Pilot Light announces Queer Eye star & author Antoni Porowski as the 2024 Gala Emcee & Host!
The chefs behind Pilot Light are thrilled to announce Antoni Porowski as the celebrity host of the 2024 Feed Your Mind Gala. Porowski is a New York Times Bestselling author, an Emmy-winning producer and resident food and wine expert on Netflix’s globally-renowned series Queer Eye, and star and executive producer of National Geographic’s highly-anticipated docuseries No Taste Like Home. Set for Friday, November 1, 2024 at 6p at Venue West in Chicago, the event promises to be an extraordinary evening that combines world-class dining with a powerful mission.
We are absolutely honored to have Antoni’s passionate support for food education and the next generation of culinary leaders at our annual fundraiser gala this year.
Feed Your Mind Gala Details
Under the leadership of co-chairs Leah Gordon and Felipe Ospina, the 2024 Feed Your Mind Gala is a must-see event for any culinary enthusiast in the Chicago region! For one night only, guest chefs from the city’s top restaurants come together to create a one-of-a-kind meal in support of Pilot Light’s Food Education mission. Guests will indulge in a lavish five-course dinner and enjoy inspiring opportunities to give back to their community, including a thrilling live auction featuring exclusive trips and experiences only available at the Feed Your Mind Gala.
Furthermore, Pilot Light is thrilled to welcome cookbook author and journalist, Anupy Singla of Indian as Apple Pie, as sponsor and special guest at the 2024 Feed Your Mind Gala. Her celebrated cookbook, Indian for Everyone, is newly available in paperback and makes the perfect gift for the holidays!
2024 Feed Your Mind Guest Chefs
This year’s gala will highlight a new generation of culinary innovators who are shaping the future of Chicago’s food scene:
- Phillip Branch (Hawksmoor)
- Rodolfo Cuadros (Amaru & Bloom Plant Based Kitchen)
- Joe Frillman and Leigh Omilinsky (Daisies)
- Tim Flores and Genie Kwon (Kasama)
- Dominique Leach (Lexington Betty Smokehouse)
- James Martin (Bocadillo Market)
- Oliver Poilevey (Obelix & Le Bouchon)
- José Sosa (The Greggory Hearth & Tavern)
- Sarah Stegner (Prairie Grass Cafe)
- Jonathan Zaragoza (Birrieria Zaragoza)
Together, this all-star team of guest chefs will create a menu under the curation of Pilot Light’s Founding Chefs: Matthias Merges, Jason Hammel, Paul Kahan, and Justin Large.
“After a decade-plus, we’re excited to take a little bit of a step back this year and let our Guest Chefs lead the meal. The Founding Chef team is helping curate the evening and working on some stellar trips for our live auction. That being said, we’ll still be in the kitchen – we always have a great time coming together and plating each other’s dishes, expediting…the Feed Your Mind Gala kitchen is a really communal, supportive experience. We’re still learning from each other and cheering each other on. It’s like a Pilot Light classroom, in that way.”
-Pilot Light Founding Chef Paul Kahan
Ready to FEED YOUR MIND?
Time is running out to attend this unforgettable evening of philanthropy and fantastic food! Join Matty, Pilot Light, and the Guest Chefs in showing your support for food education at the 2024 Feed Your Mind Gala on Friday, November 1st at Venue West. You don’t want to miss it!
Thank you to our generous Feed Your Mind Gala sponsors!
More about the Feed Your Mind Gala
MEDIA CONTACT
Ryan Beshel