for immediate release

Garden Chef Series Grows Fresh Ideas

Chicago Botanic Garden, May 23 – Oct. 4

Media Only:
Julie McCaffrey
(847) 835-8213, direct
jmccaffrey@chicagobotanic.org

GLENCOE, Ill. (April 28, 2009) — Forty of Chicago’s top chefs share their culinary expertise, preparing a signature dish with garden fresh ingredients during the Chicago Botanic Garden’s Garden Chef Series. More than 10,000 people enjoy watching the chefs work their magic in the Regenstein Fruit & Vegetable Garden Demonstration Kitchen from the open-air amphitheatre each year. The free demonstrations take place at 1:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays from May 23 through Oct. 4.

The Regenstein Fruit & Vegetable Garden is the Midwest’s headquarters for fruit and vegetable gardening information, exhibiting the best edible plants to grow in the Chicago area. This summer, as the Regenstein Fruit & Vegetable Garden continues its transition to growing organically, visitors to the Garden Chef Series will notice interpretive signs explaining the process throughout the garden. They'll also notice a remarkable variety of fruits and vegetables in cultivation.

Summer plant giveaways are an added bonus from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Wednesdays through Fridays and 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. Volunteers share information about the featured plant, which changes monthly, and encourage visitors to plant seeds or seedlings (while supplies last) to take home to their own gardens. A flyer with care information and a recipe is available. In May, the featured plant is Cocozelle zucchini; in June, Brandywine tomato; in July, giant Italian parsley; in August, garden chives and in September, Lacinato Italian kale.

Barilla and local chefs will give demonstrations using fresh Italian ingredients such as those found in the Regenstein Fruit & Vegetable Garden during the Barilla Italian Cooking Weekend on Saturday, July 18 and Sunday, July 19. This event features plant and recipe giveaways, family activities, gourmet olive oil and balsamic vinegar presentations and three daily chef demonstrations with tastings of delicious Barilla pasta recipes, and more. On July 18, the schedule includes Lorenzo Boni of Barilla America in Bannockburn at 10 a.m.; Mark Grimes of Pinstripes in Northbrook and South Barrington at 1 p.m.; and Lorenzo Boni at 4 p.m. On July 19, the schedule includes Jeffrey Muldrow of Va Pensiero in Evanston at 10 a.m.; David DiGregorio of Osteria Via Stato in Chicago at 1 p.m.; and Lorenzo Boni at 4 p.m. Presentations and tastings by Mario Rizzotti, Italian Culinary Specialist with Academia Barilla, will feature balsamic vinegars and olive oils at 11:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. on both days. The Barilla Italian Cooking Weekend is presented by Barilla. Hours are from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Visitors can learn all about growing and using peppers — both hot and sweet — at the All About Peppers Weekend from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on August 22 and 23 in the Regenstein Fruit & Vegetable Garden. Pepper tours, shopping for pepper products from select vendors and special chili pepper décor are all part of the fun. See the many varieties of peppers growing in the garden, learn pepper facts and tips from signs posted throughout the Garden and visit “Pepper Discovery Carts” to explore the history of peppers, how to cook with peppers and the many types that can be grown in a home garden. For more information, visit www.chicagobotanic.org/chef/pepper.

