Latest news with #Mahari
Chicago Tribune
14-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Chicago Tribune
Restaurant review: Mahari, a neighborhood home with the cuisine of the African diaspora in Hyde Park
Mahari brings not just the vibrant cuisines of the African diaspora to Chicago, but chefs tracing their cultures and blazing their own paths. Executive chef Rahim Muhammad owns the restaurant in Hyde Park, the neighborhood where he was born, with his mother, Shawn Muhammad. Mama Shawn, as everyone calls her, is a chef as well who does all their desserts, he said. The restaurant's name held meaning in their family long before they opened in January. It can be translated as 'gift' in the Swahili language, Rahim Muhammad said, and it's also his oldest daughter's middle name. 'We wanted to find one word that encompasses the beauty behind it,' he said. 'And it was Mahari.' The restaurant has become an escape from the everyday, where 'people feel like they're on a retreat somewhere,' Muhammad said. A woven grass ceiling over the main dining room with warm-hued tiled tables enhances that feeling. 'It's a very homey place,' said the chef, who was raised in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. 'Because a lot of us have a strong representation in Southern hospitality.' It feels very exotic, he added, and communal too. I felt the power of community during my two visits. I can't tell you how many times I witnessed friends surprised to find one another, from younger groups standing at the back bar at brunch to older diners seated for dinner. A beautiful Caribbean lamb burger, available for brunch and dinner, has earned a reputation even among those who yearn to visit the restaurant. 'In the Caribbean, lamb and goat are more prevalent than beef,' said Muhammad. 'We use lamb, but there's layers to it.' They start with a toasted brioche bun baked at La Boulangerie across the courtyard, he said, spread with a hidden layer of mango chutney. A spiced lamb patty, cooked to your preferred doneness, is then topped with smoked Gouda cheese, grilled pineapple and spicy pikliz, the pickled and peppered Haitian condiment. 'One of our chefs, she's from Haiti,' he said. 'So she makes a Haitian pikliz that has lots of complex flavors, sweet and sour and spicy.' That pikliz may be my favorite component, adding a distinctive kick and crunch. But it's not just one chef dedicated to making it. 'Everyone can make it in the kitchen,' said Muhammad. A side of golden yuca fries is done perfectly in the style of pommes Pont Neuf, the thick-cut frites arranged in a crosshatch stack. I haven't seen the old-school French fries since culinary school in Paris, which makes sense since Muhammad graduated from Le Cordon Bleu in Chicago, before beginning his career under chef Art Smith at Table Fifty-Two. A spectacular prawn and polenta, offered at dinner only, is his interpretation of shrimp and grits. Giant river prawns come piled high on an exquisite pan-seared crisp yet creamy polenta cake, set against a canvas of aromatic Jamaican yellow curry, garnished with caramelized cipollini onion petals. 'The polenta cake, I learned that in Louisiana,' said Muhammad. 'It's just a way that my aunt made it.' That was his mother's sister who taught him how to make those glorious fried grits, the ingenious American Southern cousin to fried rice. Pineapple wings rival the lamb burger as their bestseller, said the chef, and both dishes are halal. Crackly charred chicken skin gives way to flesh that's tender and deeply seasoned to the bone. 'You can get wings everywhere in Chicago,' said the chef. 'But I wanted these to stand out, so we have a four-step process.' They start with a pineapple brine marination, a Creole Cajun seasoning, then roast and finally grill. And it's the final grilling, and a pan sauce made by deglazing with pineapple juice, that makes all the difference. Stunning salmon calas, batter-dipped and deep-fried fritters, are formed with coveted heirloom Carolina Gold rice. 'Those were inspired by New Orleans,' said Muhammad. 'And that's true to my roots.' But the chef reimagined historic calas, created in this country by enslaved people. 'In the 1800s, women were making a living by selling calas, sweet rice fritters served with a café au lait,' he said. 