“Top Chef” contestant Valerie Bolon and Elysian Hotel’s Jason McLeod will join other area chefs in creating favorite specialty childhood treats for “A Taste of Fooditude” party Oct. 21.
Producer Elise Jaffe is hosting the party to raise funds for her reality-based multi-media TV and web show that helps eight-to-12 year old “tweens” not just learn about cooking, but “learn about life through food,” Jaffe says.
Attracting “foodies, parents, teachers and administrators, and kids,” Jaffe hopes to sell 250 tickets minimally, raising nearly $10,000 to propel the show forward.
One evening highlight will be the premiere of the final “Pizza Party Challenge” webisode, announcing the most interesting pizza design winner for the reality series finale.
Seven of the 11 attending chefs will unveil their cooking mystique in 90-second videos on YouTube prior to Thursday’s event. They represent Jewell Events and Catering, Apart Pizza, Paddy Pan Catering, Sweet Galit, Brown Eyed Suzan’s Cookies, Yum Universe, Bleeding Heart Bakery, and more.
“Fooditude’s “tween chefs” will serve the treats. Honest Tea and Arcadia Ales will provide beverages.
Dream Big (a performing arts workshop) and Urban Worm Girl will provide a kid friendly play area and an opportunity for all attendees to learn how to create worm and compost bins.
Returning is a silent auction and entertainment featuring The Burgundy Room, along with first time participant Marley Dzis.
Party sponsors are Architectural Artifacts, Big Teeth Productions, The Kids Table, Mindful Metropolis, Chicagonista, Chew Chicago, Windy City Linens, Yelp, Urban Worm Girl, and Local First Chicago.
Jaffe, along with childhood friend and co-creator executive producer, Jodi Balis, nutrition director at the Capital Area Food Bank in Washington, D.C., find innovative ways to make health and nutrition an exciting part of kids’ lives.
