Naturally Chicago Dinner at Cultivate by Forbidden Root — Live Event — 8/16/23

Our August 16 dinner at Cultivate by Forbidden Root is a fundraiser for our new, groundbreaking Locally Made program, and a celebration of Fresh Thyme Market as our first Locally Made Retail Access Partner. Jonathan Lawrence, Fresh Thyme's Vice President of Center Store, is a member of our Board of Directors.

And we are pleased to announce that you'll have the opportunity at the dinner to learn directly from Rebecca Stephens, Fresh Thyme's Program Manager for Local Products, about the grocery chain's approach to local sourcing.

A retail industry veteran now in her 10th year with Fresh Thyme, Rebecca is responsible for developing a framework for stores and vendors to make informed merchandising decisions on the procurement of Local and designing, developing and executing the capabilities necessary to establish the local initiative for the Fresh Thyme organization. 

You'll also hear from William Madden, PhD — Co-Founder of Whole Brain Consulting and Chairman of our Board of Directors — who will discuss Naturally Chicago's work with a focus on Locally Made, which is designed to connect Illinois retailers with the region's emerging and top-performing brands.

Of course, a dinner has to have more than great speakers — it has to have great food. So check out the extraordinary menu, based on lots of locally produced ingredients, created by Cultivate Chef Peter Beatty. The local producers featured are in parentheses after their ingredients.

WARNING: READING THIS MENU MAY MAKE YOU VERY HUNGRY

Sourdough Tartine (Publican Quality Bread), Heirloom Tomatoes (Nichols Farm and Orchard), Stracciatella Cheese (Famiglia Andreotti), Shallot Jam, Marinated Shallots, Pine Nuts

Hearth Roasted Carrots (Nichols Farm and Orchard), Green Chickpeas, Carrot Top Pesto, Forbidden Rice 

Pork Ribs (99 Counties), Apricot Chamoy, Grilled Apricot (Seedling Fruit), Chicharone, Herb Salad  

Lumache pasta (Flour Power), Smoked Heirloom Tomato (Nichols Farm and Orchard) , Chestnut Mushroom (Four Star Mushrooms), Parmesan Frico 

Donut Holes, Grilled Peach Glaze (Seedling Fruit), Lemon Mascarpone, Poppy Seeds 

Products from Jenny's Tofu and Big Fork Brands will be featured as well.

And the dinner will be complete with pairings of Forbidden Root's craft-brewed, botanical-focused beers. Forbidden Root has established itself over the past decade as one of Chicago's best craft breweries and its beers have drawn national attention.

There is also a cash bar for those who prefer cocktails, and of course a non-alcohol beverage list for non-beer drinkers.

Cultivate is located at 4710 N. Ravenswood Ave. in Chicago's Malt Row. There is plenty of parking in the restaurant's lot and adjacent streets, the restaurant is across the street from a Metra rail stop, and it is convenient to other public transportation.