Foodievents

Win Tickets to Share Our Strength’s Taste of the Nation Chicago

Photo: courtesy Strength.org

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)

Win Tickets to Share Our Strength’s Taste of the Nation Chicago