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Event Mon Jun 10 2013
Great Chefs Tasting Party
I was fortunate enough to be invited to the Great Chefs Tasting Party, a fundraising gala for the United Cerebral Palsy Association of Greater Chicago (UCP). In case you didn't know, cerebral palsy is a "disorder of movement, muscle tone or posture that is caused by injury or abnormal development in the immature brain, most often before birth...People with cerebral palsy often have other conditions related to developmental brain abnormalities, such as intellectual disabilities, vision and hearing problems, or seizures." (Mayo Clinic). UCP has been helping CP individuals and their families since 1951, providing a variety of different services including professional development and educational programs:
"We help a child with cerebral palsy use technology that lets her speak for the first time. We help a man unable to use his hands or arms learn to do his own laundry and prepare his own meals. We help a woman in a wheelchair roll down her new ramp and back into the community." (UCP website)
The organization does amazing things for the CP community, and their food lineup did not disappoint. There were nearly 40 different participants, and while I could go on and on about each, some of my favorite highlights can be found after the jump...
Big Bowl: pork or vegetarian dan dan noodles (in take out boxes!)
Roy's Hawaiian Fusion Restaurant: creamy lobster wontons
The Culinary School of Kendall College: shredded pork on polenta cake with pickled onions and sweet sauce
Maya Del Sol: sweet corn tamales and octopus ceviche (with olives, interestingly enough)
MORE Cupcakes: heavenly mini cupcakes (red velvet, salted caramel, chocolate hazelnut)
ZED451: salmon avocado ceviche, cheese
Firecakes Donuts: honey glazed donuts
Mercadito Chicago: braised pork tacos with spicy cabbage slaw
Lao Beijing Chinese Restaurant: chili chicken
Shula's America's Steak House: chocolate cake, steak (how more Americana can you get?)
RM Champagne Salon: chocolate parfait with hazelnut praline (might have had 10 of these)
South Water Kitchen: pork belly
The Saloon Steakhouse: beef tenderloin slider
Pastoral Artisan Cheese, Bread & Wine: assortment of cheese, french bread, apricots, olives (and really, can you go wrong with Pastoral?)
