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Hi Chicago! Allow me to introduce myself, my name is Jessica Ortiz and I’d like to thank Billy for his support throughout the years. Billy has been a close family friend for some time now after being a student of my dad’s at Chicago- Kent Law School. One thing I admire most about him is how much he gives back to Chicago, especially to the children. I  found my place at the Chicago-based nonprofit Common Threads in 2012 and knew exactly who to contact as I quickly became a Chicago foodie. Who else puts more photos of food on social media than Mr.Dec?

Common Threads is holding the 7th Annual World Festival at Soldier Field on Monday, March 4th from 6- 9 PM to celebrate the organization’s 10th anniversary!

Based in Chicago and founded in 2003 by Chef Art Smith and his partner, artist Jesus Salgueiro, with founding CEO Linda Novick O’Keefe, Common Threads has been teaching school-based nutrition education programs to underserved communities in Chicago, Los Angeles, Miami, Palo Alto and Washington D.C. for ten years.

Bravo’s “Top Chef” judge Gail Simmons, ChicagoNow’s Candace Jordan, and Rockit Ranch Productions’ Billy Dec are among attendees joining the Chicago-themed celebration.

The World Festival will feature dishes specially prepared by top chefs including: Girl & The Goat’s Stephanie Izard, Sunda’s Jess De Guzman,  Slurping Turtle’s Takashi Yagihashi, Mercadito’s Patricio Sandoval, Boka’s Carl Shelton, Socca’s Roger Herring, Belly Q’s Bill Kim, Table Fifty-Two’s Rey Villalobos, among many more.

“This is an example of the power of the chef community,” said O’Keefe. “These chefs have rallied from around the world in support of Common Threads and our greater mission – to educate families about the importance of nutrition and physical wellbeing.”

The event  kicks off with an exclusive $1,000 VIP Chef Experience, where generous epicurean guests will board a trolley with Gail Simmons and Telepan Restaurant’s Bill Telepan for Kendall College, where students from Small Threads classes will prepare a meal before heading to Soldier Field for the main event.

General admission tickets: $250 (Provides chef hats and aprons for 15 students)

World Festival Sneak-Peak VIP tickets: $500 (Provides one 2-hour cooking class for 16 students)

The James Hotel After-Party tickets: $150

Click here to purchase tickets.

The evening will feature a live fund-to-need auction, with all proceeds going directly to Common Threads programs. Common Threads is also conducting a silent online auction, February 19 – March 12!

Bon Appetit!

–Jessica Ortiz 

 

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