'But we turned it into something savory, because people love a good salmon croquette.' His batter dip and deep fry create something more substantial, with a final flourish of roasted salmon skin and a lovely green salad dressed in mandarin segments and vinaigrette. A French toast flambé transforms pillowy slices of brioche bread into nearly a custard, while maintaining its character through a tableside rum-fueled flame, with caramelized plantains and hot honey too. 'We have something we call Habesha honey that's made with berbere spice, which we get from Demera Ethiopian restaurant, one of our friends,' said Muhammad. 'It's straight from their homeland. Their farmland.' An intoxicating ruby red nonalcoholic sobolo drink also infuses spice with intention. Beverage director Lisa Brown was previously at The Promontory. She steeps floral red sorrel leaves with pungent Grains of Paradise, star anise, whole cloves, cinnamon, ginger, orange and clover honey. The resulting delicious cold drink is available with and without alcohol. Her Afrodisiac Island cocktail sips smooth yet strong with Ten To One rum, the Black-owned brand co-owned by Grammy Award-winning R&B star Ciara. Brown mixes the rum with pomegranate, lime and smoked pineapple juices plus fig honey, finishing with Cavi-art vegan caviar for delightful tiny boba-like pops. A cazuela de mariscos, however, while abundant with sea scallops and PEI mussels, seemed to substitute prawns for crawfish, which were once served in the shell when the restaurant opened. The chef said they were in the delicate pineapple coconut broth, but I sadly couldn't detect the crustaceans. The okra étouffée, a wonderful substitution of traditional crawfish with the polarizing pods, had nice flavors, but the basmati rice in the smothered dish was overcooked and broken. The desserts, including a plantain bread pudding and watermelon cheesecake, were so endearingly homestyle and as soft as an embrace, but not as refined as the rest of the bold menu. If I might say something as a critic that a son might find hard to say to his mother, those desserts can be taken to the next level, as were the fried grits. The sambusas are an uplifting example. Colorful, hot and crispy, the savory triangular pastries are filled with spicy beef, pulled chicken or fine lentils. As someone who grew up making egg rolls my whole life, I appreciated the many careful folds. 'Those are special,' Muhammad said. 'They're handmade by a good friend of mine.' Dalya Aderob's family is from Eritrea and Ethiopia, added Muhammad, and they wanted to highlight her family recipe. A brilliant Haitian epis dipping sauce made with tons of peppers, onions, scallions, a lot of spices and herbs, is a heck of a process to create, said the chef, but the flavor stands out. What also stands out are the many women leading the restaurant. Nia Nunn, the sous chef, and Christina Mighty, the general manager, keep everything in alignment, said Muhammad. Mahari has chefs from West Africa, including a line cook from Mauritania, from across the Caribbean and from the American South. But now, they're all from the neighborhood. 'This is our town,' said Muhammad. 'We just love being here.' And they love celebrating, evident with birthday drums and a communal toast by the excellent staff and diners alike. Their drummer, Kavonn Smith, who's from the Bahamas, plays a Bahamian carnival-style drum called a tum tum, said Muhammad. 'We have a community engagement director,' said Muhammad. 'His name is actually Magic Johnson, and he typically heralds every time we have a special occasion.' When you go, the collective energy of those celebrations will linger like vibrations of fiery spice and resilient joy. Mahari 1504 E. 55th St. (located in the Hyde Park Shopping Center Courtyard) 312-907-5274 Open: Dinner from 5 p.m.; Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Thursday until 9 p.m.; Friday and Saturday until 10 p.m.; brunch weekends from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m; closed Tuesday Prices: $24 (Caribbean lamb burger), $18 (salmon calas), $17 (Kutkoota sambusa trio), $44 (prawn and polenta), $13 (sobolo nonalcoholic drink) Sound: OK (75 to 79 dB) to loud (95 to 97 dB) during birthday drum procession Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible with restrooms on same level Tribune rating: Excellent, 3 of 4 stars Ratings key: Four stars, outstanding; three stars, excellent; two stars, very good; one star, good; no stars, unsatisfactory. Meals are paid for by the Tribune.
