80’s Throwback Jams Have Guests Dancing and Dining While Raising Funds for Illinois Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (IRAEF) and the statewide ProStart® program
The Illinois Restaurant Association ”turns back time” for an “Awesome 80’s” Chef’s Table Benefit Friday, November 2 from 6 – 10 p.m. at Morgan MFG (401 North Morgan St). Presented by Sysco and the National Restaurant Association, the 41st Annual Chef’s Table celebrates and honors the food service industry while featuring some of the best bites Chicago has to offer.
“As one of the country’s top culinary cities, Chicago’s restaurant and hospitality industry is thriving, and its future is brighter than ever because of its rising stars,” said Illinois Restaurant Association President and CEO Sam Toia. “We are honored to bring together the industry’s key players to support the IRA Educational Foundation and the talented students it benefits.”
In honor of the event’s 41st anniversary, guests will dance the night away to top ‘80’s hits, while donning their brightest neon, legwarmers and other ‘80’s attire (big hair encouraged). The evening will include specialty-crafted cocktails, chef tables featuring an array of signature dishes and desserts from some of the city’s leading chefs, a silent auction with one-of-a-kind items and endless networking opportunities with hundreds of food service industry professionals.
Savory station participants include:
Bar Takito & Takito Kitchen, Bombay Wraps, Broken English Taco Pub, City Mouse, Eden, Elephant & Castle Pub & Restaurant, Free Rein Restaurant, Gaylord Fine Indian Cuisine, HMSHost/Wicker Park Seafood & Sushi, Ina Mae Tavern & Packaged Goods, Kendall College School of Culinary Arts and Hospitality Management at National Louis University, La Josie, Manny’s Cafeteria & Delicatessen, Pinstripes, Roberto Clemente High School, Son of a Butcher, State and Lake Chicago Tavern, Sysco, Taureaux Tavern, The Dearborn, The Franklin Room, The Radler and Washburne Culinary Institute
Desserts and coffee supplied by:
Beavers Coffee & Donuts, Blue Agave Tequila Bar, Day Dream Coffee Company, Eli’s Cheesecake Company, Four Corners Tavern Group, French Pastry School and Kilwins Chocolates, Fudge & Ice Cream
Proceeds from the evening will benefit the Illinois Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (IRAEF) and the statewide ProStart® program. The mission of the IRAEF is to build the state’s hospitality workforce through career exploration, development programs and scholarships. To date, more than $2.8 million in scholarships have been awarded to students by the IRAEF Scholarship Initiative.
Tickets ($250) are available now and can be purchased by calling (312) 787-4000 or visiting illinoisrestaurants.org. The IRAEF is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization. $150 of each ticket is deductible as a charitable contribution.
Chef’s Table sponsors include: Sysco, National Restaurant Association, Southern Glazer’s Wine and Spirits, Texas de Brazil, Assurance Agency, Boston Beer Company, Chandon, Ecolab, FOODWORKS…powered by Eurest, Gold Rush Gaming, HMSHost, Hyatt Regency Chicago, Isabelli Media Relations (IMR), Lakeshore Beverage, Plante Moran, SmithAmundsen LLC, The Cubby Bear, The Grove, Inc., The Signature Room at the 95th® and Turano Baking Company.
ABOUT THE ILLINOIS RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION
Founded in 1914, the Illinois Restaurant Association is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting, protecting, educating and improving the restaurant industry in Illinois. The IRA owns and produces Chicago Gourmet – the annual food and wine festival held in Millennium Park that unites hundreds of restaurants, chefs and beverage experts for a weekend filled with food and drink tastings, entertainment, cooking demonstrations, book signings, interactive seminars and more. The Association is a proud host of the James Beard Foundation Awards, which will be held in Chicago through 2021, and celebrates excellence in cuisine, culinary writing, and culinary education throughout the country. For more information about the Illinois Restaurant Association, visit www.illinoisrestaurants.org and follow on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
ABOUT THE ILLINOIS RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION
The Illinois Restaurant Association Educational Foundation is a 501 (c)(3) dedicated to building the Illinois hospitality workforce through career exploration, workforce development programs and scholarships. ProStart® is a national school-to-careers program that prepares high school students for careers in foodservice and hospitality management. ProStart® in Illinois is administered by the Illinois Restaurant Association Educational Foundation to over 4,000 students at 62 schools in the Chicagoland area. Students have the opportunity to earn industry-recognized credentials and articulated credits for college while in high school. The Foundation provides work readiness training and connects students with industry professionals through job shadowing and internships to help hone their skills in the foodservice industry. The ProStart® program is also offered in all 50 states encompassing more than 140,000 high school students in more than 1,800 high schools. For more information, visit www.nraef.org.
