Feed Your Mind Gala 2024 – Feed Your Mind

We have the power to make a lasting impact in our community through Food Education. Show your support and become an agent of change with us Friday, November 1st at the annual Feed Your Mind Gala! Featuring an unforgettable meal curated by Pilot Light's Founding Chefs: Matthias Merges, Paul Kahan, Jason Hammel, and Justin Large.

About the Feed Your Mind Gala: 

Pilot Light’s annual Feed Your Mind Gala is one of Chicago’s most anticipated fundraising & culinary events. Guests experience a one-of-a-kind evening featuring a meal crafted by Chicago’s most-sought after culinary stars, and help feed our mission to bring the power of food into classrooms across the country. 

We 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. 

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! 

This mix of award-winning chefs from a variety of culinary backgrounds creates an unforgettable dining experience for guests as they raise funds to invest in the future of Food Education. No other event offers the opportunity to share the room and eat the food of multiple James Beard award-winners and Rising Stars while also giving back to the community.

We are grateful to our gala Co-Chairs and Honorees

Feed Your Mind Gala Co-Chairs: Leah Gordon and Felipe Ospina

Feed Your Mind Gala 2024 Honoree: Ann Weiser

Feed Your Mind Gala 2024 Young Changemaker Honoree: Kai Fogelson

We are thrilled to announce the 2024 Feed Your Mind Guest Chef lineup: 

• 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) 
• Sarah Stegner (Prairie Grass Cafe) 
• Jonathan Zaragoza (Birrieria Zaragoza)
• Phillip Branch (Hawksmoor) 
• Jose Sosa (Greggory Hearth & Tavern)

These incredible Guest Chefs will prepare a one of a kind meal curated by Pilot Light’s Founding Chefs: Matthias Merges, Paul Kahan, Jason Hammel, and Justin Large.