Some of the best chefs in town came out for Share our Strength’s Taste of the Nation benefit last night, raising over $250,000 to help fight childhood hunger. Perhaps in the giving mood as well, Chicago delivered one of the most pleasant and peaceful evenings of the summer. Hosted in the Grand Ballroom at Navy Pier, guests were able to comfortably mingle inside or walk the pier to watch the fireworks at the end of the night. Oh, and there was also food — lots of it.
The epic event featured cooking from Koren Greiveson (Avec), Mark Steuer (The Bedford), Tony Mantuano (Spiaggia), Rick Bayless (Frontera), Matt Maroni (Gaztro-Wagon), Stephanie Izard (Girl & The Goat), Jason Hammel (Lula), and many, many more. (We could obviously keep going with the names, but that is probably enough.)
Luckily, the fireworks weren’t the only things on fire last night, as Ben Roche from Moto literally had to ignite one of his dishes. Check it out, along with a recap of some of the other offerings, by viewing our slideshow of the event.
100 percent of ticket sales will be used
by the charity to end childhood hunger.
Photo: Eugene (Huge) Galdones/Huge Galdones/Galdones Photography 2011
The event was held in the aptly titled Grand Ballroom at Navy Pier.
Photo: Eugene (Huge) Galdones/Huge Galdones/Galdones Photography 2011
Served with vanilla cremeux, peach ginger gelee, tarragon, and ginger pavlova.
Photo: Eugene (Huge) Galdones/Huge Galdones/Galdones Photography 2011
Photo: Eugene (Huge) Galdones/Huge Galdones/Galdones Photography 2011
He served corned lamb with anchovy mayo, sweet zucchini pickles, and crisp shaved bread.
Photo: Eugene (Huge) Galdones/Huge Galdones/Galdones Photography 2011
Ben Roche from
Moto sets his dish on fire.
Photo: Eugene (Huge) Galdones/Huge Galdones/Galdones Photography 2011
City Provisions combined the products from two staples of the Green City Market for this dish.
Photo: Eugene (Huge) Galdones/Huge Galdones/Galdones Photography 2011
They served market caponata with La Quercia proscuito picant and fresh sheep cheese on garlic toast.
Photo: Eugene (Huge) Galdones/Huge Galdones/Galdones Photography 2011
A huge crowd packed the space to sample dishes from some of the best chefs in town.
Photo: Eugene (Huge) Galdones/Huge Galdones/Galdones Photography 2011
Markethouse spared no expense, serving lobster with smoked corn and winter truffle.
Photo: Eugene (Huge) Galdones/Huge Galdones/Galdones Photography 2011
Terzo Piano served a cured duck and a sweet corn salad with honey, lime, and star anise.
Photo: Eugene (Huge) Galdones/Huge Galdones/Galdones Photography 2011
Seger served a hum and ginger cocktail with organic cucumber, slapped basil, and persian lime. Melissa Yen from
Jo Snow Syrups looks on.
Photo: Eugene (Huge) Galdones/Huge Galdones/Galdones Photography 2011