The
Saturday, May 23 Sunday, May 24 Saturday, May 30 Sunday, May 31 Saturday, June 6 Sunday, June 7 Saturday, June 13 Sunday, June 14 Saturday, June 20 Sunday, June 21 Saturday, June 27 Sunday, June 28 Saturday, July 4 Sunday, July 5 Saturday, July 11 Sunday, July 12 Saturday, July 18 Sunday, July 19 Saturday, July 25 Sunday, July 26 Saturday, August 1 Sunday, August 2 Saturday, August 8 Sunday, August 9 Saturday, August 15 Sunday, August 16 Saturday, August 22 Sunday, August 23 Saturday, August 29 Sunday, August 30 Saturday, Sept. 5 Sunday, Sept. 6 Saturday, Sept. 12 Sunday, Sept. 13 Saturday, Sept. 19 Sunday, Sept. 20 Saturday, Sept. 26 Sunday, Sept. 27 Saturday, Oct. Sunday, Oct. 4 2009 Garden Chef Series schedule (subject to change):
Bob Vorachek of Don Roth's Blackhawk in Wheeling
Robert Druschitz, Calihan Catering, Chicago
Susan Maddox of Le Titi De Paris in Arlington Heights
Warren Jones of Bluegrass in Highland Park
Mindy Segal of Hot Chocolate in Chicago
Danny Ovanin of Glen Prairie in Glen Ellyn
Gale Gand of Tru in Chicago
Adam Grandt of Sage Grille in Highwood
Heather Terhune of Atwood Café in Chicago
Michael Lachowicz of Restaurant Michael in Winnetka
Hans Lentz of Zest in Chicago
Augie Arifi of Café Lucci in Glenview
Jonathan Steinberg, Egg Harbor Café, Glenview
Lucia Cavallino of Enzo and Lucia Ristorante in Long Grove
Amalea Tshilds and Jason Hammel of Lula Café in Chicago
Dirk Fucik of Dirk's Fish and Gourmet Shop in Chicago
Barilla Italian Cooking Weekend
Barilla Italian Cooking Weekend
Jeffrey Muldrow of Va Pensiero in Evanston
Mary McMahon of Now We're Cookin'
Charlie Socher of Café Matou
Dave Esau of Dave's Specialty Foods in Mt. Prospect
Ina Pinkney of Ina's in Chicago
Ramiro Velasquez of Carlos' in Highland Park
Robert Packer of Karma in Mundelein
Whole Foods Market in Northbrook
Shelley Young of The Chopping Block in Chicago
Juan Carlos Median Vazquez of Café Central in Highland Park
Victor DeLeon of O'Donovan's in Chicago
Janine MacLachlan of The Rustic Kitchen in Chicago
John Riedle of A Private Affair in Chicago
Vince DiBattista of Union Pizzeria in Evanston
Chris Macchia of Coco Pazzo in Chicago
Christopher Tong of My Private Chef in Chicago
Mary Ellen Diaz of First Slice Pie Café in Chicago
Chris Nugent of Les Nomades in Chicago
John Ayaleanos of Birch River Grill in Arlington Heights
Steve Nakon of Whole Journey/Northwest Yoga in Mt. Prospect
3 George Djurovic of August Grocery Store in Chicago
David DiGregorio of Osteria Via Stato in Chicago

The Garden Chef Series is sponsored by Barilla. Admission to the Chicago Botanic Garden and the Garden Chef Series is free. Parking is $20 per car; free for members. For more information, call (847) 835-5440, or visit www.chicagobotanic.org/chef.

###

Editors, please note: The Chicago Botanic Garden's newsroom is online at www.chicagobotanic.org/pr. For digital images, contact Julie McCaffrey at (847) 835-8213 or at jmccaffrey@chicagobotanic.org.

The Chicago Botanic Garden, one of the green treasures of the Forest Preserve District of Cook County, is a 385-acre living plant museum featuring 23 distinct display gardens surrounded by lakes, as well as a prairie and woodlands. With events, programs and activities for all ages, the Garden is open every day of the year. Admission is free; select event fees apply. Parking is $20 per car; free for Garden members. The Garden is located at 1000 Lake Cook Road in Glencoe, Ill. Visit www.chicagobotanic.org, or call (847) 835-5440 for seasonal hours, images of the Garden and commuter transportation information.

The Chicago Botanic Garden is managed by the Chicago Horticultural Society. It opened to the public in 1972 and is home to the Joseph Regenstein, Jr. School of the Chicago Botanic Garden, offering a broad array of adult classes in plant science, landscape design and gardening arts. Through the Division of Plant Science and Conservation, Garden scientists work on plant conservation, research and environmental initiatives that have global impact. The Center for Teaching and Learning brings the wonder of nature and plants to children, teens and teachers. The Garden's Horticultural Therapy and Community Gardening programs provide nationally recognized community outreach and service programs. A program of the Chicago Botanic Garden, Windy City Harvest is an organic vegetable and plant production enterprise that provides instruction in sustainable horticulture and urban agriculture to residents of Chicago’s North Lawndale and West Side neighborhoods.

The Chicago Botanic Garden is accredited by the American Association of Museums and is a member of the American Public Gardens Association (APGA). The Chicago Botanic Garden is also host to Botanic Gardens Conservation International-U.S., and a member of the Center for Plant Conservation. In 2006, the Chicago Botanic Garden received the Award for Garden Excellence, given yearly by the APGA and Horticulture magazine to a public garden that exemplifies the highest standards of horticultural practices and has shown a commitment to supporting and demonstrating best gardening practices.