Do This: Pilot Light Back To School Block Party At Publican Quality Meats

By Chuck Sudo in Food on Sep 9, 2013 7:45PM

Studies have shown that children are more alert and pay attention better in school if they eat a healthy breakfast and lunch. The charity Pilot Light was founded with a mission of incorporating culinary education and nutrition into existing Common Core State standards to develop and influence policy that will impact children’s long-term relationship with food, reduce childhood obesity and help students make better nutrition choices. Pilot Light has fostered relationships between top chefs and Chicago Public Schools teachers at an incubator program at Disney II Magnet School to create lesson plans and facilitate thoughtful discussion about food as it relates to literacy, math, social studies and science. Sample lessons include 'Access to Food as a Civil Right' (4th grade social studies), and 'Noodles to Neighborhoods' - teaching cultural diversity through pasta (3rd grade social studies).

Kahan is one of many chefs who sits on Pilot Light’s board of directors and has brought together some of the city’s best chefs for a “block party” fundraiser 6 p.m. Oct. 4 at Publican Quality Meats. Joining Kahan will be Honey Butter Fried Chicken’s Christine Cikowski and Joshua Kulp, Jon DuBois of Green Zebra, Lula Café’s Jason Hammel, Paula Haney and Allison Stout of Hoosier Mama Pie Company, Sandra Holl of Floriole, Justin Large of avec, Charlie McKenna of Lillie's Q, Yusho’s Matthias Merges, Sarah Mispagel of Nightwood, Tavernita/Little Market Brasserie’s Ryan Poli and John Vermiglio of Billy Sunday.

The night will include a DJ, as well as a silent and live auction. But tickets here.