Qatar Tribune
20-05-2025
- Sport
- Qatar Tribune
Arab Camel Racing Federation showcases international handball event experience at AIPS meet in Rabat
Tribune News Network Rabat (Morocco) The Arab Camel Racing Federation (Mahari) showcased its experience in developing Camel Handball during the International Sports Press Association (AIPS) conference, held in the Moroccan capital, Rabat, with the participation of heads of international sports federations and media representatives from around the world. Dr. Hazam Nasser Al Maqarih, Secretary-General of the Arab Camel Racing Federation, in his speech explained that camel handball represents an extension of the federation's approach to introducing new sports rooted in Arab culture and capable of attracting new global audiences and athletes. Dr. Al Maqarih said, 'What we offer is not just a sport, but rather a comprehensive experience that reflects the history of Arab camels with a contemporary spirit, and this is what we have succeeded in conveying to the world through this game.' The conference concluded with an open discussion session, during which the heads of the attending federations interacted and posed questions about the prospects for developing the game and its inclusion in the regional and international competition agenda. This event is part of a series of efforts led by the Arab Camel Racing Federation to enhance the international presence of camel sports and provide innovative sports and heritage content that reflects an authentic Arab character. MoU signed As part of its efforts to enhance the media presence of camel racing at the international level, the Arab Federation for Camel Racing (Mahari) signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the International Sports Press Association (AIPS), one of the world's oldest media associations. Founded in 1924, the Association of Sports Press (AIPS) celebrates its centenary in 2024. This collaboration follows a series of successful partnerships signed by the Arab Federation with both the Asian and African Sports Press Associations, as part of a comprehensive vision aimed at expanding international partnerships and enhancing media coverage of camel racing in a manner befitting its cultural and heritage status. Through this memorandum, the Arab Federation benefits from AIPS's global network of more than 9,500 sports journalists representing 161 countries. Dr. Hazam Nasser Al Maqarih, Secretary-General of the Arab Camel Racing Federation (Mahari), said: 'This partnership represents an important milestone in our journey towards globalization. We believe that media is the true bridge that connects heritage to the masses, and our collaboration with AIPS opens new windows for us to tell the story of camel racing as we live it and cherish it.' He added: 'We are working within a strategic plan approved by the Federation's General Assembly, which focuses on enabling sports media to play its pivotal role in conveying the values and history of this sport, whether through news, programs, or international coverage.' This memorandum is expected to contribute to organizing specialized training programs and workshops in sports media, in addition to joint international events and conferences, enhancing the competence of those working in the field and contributing to the development of quality content related to camel racing.
Yahoo
27-01-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Restaurant news: Mahari in Hyde Park explores the cuisine of the African diaspora, plus more openings and closings
A new restaurant on the South Side of Chicago explores the cuisine of the African diaspora. Mahari held its grand opening in Hyde Park on Jan. 17. Executive chef and owner Rahim Muhammad describes his menu as a 'Creole take on African Caribbean and Latin food.' It's global and personal for both Muhammad (who previously consulted at Stussy's Diner and Chemistry steakhouse) and beverage director Lisa Brown (The Promontory). Their families are both 'Creole out of Louisiana,' Muhammad said. 'So we just took our roots and traveled back and saw how we were connected.' At Mahari, he said, they celebrate their roots through the different routes of the African diaspora. That starts with small bites, including his calas, also known as Creole rice fritters, traditionally a sweet breakfast dish served with cafe au lait. But chef Rah, as he's known, makes savory deep-fried salmon cala, served with mango chutney and a clementine salad. 'It's pretty different, but recognizable,' the chef said. 'This is a spin on salmon croquettes and rice fritters.' The prawn and polenta, another small bite dish, also differs from its cousin shrimp and grits. 'We do ours as a polenta cake,' Muhammad said. A grilled giant river prawn comes with a pan-seared polenta cake that's crispy yet soft. The red curry sauce comes from sous chef Christina Mighty, who's Jamaican, Muhammad said. Large bite dishes include their Caribbean lamb burger. 'It's a spiced lamb burger with grilled pineapple, some Haitian pikliz on top and smoked gouda,' Muhammad said. The pikliz is a spicy slaw, and the dish includes a side of yuca frita, or yuca fries. 'And we also get a freshly baked brioche bun from our neighbors across the street, La Boulangerie,' he added. The bakery celebrated the grand opening of its newest location in Hyde Park last fall. At Mahari, which they translate as 'gift' in Swahili, Muhammad also notes his cazuela de mariscos. 