I'm happy to announce the birth of a new charity here in Chicago, In Chef's Hands. The organization aims to TO PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL CULINARY EXPERIENCES TO INDIVIDUALS WITH SPECIAL NEEDS through food therapy. Award-winning chefs, Rodelio Aglibot (Sunda, Koi, Yi Cuisine, BLT Restaurant Group), Todd Stein (The Florentine, Cibo Matto, David Burke) and charity co-founders Jeremy Dubin and Scott Crane have assembled a stellar collection of Chicago’s foremost chefs for involvement in a new foodie-driven non-profit organization, In Chef’s Hands, Food Therapy for the Soul. Award winning chefs are giving back to truly deserving food connoisseurs with unique culinary experiences that are both personal and educational. 

The recipients of these unforgettable epicurean adventures aren't just your average aficionados—they are those with special needs who literally “live” for the art of cooking. Whether a physical disability, cancer or a debilitating illness, the truly inspiring goal of this organization is to provide these individuals with a welcomed respite from the distress that often accompanies their condition, hence—using food as therapy for the soul.

In Chef’s Hands is designed to identify the personal interests and special needs of each individual to create a stimulating culinary session with a chef who shares that same passion. Whether it’s preparing a dish behind the scenes in a restaurant kitchen, selecting locally sourced produce at a favorite market, or simply swapping recipes and cooking stories over a meal, each encounter is meant to be as rich in experience as it is in flavor.

To spread the word, they have planned a kick-off event at Old Town Social on Tuesday, June 14th from 6 - 8 PM. Enjoy drinks, passed appetizers and a charcuterie station. Tickets are $25 in advance and $30 at the door. Below is a video featuring Chef Todd Stein inviting YOU to help make a difference. For more information visit www.inchefschands.org 

Old Town Social is located at 455 W. North Avenue