Comments icon Comments

For the sixth year running, Chef Bill Kim and Cornerstone Restaurant Group will host Chefsgiving the weekend before Thanksgiving. In partnership with Inspiration Kitchens, Kim and more than 45 Chicago chefs will prepare meals and come together to distribute ready-to-eat meals to local shelters free of cost.

In years prior, Kim and other fellow chefs would gather at Inspiration Kitchens — a local nonprofit that helps people affected by homelessness and poverty improve their lives and increase self-sufficiency through the provision of social services, employment training and housing — with trays of their favorite holiday dishes to build a complete Thanksgiving buffet meal. The pandemic forced the team to modify the event format last year, and for this year, Kim saw an opportunity to make it bigger and better than ever.

“During these times, we all need uplifting and memorable experiences as we gather together again for the holidays. This is our chance as chefs and neighbors to help our fellow Chicagoans in need all throughout our great city, and we’re going to take it,” said Kim. 

Kim and many Chicago chefs across the city will serve more than 700 hearty meals—some of which will be distributed to East Garfield Park residents in need from Inspiration Kitchens, and many others will be safely delivered to shelters throughout Chicago. 

The chefs, owners and partners participating include: 

  1. Doug Psaltis from Andros Taverna 

  2. Janet Kirker from Beatrix

  3. Esther Griego from Bittersweet Pastry Shop

  4. Johnny Besch from BLVD Steakhouse 

  5. Brian Ahern from Boeufhaus 

  6. Lee Wolen from Boka Restaurant Group 

  7. Chris Pandel of Cira Restaurant at The Hoxton and Swift and Sons

  8. Hannah O’Leary from Cornerstone Restaurant Group

  9. Joe Frillman from Daisies 

  10. Kevin Hickey from The Duck Inn

  11. Paul Kahan from Dove’s Luncheonette

  12. John Manion from El Che Steakhouse & Bar 

  13. Rick Bayless from Frontera Grill

  14. Brian Jupiter from Frontier and Ina Mae Tavern

  15. Ty Fujimura from Fujimara Hospitality

  16. Zachary Engel from Galit 

  17. Giuseppe Tentori from GT Prime Steakhouse

  18. Christine Cikowski and Joshua Kulp from Honey Butter Fried Chicken 

  19. Justin DePhillips from Jaleo by José Andrés

  20. Chris Thompson from Lardon 

  21. Kevin Marquardt from Lettuce Entertain You 

  22. Charlie Mckenna from Lillies Q 

  23. Jason Hammel from Lula Café

  24. Sari Worsham from mfk.

  25. Craig Couper from Michael Jordan’s Steakhouse Oakbrook 

  26. Edward Kim from mini mott

  27. Sarah Grueneberg from Monteverde Restaurant

  28. John Boudouvas from Nonnina 

  29. PJ Lamp from PB&J West Loop

  30. Thomas Oh and Andrew Lim from Perilla

  31. Ozzy Amelotti from Petterino’s 

  32. Tony Priolo from Piccolo Sogno 

  33. Noah Zamler from The Press Room

  34. Matt Ronan from Purely Meat Co.

  35. Cedric Harden from River Roast 

  36. Joe Flamm from Rose Mary

  37. Andrew Zimmerman from Sepia and Proxi 

  38. D’Andre Carter from Soul & Smoke

  39. Connie Pikukas from Spoonfed Kitchen & Bake Shop

  40. Kiki Luthringshausen from Spoonfed Kitchen & Bake Shop

  41. Michelle Krage from Star Events

  42. Aaron Steingold from Steingold’s

  43. John Shields from Smyth + The Loyalist 

  44. Brian Millman from Table at Crate 

  45. Stephanie Izard from This Little Goat Kitchen

  46. Devin Kreller from Wood

Personal friends of Bill Kim will also donate meals to this year’s Chefsgiving. Mariano’s will donate 325 pies for Chefsgiving in addition to the meals provided by Chicago chefs, and Crate and Barrel will be helping deliver the meals. 

The meals will be delivered directly to the following Chicago shelters: Breakthrough, Covenant House, Deborah’s Place, Ignite, New Moms, Night Ministry, Northside Housing, Sarah’s Circle, The Boulevard and more. 

Kim and the participating chefs encourage fans to help support the Chefsgiving and Inspiration Kitchens by donating here. 

Comments

View Comments (0)