Centered in the Regenstein Fruit & Vegetable Garden’s open-air amphitheater, the Great Chef Series features noted chefs preparing recipes with garden-fresh ingredients.
The Regenstein Fruit & Vegetable Garden presents the Great Chef Series May 28 through October 9 every Saturday and Sunday at 1:30 and 2:30 p.m.
Demonstrations are free (normal parking fees apply). Reservations are not needed; seating is on a first come first served basis. (The amphitheater holds approximately 125 people.)
The lineup for 2005 includes John Bubala of Thyme, Jay Lovell of Lovell's of Lake Forest, Ramiro Valasquez of Carlos', and Sarah Stegner of Prairie Grass Café.
Subaru is the presenting sponsor of the Great Chef Series.
International Kitchen Garden Day Is August 28
In addition to the Great Chef Series of cooking demonstrations, Kitchen Gardeners International is sponsoring International Kitchen Garden Day on Sunday, August 28. Enjoy free cooking demonstrations in the open-air amphitheater. Get inspired to grow your own kitchen garden through the array of plantings at the Fruit & Vegetable Garden. Take home a Chinese cabbage transplant to get you started.
Chef Series Kitchen Goes Gourmet
Chicago’s best chefs will be treated to a new kitchen in which to
work this summer, thanks to the collaborative work and vision of a behind-the-scenes crew.
With the help of senior designers Christine Moritz and Trish Hall of SpacesandViews, Highland Park, the Fruit & Vegetable Garden kitchen has undergone a major face-lift. When you come on weekends, you’ll see rich yellow cabinets, red-accented granite, and countertops of renewable wood, highlighted with whimsical hand-painted vegetable tiles.
Built in 1985, the open-air kitchen has hosted many thousands of food lovers during the annual Great Chef Series. Pete Trusiak, corporate chef for the Westye Group, Midwest, L.L.C., distributor of SubZero and Wolf appliances, first proposed the notion of upgrading the kitchen in 2004 after he participated in the Chef Series. Westye Group president John Bergquist generously donated top-of-the-line appliances and rallied industry contacts toward taking the idea to fruition.
The Garden thanks these cooking fans for their
generous contributions to our new kitchen:
SpacesandViews presented by Lee Lumber, kitchen design, Wood Mode cabinets
The Westye Group, Midwest, L.L.C., refrigerated drawer, microwave
Ken Krengel, Krengel & Associates, Wood Mode cabinets
Fred Hass, A.K. Haas Construction & Management, cabinet installation
Lindy Belmont, Tile Werks, Inc., wall tile
Howard Goldstein, Stonecutters, granite countertop
Suzy O’Neal, Craft-Art, island wood countertop
C.J. Schnakenberg, Chicago Brass, sink, faucet, disposal and hardware
Stuart Weitzman, Goodman Electric, track lighting and ceiling fan
Roger Petersen, Super Brush & Supply Corp., paint
Marta Gambaccini, Damar Natural Stone, tile flooring
Want to Volunteer?
If you enjoy swapping gardening tips, talking about plants, or working with chefs you may want to be part of the team of volunteers in the Fruit & Vegetable Garden.
Volunteers attend training in the spring and work half-days May to October. Please call (847) 835-8210 for more information.
