Fred’s Garage hosts their 3rd Charity Chili Cook-Off, a public event. This year’s event will benefit SaLT, a 501(c)(3) organization based in Highland Park, IL. The event features a competitive chili tasting competition featuring local North Shore restaurants. Chili samples will be provided to all ticket holders. The event also features raffle prizes and celebrity guest judges. Tickets may be purchased in advance at www.fredswinnetka.com or in person at Fred’s Garage.

Winners will be chosen in two categories: People’s Choice & Judges Choice. 

ABOUT THE CHARITY: SaLT’s vision is to help create an empathic generation through service-learning. Students are engaged in rewarding service experiences that directly benefit the local community, expand their understanding of empathy, and challenge their knowledge of societal needs. In addition, students create long-lasting relationships as they work side-by-side with friends for a common purpose greater than themselves. SaLT’s signature program is Shop N’ Drop - an effort to support local Highland Park/Highwood families fighting food insecurity. Shop N’ Drop contacts families regularly to coordinate support and provide groceries and other essential personal items. They even have weekly themes to provide messages of hope and encouragement such as “Family Game Night”, “Back to School”, and “Random Acts of Kindness”. Since the onset of the pandemic, Shop N’ Drop has volunteered over 10,000 hours and provided over 20,000 bags of groceries to 1265 people in 306 families.

ABOUT THE CHARITY: SaLT’s vision is to help create an empathic generation through service-learning. Students are engaged in rewarding service experiences that directly benefit the local community, expand their understanding of empathy, and challenge their knowledge of societal needs. In addition, students create long-lasting relationships as they work side-by-side with friends for a common purpose greater than themselves. SaLT’s signature program is Shop N’ Drop - an effort to support local Highland Park/Highwood families fighting food insecurity. Shop N’ Drop contacts families regularly to coordinate support and provide groceries and other essential personal items. They even have weekly themes to provide messages of hope and encouragement such as “Family Game Night”, “Back to School”, and “Random Acts of Kindness”. Since the onset of the pandemic, Shop N’ Drop has volunteered over 10,000 hours and provided over 20,000 bags of groceries to 1265 people in 306 families.

EVENT PARTICIPANTS:
Restaurants competing in this year’s Chili Cook-Off (in alphabetical order):
• Brickstone Brewery = www.brickstonebrewery.com
• Buck Russell’s = www.buckrussells.com
• Comida = www.comidaevanston.com
• Fred’s Garage = www.fredswinnetka.com
• Grateful Bites = www.gratefulbites.com
• Marco Roma = www.marcoromapizza.com
• Mino’s = www.minositalian.com
• Spirit Elephant = www.spiritelephantrestaurant.com
• Ten Mile House = www.tmhevanston.com
• Winnetka Firefighters Local 2077

EVENT SPONSORS:
• Brickstone Brewery = www.brickstonbrewery.com
• Freshie Organic Tequila Seltzer = www.getfreshie.com
• Bon Anno Wines = www.bonannowine.com
• Mickey’s Linen = www.mickeyslinen.com
• Greco and Sons = www.grecoandsons.com
• Michael’s Grill & Salad Bar = www.eatmichaels.online – We are thrilled to have Michael’s as a sponsor providing hot dogs to compliment all our competitor’s chili creations.

CELEBRITY JUDGES:
• Kerry Wood = Former American baseball pitcher who played 14 seasons in Major League Baseball for the Chicago Cubs, Cleveland Indians, and New York Yankees.
• Phil Vettel = Acclaimed journalist formerly with the Chicago Tribune for 40 years, wrote about & contributed to Chicago's culinary community for 31 years.
• Ted Brunson = Former host of CHICAGO'S BEST, a food, entertainment, and lifestyle show that aired on WGN-TV and CLTV.
• Mark Carrier = Former American football safety who played in the National Football League Chicago Bears.
• Kye Martin = The Morning Traffic Reporter at NBC Chicago and contributes as a General Assignment Reporter. .