Growing Home, a Chicago-based non-profit that provides job training through urban agriculture, is throwing a fabulous gala on Thursday - and you might be invited. The event, at the Chicago Cultural Center, will feature food by Paul Virant (of Vie and soon-to-be Perennial Virant) and desserts by Sweet Miss Givings. Bill Kurtis will be giving the keynote address, and a silent auction will be offering up a "Chef for a Day Package at Charlie Trotters," among other great prizes. Tickets are normally $125 each, but we have two to give away to a loyal reader. Enter to win after the jump. more ›

We wanted to take a closer look at the proposed ordinance and the issues surrounding it, and contacted Harry Rhodes, executive director of Growing Home, to walk us through it. Rhodes doesn't seem nearly as worried as others about the new ordinance, and informed us that the city has been "very open" to meeting with representatives of the agriculture community. more ›

We have a winner! Congratulations to Jo-Elle, who pulled out a story of a long-departed cat to best all comers. Jo-Elle receives two tickets to the Growing Home Benefit, 5:30 p.m. Thursday at Cultural Center. more ›

A reminder to readers who may have missed it Friday: we're still accepting essay submissions for a chance at winning two tickets to the Growing Home benefit this Thursday at the Cultural Center. To enter, tell us in 150 words (e-mail here) how locally grown produce — Growing Home is an organic CSA providing job training in organic agriculture to homeless and low-income folks — has raised your awareness of how you source the food you eat. more ›

Growing Home, the non-profit organization providing job training for homeless and low-income individuals in Chicago through a social enterprise business based on organic agriculture (via their hoop houses on Wood Street in Englewood), is hosting its annual benefit at the Chicago Cultural Center next Thursday, June 11. The benefit will feature passed appetizers and a 3-course dinner with dishes from Charlie Trotter's, Vie, Nia, Monogramme Events and Catering, the Meatloaf Bakery; a silent auction; an open bar; and a keynote address from Rick Bayless. more ›

• Hot on the heels of L2O's Beard nomination, Laurent Gras offers recommendations for cookware, appliances, spices and other kitchen essentials for the home cook over. The $279 brick toaster oven with convection from Cuisinart pictured above is among those listed. Also oin the list, a Pasquini Livia 90 semi-auto espresso machine ($1975 at Amazon.com). [men.style.com]
• Sun-Times food editor Janet Rausa Fuller also has some gadget recommendations, but at a more reasonable price range. [Sun-Times]
• Last week it was Pat Bruno, this week Helen Rosner casts a critical glare at Steve Dolinsky. [WBEZ, MP Chicago]

Joining a Community Supported Agriculture program is a great way to cut out the middleman and get just a little bit closer to your food supply. more ›