With this next event, I can honestly say that I lived every single moment of it – one my palate won't ever forget. Chefs and The City returned in its 8th year to offer guests an exclusive culinary retreat, which featured the city's top executive chefs from the elite in Chicago's dining destinations. Restaurants included: GT Fish & Oyster, Karyn's on Green, BOKA, Pump Room, The Publican, RL, Province, and a slew of other signature names. Hosted at the Ritz Carlton, Chefs and the City benefits Vital Bridges Center on Chronic Care, which helps people impacted by HIV/AIDS in Chicago by improving their health according to the website. Honorary chairs Amanda Puck, Rich Varnes, Jason Dohmann, and chef chair Ryan Pitts, executive chef of RL Restaurant welcomed guests to not only an evening that whisked their palates away in style but to some amazing auction prizes. Prizes included a Napa excursion that included round-trip airfare for four to San Francisco, a trip to Italy with round-trip airfare for two to Rome, and my favorite an in-home dinner prepared by one of Chicago's premier chefs, Sarah Grueneberg of Café Spiaggia. Needless to say, the big gurl inside me was satisfied and honestly didn't know which was her fave. food station – big gurl problems.