Chicago Chefs Serve Gourmet Christmas Dinner to Clients
A dozen noted Chicago chefs will prepare and serve more than 200 gourmet Christmas dinners this Friday at The Salvation Army Freedom Center, as they host a Christmas dinner for clients who are undergoing comprehensive, specialized services to help overcome their addiction to drugs or alcohol and successfully reclaim their lives.
Gary Wiviot, Pitmaster at Barn and Company and author of two books, has been the coordinator of the event for the past 12 years. He is joined in the planning this year by Chefs Trevor Williams, Teresa Huerta, Jeanette Wise, and Ed Kropiwiec. A crew of 40 volunteers who are food critics, chefs, authors and foodies will work all day in food preparation and service.
“This dinner is so important to our clients because many of them no longer have relationships with their families,” said Major Nancy Powers, administrator at The Salvation Army Freedom Center. “The tables will have table cloths and full centerpieces to help make the meal special. We’ll also be handing out gifts so the men get a Christmas full of love.”
The menu is a closely guarded secret, but we do know it will feature prime rib au jus with horseradish sauce and Major Nancy’s famous corn pudding.
Though this dinner event is exclusive to clients, the Freedom Center is also hosting a community dinner on Christmas Day that is open to the public.