Chicago Style Events: 10th Anniversary Chicago World Festival

This must be the biggest gathering of top chefs in Chicago in one place, and you get to taste their cuisines. How cool is that !!!

The 10th Anniversary Chicago World Festival at Soldier Field featured more than 60 top chefs including Stephanie Izard, Girl & The Goat and Little Goat, Ming Tsai, Blue Ginger, Jess De Guzman, Sunda, Takashi Yagihashi, Slurping Turtle, Patricio Sandoval, Mercadito, Carl Shelton, BOKA, Roger Herring, Socca, Bill Kim, Belly Q, Rey Villalobos and Table Fifty-Two.

CHICAGO--March 4, 2013--Chicago-based nonprofit Common Threads came together Monday evening with more than 60 celebrity chefs, local celebrities and a family of supporters to celebrate its 10-year anniversary of providing nutrition and well-being classes for underserved children and families in Chicago and to announce its most ambitious goal yet -- to get one million American kids moving away from frequent fast food and toward cooking healthy meals with their families by 2017.

Chef Art Smith, celebrity chef, restaurateur and co-founder of Common Threads and Jesus Salgueiro, artist and co-founder of Common Threads

Hosted by Bravo's Gail Simmons, Hillshire Brands' Jon Harris, journalist Candace Jordan and Beam's Mindy Mackenzie, the 7th Annual World Festival is a Chicago-themed evening of celebration featuring specially prepared international cuisines by more than 60 celebrity chefs, participation by Common Threads students and a full evening of local entertainment.

WHO:

Common Threads Chicago students ages 8-12

Chef Art Smith, celebrity chef, restaurateur and co-founder of Common Threads

Jesus Salgueiro, artist and co-founder of Common Threads

Linda Novick O'Keefe, founding CEO of Common Threads

Gail Simmons, editor of Food & Wine Magazine and host of Bravo's "Top Chef"

Jon Harris, chief communications officer at The Hillshire Brands and national board member of Common Threads

Candace Jordan, acclaimed journalist and board member of Common Threads

Mindy Mackenzie, SVP and chief human resources officer for Beam

More than 60 top chefs including Stephanie Izard, Girl & The Goat and Little Goat, Ming Tsai, Blue Ginger, Jess De Guzman, Sunda, Takashi Yagihashi, Slurping Turtle, Patricio Sandoval, Mercadito, Carl Shelton, BOKA, Roger Herring, Socca, Bill Kim, Belly Q, Rey Villalobos, Table Fifty-Two

Among many more. For the latest list of chefs participating in World Festival Chicago, visit
www.facebook.com/CThreads

I had a pleasure to meet 2 celebrities at the event. On left, Chef Art Smith, celebrity chef, restaurateur and co-founder of Common Threads. On right, George Burns, personal photographer for Oprah.

About Common Threads:

Founded in 2003 by Chef Art Smith and artist Jesus Salgueiro, Common Threads is a Chicago-based nonprofit organization that has been teaching children living in underserved communities across the nation how to cook wholesome, healthy meals in professionally led, curriculum-based after-school programs for 10 years. Students learn about grains, protein, fruits and vegetables as they chop, slice, and bake their way to a healthy affordable meal. Students gain serious culinary skills, a taste for healthy food from different countries and the confidence to make healthy choices about what they eat.

In 2013, Common Threads is taking bold steps to use the kitchen as a catalyst for change by launching a nationwide effort to get one million kids cooking by 2017. Through collaboration with other childhood health organizations, food industry experts, policy makers and influencers, Common Threads will create substantive, far-reaching programs that will address the national issues of childhood wellness and obesity. For more information about Common Threads and how to get involved, please visit CommonThreads.org.

Chef Art Smith and Amie Hana

Interviewed by 24/7

World Festival VIP ticket holders and media provided access to a special VIP room sponsored by BMO Harris Bank where guests will have an unusual sneak peak at a number of new and up-and-coming restaurants set to open in Chicago in 2013.

Siena Tavern Restaurant

Chef David Blonsky

Chef Beverly Kim

Szechuan Beef Cheeks with "Pickles N Chips"

Matty Colsston, VIP Mixologist

Untitled

Chef Joseph Heppe

Rabbit and Foie Gras Terrine Smoked Black Trumpet Puree, White Asparagus, Warm Bacon & Black Lentil Salad

"World Festival is an example of the power of the chef community," said Linda Novick O'Keefe, founding CEO of Common Threads. "It shows that our potential is limitless when we work together for a greater cause. These chefs have rallied from around the world in support of Common Threads and our greater mission -- to educate children on the importance of nutrition and physical well-being, the power of a well-cooked meal, and the significance of sharing it with their family."