86 Hunger with the Greater Chicago Food Depository

By Anthony Todd in Food on Oct 21, 2010 4:20PM

The Greater Chicago Food Depository has teamed up with some great Chicago restaurants for a second year of "86 Hunger" - a combination of tasty food and charity that always makes us happy. Starting on October 24 and ending in February, dinners will be held at West Town Tavern, Spiaggia, Naha, Custom House, Boka and Heaven on Seven. At each dinner, a special meal will be prepared by the chef, and all proceeds will go the Greater Chicago Food Depository.

Over the last three years, 64% more Chicagoans have turned to the food pantries, soup kitchens and shelters - 678,000 people in Cook County every year. This is a great chance to do a bit of good and visit your favorite restaurants. It will also be a chance to meet up with other Chicagoans who care about hunger, and to talk with chefs who commit their restaurants to charity work.

The first dinner will be held at West Town Tavern, one of our favorite restaurants and a constant participant in charity work of all kinds. Different chefs will prepare each course, so this is a great chance to taste a variety of food in one setting. To start, Carlos Gaytan of Mexique will prepare an Ahi tuna crudo ceviche with spicy mango. Other offerings include beer-braised beef shortribs with sweet potato and horseradish (prepared by John Manion of Branch 27) and a molasses-pumpkin ice cream sandwich (prepared by Susan Goss of West Town Tavern) that sounds worth the price of admission.

All tickets will cost $150. Check the website for more details about upcoming dinners.