Celebrity chefs cook for a good cause

Tigray is in the northern region of Ethiopia and is currently in a crisis of civil war. To assist in the cause celebrity chefs in Chicago came together to raise money at the National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts & Culture on the evening of September 21, 2022.

Chicago Chefs for Tigray was created by a partnership with Health Professionals Network for Tigray and the team behind March's event Chicago Chefs for Ukraine. Proceeds from this event went to women and children in Tigray.

Over 20 chefs joined together with individual tables presenting samples for guests. Just a few that stood out included Darnell Reed with Luella's Southern Kitchen, Giuseppe Tentori's GT Prime and Martial Noguier's Bistronomic.

Bravo's season 11 Top Chef and James Beard Award winner Beverly Kim was right at the front to represent Wherewithall. She has a busy week as she works another event at Grand Cru on Saturday night at the Harris Theater Rooftop.

Culinary standouts were the deviled eggs from Art Smith's Reunion and Top Chef winner Joseph Flamm's unique watermelon dish.

Soul & Smoke had a hearty dish and Noah Sandoval's Pizza Friendly Pizza had a puffy pizza sample that pleased people who tried it.

Sarah Stegner from the recently reviewed Prairie Grass Cafe was a driving force for the event and handled some of the live auction duties. She wrangled several new additions to the private dinners that were supplied for bidders that night. Dancers approached the attendees with donation baskets to squeeze some much-needed dollars out of their hands to close things out.

Dana Cree's Pretty Cool Ice Cream provided some pumpkin-flavored popsicles as guests left the building.

Both Rick Bayless and Art Smith contributed checks to help out as well as supplied samples at their individual tables. Now that is putting your money where your mouth is! Visit hpn4tigray.org, which is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, non-religious, and non-partisan organization, and make a donation today. Giving to others will feed your soul, says the Nunn!