'It's a beautiful seafood stew,' he said, from the Caribbean region of Colombia. His dish has a pineapple coconut stock holding scallops, mussels, prawns and crawfish, with basmati rice and an avocado créme. The Afrodisiac Island cocktail by Brown also draws from the Caribbean with Ten to One rum. The Black-owned brand, founded in 2019, is co-owned by American singer Ciara. The drink mixes rum, pomegranate, smoked pineapple juice and fig honey. The Café con Plátano, though, may be the chef's favorite, he said, made with a Ten to One dark rum and coffee liqueur. 'It's our version of an espresso martini,' he added, with plantain demerara sugar and coconut cream. For dessert, the puff-puffs have become an early favorite, said Muhammad, who graduated from Le Cordon Bleu Chicago in baking and pastry. They remind him of beignets, he added, but they're an African snack, similar to doughnut holes. 'But I also like our sandía cheesecake,' Muhammad said. The watermelon cheesecake, seasoned with the complex chile-peppered berbere spice, is served with lemon coulis. Mahari seats 70 inside its colorful dining room, with African rubber trees and snake plants, and standing space for 15 or so in the bar lounge area. Afrobeat and salsa music will be punctuated by a bongo drum for birthdays, Muhammad said. A seasonal outdoor patio will seat 50 more in the courtyard when the weather warms. The restaurant hits close to home. The chef was born at Chicago Lying-in Hospital in Hyde Park, he said, but every summer, his family traveled 'to a little town outside of Baton Rouge called Hillaryville, where we had sugarcane fields and watermelons growing.' 'All of my aunts cooked Creole food,' he added. 'So I picked up on a lot of that growing up.' 1504 E. 55th St., Fondita Miguel Chefs Miguel Escobar, Michael Lachowicz and Sérgio Angel of the French brasserie Aboyer have added a Mexican neighborhood taquería to the North Shore. Fondita Miguel opened in Winnetka on Dec. 13, 2024. Neighbors will find tacos, tortas and burritos filled with beef birria, chicken tinga and more, plus the tacos are available American style (lettuce and tomato) and Mexican style (onion and cilantro). 544 Lincoln Ave., Winnetka; 224-472-5048; Gus' Sip and Dip Lettuce Entertain You restaurant group has created a new cocktail concept named for the historic Gus' Good Food restaurant that once stood on the same ground from 1906 to 1966. Gus' Sip and Dip began pouring in the River North neighborhood on Dec. 31, 2024. Beverage director and partner Kevin Beary (Three Dots and a Dash) has created a menu with 30 classic cocktail-inspired drinks, intentionally lower priced for the neighborhood at $12 each, including a Breakfast Martini garnished with a honey-buttered, gluten-free toast point. Dipped sandwiches feature a wagyu beef dip with whipped horseradish and au jus, a French dip-inspired cousin from Los Angeles. 51 W. Hubbard St., 312-736-0163, Taquizas Valdéz Chef and laboratory engineer Ivan Valdéz has written a love letter to his late mother, Rosa Valdéz, celebrating the taquizas, or Mexican taco buffets, they catered in backyards together. Taquizas Valdéz opened in the Old Irving Park neighborhood on Dec. 14, 2024. The chef (West Town Bakery, Homestead on the Roof, Quiote) serves composed tacos including his signature pollo al limón and tortas on house-baked bread. On weekends the restaurant transforms into a panadería, or Mexican bakery, with pastries, café de olla (a spiced coffee drink) and more. 3038 W. Irving Park Road, 773-681-0227, Hard Rock Cafe Chicago, open in River North since 1986, its giant neon guitar sign once a beacon to teens and tourists, will rock off on March 29. (Axios Chicago first reported the news.) 63 W. Ontario St., 312-943-2252, Jaleo by José Andrés and Pigtail, the Spanish restaurant and downstairs cocktail bar opened in River North in 2021 by the chef, restaurateur and humanitarian, closed permanently on Jan. 25. (Eater Chicago first reported the news.) 500 N. Clark St., Charlie Trotter's, the legendary fine dining restaurant, which closed in Lincoln Park in 2012, a year before the namesake chef died at 54 in 2013, may reopen this year according to his son Dylan Trotter. Meanwhile, Next at Charlie Trotter's Original Location, a pop-up experience, has been extended to Feb. 9. (Block Club Chicago first reported news of the possible reopening.) 816 W. Armitage Ave., Cindy's Rooftop, the restaurant overlooking Millennium Park from the 13th floor of the Chicago Athletic Association in the Loop since the historic hotel's restoration in 2015, will have management taken over by the Boka Restaurant Group. (Crain's Chicago Business first reported the news.) 12 S. Michigan Ave. (Chicago Athletic Association hotel), 312-792-3502, Lettuce Entertain You, the biggest restaurant group in the city, which began with the opening of R.J. Grunts in the Lincoln Park neighborhood in 1971, co-founded by Richard Melman, announced that his son and company president, R.J. Melman, will also take on the role of CEO, from Kevin Brown who remains as executive chairman of Lettuce. Chicago Chefs Cook, the humanitarian organization of Chicago-area chefs, and Lifeway Foods have launched Plates with a Purpose with a percentage of proceeds donated to Chicago Chefs Cook for LA to support restaurants in the Los Angeles area affected by the wildfires. The initiative includes an ever-growing list of dozens of participating restaurants in the city and suburbs, from A Taste of the Philippines in the Jefferson Park neighborhood offering lumpia to Windy City Burger Social Club in Palos Park offering burgers, and runs in January and February. James Beard Awards 2025: 22 Chicago chefs, restaurants and bars make semifinalist list Do you have notable restaurant news in the Chicago area? Email food critic Louisa Kung Liu Chu at lchu@ Big screen or home stream, takeout or dine-in, Tribune writers are here to steer you toward your next great experience. Sign up for your free weekly Eat. Watch. Do. newsletter .
