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Three smiling women at a registration table that reads, "After School Matters"

Giving Back at After School Matters Summer Teen Cuisine Event

Culinary Culture

Being part of the Chicago community means investing and giving back. When we’re not creating memorable culinary experiences for our clients, we dedicate time and resources to organizations that align with our company mission and values, as part of our corporate social responsibility program.

This year, our focus is on education and continuing to support After School Matters, a non-profit organization that provides life-changing, after-school and summer program opportunities to nearly 16,000 Chicago high school teens each year. One such program is their Advanced Culinary Program, which pairs budding tastemakers and chefs-to- be with local chefs for a series of lunches during the summer, served on the third-floor terrace of Gallery 37 Center for the Arts.

Last year, Chef Randal Jacobs lead students through the culinary steps of menu design, recipe execution and service for a Blue-Plate- inspired lunch. This year, students have been introduced to a variety of cuisines from the menus of favorite local restaurants including Black Bull, El Che and Allium at Four Seasons Hotel Chicago.

We’re partnering with After School Matters outside of the kitchen, too. Three of our employees served as mentors to students in the spring 2017 Corporate Mentorship Program. We’re also looking into partnering with teens in the future on a community service project.

It was a pleasure get to try last week’s American BBQ menu provided by Pork Shoppe BBQ for the kick-off luncheon. Check out pictures from the day and if you are as inspired by this program as we are, we highly recommend you attend one of the upcoming Teen Cuisine lunches taking place every Friday through August 4th and the final lunch taking place on Thursday, April 10th. Purchase individual tickets or get a group together and purchase a table to help support these amazing teenagers.

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