A Fun Night Out

The inaugural Q&A Dinner, an allergen/gluten-free event hosted last Saturday evening by Lisa Cooks Allergen Free at the Cooking and Hospitality Institute of Chicago (CHIC), was a success. More than that, it truly was a fun and informative night out.

I took B. and my parents to the dinner. Despite the rainy and rather miserable weather, there was a good turnout; I would estimate that about 50 people attended. CHIC's cafe was set up for white tablecloth service, and several students and a couple chef instructors volunteered their time to cook and serve that evening. The kitchen had been thoroughly cleaned and sanitized prior to the meal preparation, and the recipes all were free of the eight major allergens, as well as gluten.

Menu cards awaited us at the table. Two hors d'oeuvres were offered, followed by a soup course, the entree and then a sampling of bite-sized desserts. While we enjoyed the entire meal, the chicken vesuvio entree was the favorite among our party of four. Speakers presented between courses, and at the end of the evening, everyone was sent home with a goody bag full of products.

Primarily, what made the evening such a pleasure for me was that everyone in attendance understood the challenges associated with food sensitivities. No explanations were necessary; we could rest assured that our needs would be met graciously. We also met some lovely people, and swapped stories, restaurant recommendations and so on. In general, we had a great time.

The next event will be held April 27 at Rose’s Wheatfree Bakery and Café in Evanston, Ill. To register, or for more information, visit www.lisacooksallergenfree.com.