Chicago Tribune
27-01-2025
- Business
- Chicago Tribune
Restaurant news: Mahari in Hyde Park explores the cuisine of the African diaspora, plus more openings and closings
A new restaurant on the South Side of Chicago explores the cuisine of the African diaspora. Mahari held its grand opening in Hyde Park on Jan. 17. Executive chef and owner Rahim Muhammad describes his menu as a 'Creole take on African Caribbean and Latin food.' It's global and personal for both Muhammad (who previously consulted at Stussy's Diner and Chemistry steakhouse) and beverage director Lisa Brown (The Promontory). Their families are both 'Creole out of Louisiana,' Muhammad said. 'So we just took our roots and traveled back and saw how we were connected.' At Mahari, he said, they celebrate their roots through the different routes of the African diaspora. That starts with small bites, including his calas, also known as Creole rice fritters, traditionally a sweet breakfast dish served with cafe au lait. But chef Rah, as he's known, makes savory deep-fried salmon cala, served with mango chutney and a clementine salad. 'It's pretty different, but recognizable,' the chef said. 'This is a spin on salmon croquettes and rice fritters.' The prawn and polenta, another small bite dish, also differs from its cousin shrimp and grits. 'We do ours as a polenta cake,' Muhammad said. A grilled giant river prawn comes with a pan-seared polenta cake that's crispy yet soft. The red curry sauce comes from sous chef Christina Mighty, who's Jamaican, Muhammad said. Large bite dishes include their Caribbean lamb burger. 'It's a spiced lamb burger with grilled pineapple, some Haitian pikliz on top and smoked gouda,' Muhammad said. The pikliz is a spicy slaw, and the dish includes a side of yuca frita, or yuca fries. 'And we also get a freshly baked brioche bun from our neighbors across the street, La Boulangerie,' he added. The bakery celebrated the grand opening of its newest location in Hyde Park last fall. At Mahari, which they translate as 'gift' in Swahili, Muhammad also notes his cazuela de mariscos. 'It's a beautiful seafood stew,' he said, from the Caribbean region of Colombia. His dish has a pineapple coconut stock holding scallops, mussels, prawns and crawfish, with basmati rice and an avocado créme. The Afrodisiac Island cocktail by Brown also draws from the Caribbean with Ten to One rum. The Black-owned brand, founded in 2019, is co-owned by American singer Ciara. The drink mixes rum, pomegranate, smoked pineapple juice and fig honey. The Café con Plátano, though, may be the chef's favorite, he said, made with a Ten to One dark rum and coffee liqueur. 'It's our version of an espresso martini,' he added, with plantain demerara sugar and coconut cream. For dessert, the puff-puffs have become an early favorite, said Muhammad, who graduated from Le Cordon Bleu Chicago in baking and pastry. They remind him of beignets, he added, but they're an African snack, similar to doughnut holes. 'But I also like our sandía cheesecake,' Muhammad said. The watermelon cheesecake, seasoned with the complex chile-peppered berbere spice, is served with lemon coulis. Mahari seats 70 inside its colorful dining room, with African rubber trees and snake plants, and standing space for 15 or so in the bar lounge area. Afrobeat and salsa music will be punctuated by a bongo drum for birthdays, Muhammad said. A seasonal outdoor patio will seat 50 more in the courtyard when the weather warms. The restaurant hits close to home. The chef was born at Chicago Lying-in Hospital in Hyde Park, he said, but every summer, his family traveled 'to a little town outside of Baton Rouge called Hillaryville, where we had sugarcane fields and watermelons growing.' 'All of my aunts cooked Creole food,' he added. 