Chicago Chefs Cook Publishes 2nd Cookbook to Fund Food Relief

"Who's Coming to Dinner" Focuses on Recipes for Entertaining

In 2024, Chicago Chefs Cook — the non-profit philanthropic arm of the region's culinary community — joined with the Mariano's supermarket chain in publishing "Chicago Chefs Cookbook." Bouyed by the success of that venture, the partners have published a second collection of chef-created recipes.

As was the case for the first cookbook, the new issue is designed to provide proceeds for non-profit organizations that combat food insecurity. The recipients for Who's Coming to Dinner are Greater Chicago Food Depository, Northern Illinois Food Bank, Second Harvest of Southern Wisconsin, and Feeding America of Eastern Wisconsin.

By "entertaining," the authors of "Who's Coming to Dinner?" do not necessarily mean full-scale dinner parties. The book's 43 recipes are broken into four sections: Date Nights: Meals for 2; Family Meals: Meals for 4-6; Great Gatherings: Meals for 7+; and Special Occasions: Meals for Holidays.

I'm not going to list all the recipes here, but here's a sampler of the titles to whet your appetite and prompt you to go to a Mariano's store to buy the paperback cookbook (all of Chicago unless otherwise noted).

• Pan-Roasted Butternut Squash by Devon Quinn of eden restaurant

• Citrus-Marinated Beets Over Goat Cheese Spread by Sarah Stegner of Prairie Grass Cafe (Northbrook)

• Berry Scones by Greg Wade of Publican Quality Bread

• Chicken with Black Bean Sauce and Plantains by Jauvaneeka Jacobs of Frontera Grill

• Shrimp & Okra Creole by Paul Fehribach of Big Jones

• Oregano Chicken Penne Pasta by Sebastian White of The Evolved Network

• Gingerbread French Toast by Darnell Reed of Luella's Southern Kitchen

• Honey-Berbere Roasted Harvest Vegetables by Tigist Reda of Demera Ethiopian

• Slow-Cooker Red Mole Chicken Tacos by Rick Bayless of Frontera Restaurant Group

• French Pear and Almond Torte by Arshiya Farheen of Verzênay

Here are some photos from the cookbook launch party thrown by Chicago Chefs Cook and Mariano's at its store in Chicago's Bucktown neighborhood this past Saturday (October 3).

Photo by Bob Benenson

Celebration cake. Photo by Bob Benenson

Chicago Chefs Cook Board members Melissa Clark, Chef Sarah Stegner and Darren Gest. Sarah and Darren are co-founders of the organization, which was launched in 2022. Photo by Bob Benenson

The previous trio joined by Chefs Arshiya Farheen of Verzênay, Imani Graham of Memorable Eats, and Nikolaos Kapernaros of Pierless Hospitality/Levy Restaurants. Photo by Bob Benenson

Heather Bublick of Evanston-based Soul & Smoke (center) with Kerri McClimen, vice president of communications for Niman Ranch, a pasture-raised meat producer that is closely aligned with Chicago Chefs Cook. Photo by Bob Benenson

The cookbook launch event drew a crowd. Photo by Bob Benenson

Mariano's makes a particular effort to stock food items by local producers. Photo by Bob Benenson

LEARN MORE ABOUT CHICAGO CHEFS COOK

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