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Pilot Light Annual Gala on Nov. 7 Mixes Virtue With Food Fantasy

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

 Feed Your Mind Chef Lineup is Mind-Blowing; Bayless to Receive Inaugural Award


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We've been writing a lot lately about Pilot Light, the Chicago-based, chef-driven non-profit that champions food education in schools. A recent article highlighted the organization's recent release of its updated Food Education Standards — available to all school systems across the U.S. — that were originally released in 2018.



Pilot Light also has tickets still available for one of its smaller fundraising events, which will take place on August 26 at Honey Butter Fried Chicken in Chicago's Avondale neighborhood.



But Pilot Light's biggest news is the announcement of its signature revenue raiser, its Feed Your Mind Gala. Tickets are now on sale for the Friday, November 7 event, to be held at Rockwell on the River in Chicago's Avondale neighborhood.


The dinner will be emceed by Peter Sagal, of NPR's news quiz, "Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me." The organization, which benefits from a number of wealthy and generous supporters, will once again feature a live auction with extraordinary prizes including trips to culinary hot spots with leading Chicago region chefs, as well as a silent auction.


But Pilot Light is freshening the gala with a pair of new wrinkles.


  • After years of having celebrated chefs cook the dinner behind the scenes, Pilot Light is adding a theatrical element in which the chefs cook the meals at tableside. Tables to be served by headliner Chefs Rick Bayless, Joe Flamm, Sarah Grueneberg and Bailey Sullivan, Genie Kwan and Tim Flores, and Lee Wolen quickly sold out, but the lineup also includes Diana Dávila, Zach Engel, James Martin, Carrie Nahabedian, Oliver Poilevey, Tony Priolo, Sarah Stegner, Paul Virant, and Jonathan Zaragoza.


  • Pilot Light is also launching an annual Chef Honoree. The inaugural awardee is Chef Rick Bayless of the renowned Frontera regional Mexican restaurant group. Rick has helped invigorate local ingredient sourcing by restaurants through his role as a founder of Green City Market and the more than $3 million dispersed by his Frontera Farmer Foundation. He also promotes diversity and opportunity the Impact Culinary Learning chef training school, which focuses on young people from disadvantaged backgrounds. Says Pilot Light, "This award will recognize all Chef Bayless has done for the Chicago charitable community, as well as his passion for fostering youth leadership."


No question that this is one of the bigger-ticket charitable events in the Chicago food space, but if you can swing it, it promises an unforgettable experience.


Click below to learn more and buy tickets.



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