'So I picked up on a lot of that growing up.' 1504 E. 55th St., More openings, in alphabetical order: Fondita Miguel Chefs Miguel Escobar, Michael Lachowicz and Sérgio Angel of the French brasserie Aboyer have added a Mexican neighborhood taquería to the North Shore. Fondita Miguel opened in Winnetka on Dec. 13, 2024. Neighbors will find tacos, tortas and burritos filled with beef birria, chicken tinga and more, plus the tacos are available American style (lettuce and tomato) and Mexican style (onion and cilantro). 544 Lincoln Ave., Winnetka; 224-472-5048; Gus' Sip and Dip Lettuce Entertain You restaurant group has created a new cocktail concept named for the historic Gus' Good Food restaurant that once stood on the same ground from 1906 to 1966. Gus' Sip and Dip began pouring in the River North neighborhood on Dec. 31, 2024. Beverage director and partner Kevin Beary (Three Dots and a Dash) has created a menu with 30 classic cocktail-inspired drinks, intentionally lower priced for the neighborhood at $12 each, including a Breakfast Martini garnished with a honey-buttered, gluten-free toast point. Dipped sandwiches feature a wagyu beef dip with whipped horseradish and au jus, a French dip-inspired cousin from Los Angeles. 51 W. Hubbard St., 312-736-0163, Taquizas Valdéz Chef and laboratory engineer Ivan Valdéz has written a love letter to his late mother, Rosa Valdéz, celebrating the taquizas, or Mexican taco buffets, they catered in backyards together. Taquizas Valdéz opened in the Old Irving Park neighborhood on Dec. 14, 2024. The chef (West Town Bakery, Homestead on the Roof, Quiote) serves composed tacos including his signature pollo al limón and tortas on house-baked bread. On weekends the restaurant transforms into a panadería, or Mexican bakery, with pastries, café de olla (a spiced coffee drink) and more. 3038 W. Irving Park Road, 773-681-0227, In restaurant closing news: Hard Rock Cafe Chicago, open in River North since 1986, its giant neon guitar sign once a beacon to teens and tourists, will rock off on March 29. (Axios Chicago first reported the news.) 63 W. Ontario St., 312-943-2252, Jaleo by José Andrés and Pigtail, the Spanish restaurant and downstairs cocktail bar opened in River North in 2021 by the chef, restaurateur and humanitarian, closed permanently on Jan. 25. (Eater Chicago first reported the news.) 500 N. Clark St., In other restaurant news: Charlie Trotter's, the legendary fine dining restaurant, which closed in Lincoln Park in 2012, a year before the namesake chef died at 54 in 2013, may reopen this year according to his son Dylan Trotter. Meanwhile, Next at Charlie Trotter's Original Location, a pop-up experience, has been extended to Feb. 9. (Block Club Chicago first reported news of the possible reopening.) 816 W. Armitage Ave., Cindy's Rooftop, the restaurant overlooking Millennium Park from the 13th floor of the Chicago Athletic Association in the Loop since the historic hotel's restoration in 2015, will have management taken over by the Boka Restaurant Group. (Crain's Chicago Business first reported the news.) 12 S. Michigan Ave. (Chicago Athletic Association hotel), 312-792-3502, Lettuce Entertain You, the biggest restaurant group in the city, which began with the opening of R.J. Grunts in the Lincoln Park neighborhood in 1971, co-founded by Richard Melman, announced that his son and company president, R.J. Melman, will also take on the role of CEO, from Kevin Brown who remains as executive chairman of Lettuce. In restaurant fundraising news: Chicago Chefs Cook, the humanitarian organization of Chicago-area chefs, and Lifeway Foods have launched Plates with a Purpose with a percentage of proceeds donated to Chicago Chefs Cook for LA to support restaurants in the Los Angeles area affected by the wildfires. The initiative includes an ever-growing list of dozens of participating restaurants in the city and suburbs, from A Taste of the Philippines in the Jefferson Park neighborhood offering lumpia to Windy City Burger Social Club in Palos Park offering burgers, and runs in January and February.
