CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) — Recovery efforts are continuing after wildfires in Maui left over 100 people dead and hundreds missing, and in Chicagoland, restaurants, food trucks and breweries are putting their bottom line on the back burner to help raise money for the island.
Below is an attempt to list all of those efforts in one place. The story will be updated as often as possible and will certainly grow as more fundraising efforts are finalized, so be sure to check back frequently. If you know of a fundraiser or benefit that’s missing from this list, don’t hesitate to let us know at wbbmdigital@audacy.com or mike.tish@audacy.com
This list is organized in order of when each event begins.
Chicago Chefs Cook for Maui online auction, open through Sept. 3
Chicago Chefs Cook has helped raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for the people of Ukraine, Tigray, as well as earthquake victims in Syria and Turkey. Now, the collection of Chicago chefs and restaurateurs are focusing their efforts on Maui.
An online auction featuring wine tastings, sports tickets, exclusive chef experiences, Michelin-starred dinners and more is already open and will run through Sept. 3.
Website: https://www.chicagochefscook.org/
Aloha Eats, every day through Sept. 30
One week after the Maui wildfires began, the team over at Aloha Eats decided to donate 20% of all direct sales — excluding sales from Uber Eats — between Aug. 15 – 20. Going forward, the North Side restaurant will be donating 100% of the proceeds from every Mochiko Chicken orders to the recovery efforts.
Location: 2534 N. Clark St., Chicago
Website: https://www.alohaeats.com
Da Local Boy food truck, donating portion of sales ‘moving forward’
Residents of Lake County have likely spotted Da Local Boy food truck at festivals, farmers markets and all sorts of events.
The food truck’s co-owner, Dianne Antonio, grew up in Lahaina, Hawaii. In addition to a GoFundMe Antonio organized for her friends and family in Lahaina, the team behind the food truck has also decided to donate 10% – 20% of their sales to the fundraiser. Information regarding where Da Local Boy will set up each week can be found on its social media.
Da Local Boy has not yet decided when its fundraising efforts will end.
Prairie Grass Cafe happy hour and dinner, Aug. 27
Five Chicago-area chefs are teaming up to raise money for Maui on Aug. 27 at the Prairie Grass Cafe in Northbrook. Specifically, proceeds from the ticketed happy hour and VIP dinner will benefit the Hawaii Community Foundation — Chef Hui Fund, which is raising money particularly for chefs in Hawaii.
The happy hour will run from 3 – 5 p.m. and will feature tasting stations, passed canapes and wine. Tickets cost $50. The dinner, with tickets costing $100, will begin at 5 p.m. and feature a family-style dinner.
Location: 601 Skokie Blvd., Northbrook, Ill.
Website: https://prairiegrass.cafe/
Grant Park Bistro, every day through Aug. 31
Grant Park Bistro will be participating in the LM Restaurant Group fundraiser through Aug. 31. All LM Restaurants are contributing a portion of its sales to the World Central Kitchen, which works to provide cooked meals and clean water to people in need.
Other restaurants participating in the fundraiser are Land and Lake, as well as River North Bistro.
Location: 800 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago
Website: https://www.grantparkbistro.com/
Land and Lake (Ravenswood and Rosemont locations), every day through Aug. 31
Two Land and Lake locations — Ravenswood and Rosemont — will be participating in the LM Restaurant Group fundraiser through Aug. 31. All LM Restaurants are contributing a portion of its sales to the World Central Kitchen, which works to provide cooked meals and clean water to people in need.
Other restaurants participating in the fundraiser are Grant Park Bistro and River North Bistro.
Location: 1970 W. Montrose Ave., Chicago; 6600 Mannheim Road, Rosemont, Ill.
Website: Ravenswood, Rosemont
River North Bistro, every day through Aug. 31
The final LM Restaurant Group location featured in this story, River North Bistro will be participating in the LM Restaurant Group fundraiser through Aug. 31. All LM Restaurants are contributing a portion of its sales to the World Central Kitchen, which works to provide cooked meals and clean water to people in need.
Other restaurants participating in the fundraiser are Grant Park Bistro, as well as Land and Lake.
Location: 660 N. State St., Chicago
Website: https://www.rivernorthbistrochicago.com/
London House Chicago, every day through Sept. 30
London House Executive Chef Liz Sqeeney lived on Maui and has had a dish on the London House menu called “Loco Moco” — also known as Hawaiian Grinds — for more than four years.
Through the end of September, LondonHouse Chicago will donate a portion of the proceeds from every Loco Moco sold in that time. The funds will benefit Sweeney’s former restaurant group, Merriman’s.
Location: 85 E. Wacker Dr., Chicago
Website: https://londonhousechicago.com/
The Perch Kitchen and Tap, Aug. 30
Wicker Park’s the Perch Kitchen and Tap will be hosting a luau beer dinner to raise money for the Kokua Restaurant and Hospitality Fund, which is providing immediate assistance to the restaurant, bar and hospitality workers who were displaced by the wildfires.
The restaurant will donate 10% of the proceeds from the event — which will cost $65 per person to attend — to the fund. There will also be raffles for t-shirts and other prizes, from which 100% of the proceeds will be donated.
Location: 1932 W. Division St., Chicago
Website: https://www.theperchchicago.com/
Tutore Cooking School, Aug. 31, Sept. 1 – 2
Founded by chefs Dean Zanella and James De Marte, the Tutore Cooking School is hosting three pasta making classes over Labor Day weekend and will donate 100% of the proceeds to a GoFundMe for the restaurant staff at Chef Peter Merriman’s Big Island Restaurant in Waimea.
Zanella said 78 staff members lost their homes and apartments due to the fires. For those who can’t make a cooking class, Zanella said a donation can still be made to the GoFundMe.
“Think about losing everything,” Zanella told WBBM. “Turn around, look at the pictures of your family, mementos from your entire life — they’re just gone. They have nothing. They’re living in hotels or AirBnbs or with other family members. Everything will help.”
Location: 2755 W Belmont Ave. Chicago
Website: https://www.tutorecookingschool.com/
AO Hawaiian Hideout, Sept. 1 – 15
The husband-and-wife team behind AO Hawaiian Hideout, located on the city’s Near South Side, will be donating all proceeds from their sunrise in Maui cocktail, vegan island nachos, and honey-sesame glazed salmon salad to the Pray for Maui GoFundMe started by Da Local Boy co-owner Dianne Antonio.
Location: 1315 S. Wabash Ave., Chicago
Website: https://www.aohawaiianhideout.com/
This story will be updated as more restaurants finalize their fundraising plans. Want to be included on this list? Email wbbmdigital@audacy.com or mike.tish@audacy.com.
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