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Leading Chicago Chefs Rally to IMPACT Culinary Learning's Benefit

  • Writer: Bob Benenson
    Bob Benenson
  • 19 hours ago
  • 2 min read

School Founded by Chef Rick Bayless to Hold October 19 Dining Event


Digital poster for a Chicago culinary school fundraiser

Most chef-driven fundraising events take place on evenings. So you have to have quite a draw to pack the house for a Sunday afternoon event — and the October 19 event to support Chef Rick Bayless' IMPACT Culinary Training school has a lineup that is sure to make it a hot ticket.


The benefit will be held at The Hatchery, a food business startup incubator, located at 135 N. Kedzie Ave. in Chicago. IMPACT Culinary is based at The Hatchery — which is administered by the Industrial Council of Nearwest Chicago (ICNC), one of the nation's largest and oldest business incubators.


IMPACT helps underprivileged youths to gain the experience and knowledge they need to establish careers in Chicago's world-class culinary community. According to ICNC:


"Cohorts have provided no cost culinary training for 18 - 24 year-old residents of Chicago's west side since 2019. Students learn advanced culinary skills and intern at some of Chicago's most vibrant restaurants. 85% of Impact Culinary graduates go on to gain full-time employment."


All proceeds from the event will fund IMPACT learning cohorts.


Chicago Chef Rick Bayless with students graduating from his cooking school
Chef Rick Bayless addresses a cohort of IMPACT Culinary Learning graduates in December 2024. Photo by Bob Benenson

Rick Bayless has been promoting local food sourcing and local talent since he started his famously successful Frontera restaurant group in 1987. He was a founding Board member with Green City Market, and founded the Frontera Farmer Foundation that, over the past two decades, has distributed more than $3 million in grants to Midwest farmers who sell into the Chicago market.


And these chefs recruited to cook for the October 19 IMPACT fundraiser share Rick's philanthropic mindset:


• Javauneeka Jacobs, Frontera Grill

• Zach Engel, Galit

• Erick Williams and Becky Pendola, Virtue

• Andrew Holladay, Lula Cafe

• Darnell Reed, Luella's Southern Kitchen

• Rob Levitt, The Publican

• Paul Kahan, One Off Hospitality

• Paul Virant, Vistro Prime/Petite Vie/Gaijin

• Maya-Camille Broussard, Justice of the Pies

• Mary Eder-McClure, Cafe Yaya


The fundraiser is co-presented by Chicago Chefs Cook, the non-profit culinary community collaboration that holds events to raise money for philanthropic and humanitarian causes.


Event highlights from the organizers:


• Eleven of Chicago’s most renowned chefs will be serving a seasonal multi-course meal in a communal setting.

• Appetizers and bites provided by Impact Culinary Training alumni.

• Premium welcoming cocktails from The Hatchery’s Present Tense and Quari Ice.

• Live auction of exclusive prize packages and experiences.

• Sponsored table purchasers gain access to an exclusive tour, culinary demo, and bites from Chef Rick Bayless, founder of Impact Culinary Training and proprietor of Frontera Grill


Click below to buy tickets and reserve your place.







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