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Chicago Chefs Cook, the chef-centric philanthropic organization, is teaming up with the National Italian American Foundation to bring together some of Chicago’s Italian restaurants for the special Chicago Chefs Cook presents: The Emilia-Romagna Dinner Series to support farmers in the northern Italian region who lost their crops and homes to the devastating “once in a century” floods. 

"The Chicago Chefs Cook organization was created to ensure that those in the most dire state of adversity are nourished," stated Chef Sarah Stegner (Co-Executive Chef of Prairie Grass Café and member of the Chicago Chefs Cook leadership team along with Eda Davidman, Jodi Fyfe, and Darren Gest). "The devastation experienced by farmers in the Emilia-Romagna region is on the collective conscience of the Chicago culinary community and we could not just sit on the sidelines watching."

Participating restaurants will host dining experiences across Chicago from Thursday, June 8 to Monday, June 12. Proceeds will benefit the Italian American Relief fund in an effort to support agricultural recovery in this Italian region. An overwhelming amount of rain caused disastrous flooding in the eastern side of the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy in mid-May, causing fatalities as well as billions of euros in destruction, particularly in agricultural areas. 

Dining experiences will range from chefs’ tables to exclusive group dining packages inspired by the Emilia-Romagna region. Each restaurant will put their own signature touch on the offered culinary experience for an opportunity only available for this limited time. Additionally, an array of Chefs across the city have raised their hands to partner on a course for a host restaurant or have added dishes to their own restaurant’s menu from which profits will be donated.

For example, on Thursday, June 8 at 5:30 p.m., Gene & Georgetti will host a collaborative, five-course dinner with featured dishes from Executive Chef Cristiano Bassani, Tortello Pastificio, Chef Sarah Stegner and Chef/Owner Genie Kwon of Kasama. Cost is $350 per person, with all proceeds going directly to the Emilia-Romagna Regional Federation of Coldiretti, Italy’s Agricultural Association. 

“We were heartbroken to witness the disaster happening in Italy,” says Michelle Durpetti, Managing Partner of participating Gene & Georgetti. “The Italian-American community in Chicago was eager to come together to raise money to help farmers and agricultural businesses rebuild.”

Additional restaurants participating in the dinner series include:

  • Alla Vita | 564 West Randolph Street

  • Gibson’s Italia | 233 North Canal Street

  • GT Prime Steakhouse | 707 North Wells Street

  • Il Milanese | 2201 West Montrose Avenue 

  • Italian Village | 71 West Monroe Street

  • Monteverde | 1020 West Madison Street

  • Nonnina | 340 North Clark Street

  • Petterino’s | 150 North Dearborn Street

  • RPM Italian | 52 West Illinois Street

  • Stefani Prime | 6755 North Cicero Avenue, Lincolnwood, IL

  • Testaccio Chicago | 2456 North California Avenue

  • UMMO | 22 West Hubbard Street

  • Volare Ristorante Italiano | 201 East Grand Avenue

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