
24. Jason Vincent from Giant
25. Chef Jose Sosa from Gibsons Italia
26. Federico Comacchio from Gioia Ristorante e Pastificio
27. Little Goat Diner
28. Mila Furman from The Girl in the Kitchen
29. Giuseppe Tentori from GT Fish & Oyster
30. Ellen King from Hewn Bread
31. Joshua Kulp and Christine Cikowski from Honey Butter Fried Chicken
32. Justin DePhillips from Jaleo by José Andrés
33. Katherine Anne from Katherine Anne Confections
34. Suzy DeYoung from La Soupe, Cincinnati
35. Oliver Poilevey from Le Bouchon
36. Darnell Reed from Luella’s Southern Kitchen
37. Jason Hammel from Lula Cafe
38. Dan Raskin from Manny’s Deli
39. Sarah Grueneberg from Monteverde
40. Sam Rattanopas from NaKorn
41. John Boudouvas from Nonnina
42. Caesar Murillo from North Pond
43. Jim Kallas from Offshore Rooftop
44. Jody Fyfe and David Abrahamson from Paramount Catering
45. Tusya Korastin from Petergof Banquet Hall
46. Tony Priolo and Mike Burke from Piccolo Sogno
47. Nick Hynes from Pescadero Seafood and Oyster Bar
48. Ozzy Amelotti from Petterino’s
49. Sarah Stegner and George Bumbaris from Prairie Grass Cafe
50. Dana Cree and Michael Ciapciak from Pretty Cool Ice Cream
51. Greg Wade and Paul Kahan from Publican Quality Bread
52. Pure Green Juice
53. Jimmy Bannos and Jimmy Bannos Jr. from Purple Pig
54. Robert Garvey from Robert’s Pizza and Dough Company
55. Cliff Rome from Rome’s Joy Catering
56. Sahil Sethi from ROOH
57. Joe Flamm from Rose Mary
58. Barry Sorkin from Smoque BBQ
59. Heather Bublick and D’Andre Carter from Soul & Smoke
60. Marcos Ascencio from Taqueria Chingon
61. Toni Roberts from Torali at the Ritz-Carlton Chicago
62. Nataliya from Tryzub Restaurant
63. Carlos Gaytan from Tzuco
64. Jim Louras from Umbria Caffe
65. Bill Kim from Urbanbelly
66. Sophie Evanoff from Vanille Patisserie
67. Arshiya Farheen from Verzenay Chicago
68. Michelle Anne from Victory Italian
69. Erick Williams from Virtue
70. Beverly Kim and Johnny Clark from Wherewithall
Filed under: Chicago events, Chicago Food
