Next Thursday, August 13, dozens of Chicago’s top chefs will be doling out unlimited food (with top mixologists pouring up unlimited drinks) at the Ravenswood Billboard Factory as part of anti-hunger charity Share Our Strength’s annual Taste of the Nation Chicago. Hosted by Hot Chocolate’s Mindy Segal and Hub 51’s R.J. Melman, and catered by such kitchen luminaries as Michael Sheerin of Blackbird, Chris Pandel of The Bristol, The Gage’s Dirk Flanigan, and the ever-present Stephanie Izard — plus a few dozen more — it’s one of those over-the-top events that makes August bearable.
Even though 100 percent of the ticket price goes to charity, at $150 a head — $225 for VIP access, which includes a gift bag and an afterparty — it’s not exactly a cheap date. So we’ve decided to sweeten the deal a little: write 100 words about your favorite childhood food and email it to us by this Friday, August 7, at 4 p.m. Our top pick will get a VIP package for two to the event, and one randomly selected entry will get two general admission tickets. If you’re not feeling lucky, you can buy tickets for SOS/TOTN here, and use the code GD09 for $25 off each ticket you order.
Participating Chefs
Perennial
Ryan Poli
Blackbird
Michael Sheerin
HotChocolate
Mindy Segal and Mark Steuer
mk the restaurant
Michael Kornick
Sepia
Andrew Zimmerman
Spring
Shawn McClain
Urban Belly
Bill Kim
one sixtyblue
Michael McDonald
Vie
Paul Virant
Wave
Kristine Subido
The Drawing Room
Nick Lacasse
Hub 51
Michael Bellovich
Cibo Matto
Todd Stein
Province
Randy Zweiban
David Burke Primehouse
Rick Gresh
Piccolo Sogno
Tony Priolo
The Signature Room at the 95th
Pat Sheerin
The Bristol
Chris Pandel
The Gage
Dirk Flanigan
Goose Island
John Manion
Sola
Carol Wallack
Graham Elliot Restaurant
Graham Elliot Bowles
Goose Island Brewpub
John Manion
Three Floyds Brewpub
Sunda
N9NE Steakhouse
Bistro Campagne
Participating Mixologists
Rudy Matic (McCormick & Schmick’s)
Charles Joly (The Drawing Room)
DJ Love (Le Bar at Sofitel)
Zach Friedlander (Custom House)
Robyn Rabicke (USBG-Illinois)
John Kinder (USBG-Illinois)
Carol Donovan (Intoxicatingly Good Cocktails)
Carlos Cuarta (USBG-Illinois)
James Macknyk (USBG-Illinois)
Burnett Baker (Chili’s)
Lauren Klauer (Plymouth Gin)
Jennifer Contraveos (The Crafted Cocktail)
Angie Jackson (Ultimate Elixirs)
Alex Rose (Roof at The Wit Hotel)
Anthony Maffei (Jilly’s Naperville)
Sonja Kassebaum (North Shore Distillery)
Peter Vestinos (Wirtz Beverage)
Ari Silver (Bice Bistro)
Todd Appel (Crimson Lounge)
Adam Seger (Nacional 27 & Hum Spiced Spirit)
Lynn House (Graham Elliot)
DeJorn Huffman (Domaine de Canton)
Dan de Oliveira (Boka)
Bridget Albert (United States Bartenders Guild - IL)
Debbi Peek (BACARDI USA/Team Enterprises, Inc.)
Kyle McHugh (Drinks Over Dearborn & The Boozehound)
