Best Bites For Bounce 2024

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Best Bites Annual Fundraiser 2024 Raised $182,500!

That means more families will receive more resilience-building support, and have more fun, than ever.

CLICK TO VIEW IMPACT REPORT

By all accounts, Best Bites 2024 was a smashing success:

High Impact Host Committee
Record Number of Sponsors, Over Half of Which Were New to Bounce
Beautiful Room with Breathtaking Views that Set the Stage for Success
Amazing Emcee Who Brought Passion & Personality to our Event
Talented Chefs Who Shared Delicious Bites
Tasty Cocktails/Beer/Wine Fully Donated
Bounce Parent Who Truly Conveyed The Need For, and Impact Of, Our Mission
Happy Guests Who Were Moved to Step Up and Give Generously

CLICK HERE TO VIEW MORE PHOTOS FROM THIS YEAR'S EVENT

View Past Best Bites Events!

BEST BITES 2018

BEST BITES 2019

BEST BITES 2023

Bounce is glad to have Chicago's very own 'Food Guy', Steve Dolinsky as the EMCEE for Best Bites 2024.

13 James Beard Awards for TV, radio & podcast work
Food Guy for NBC5, Thursdays at 10:00 pm
17 years as Hungry Hound on ABC7
Co-Creator/Co-Host The Feed with Chef Rick Bayless
1 of 26 Academy Chairs for World’s 50 Best Restaurants
Advisor to food focused real estate developers
Featured Expert: Chicago Tribune; NPR's The World; Food & Wine Magazine; Classic in Aspen; NYC Wine & Food Fest
Volunteer for Share Our Strength & Meals on Wheels

A huge thanks to the chefs who competed in the Best Bites competition!

STEVE CHIAPPETTI

Executive Chef, The Albert

A native of Chicago’s south side, Chef Steve Chiappetti was firmly grounded from childhood in the fundamentals of southern European fare, especially that of Provence, with his inspirations on display in a string of highly-acclaimed restaurants in Chicago's dining scene, most notably Mango, Grapes, and Rhapsody. Mentored by Chef Fernand Gutierrez at the Ritz-Carlton Chicago and Chef Paul Bartolotta at Spiaggia, Chef Steve has represented the U.S. in the Bocuse d’Or, one of Europe’s most prestigious food competitions. Named Wine Spectator’s Rising Star Chef in 1997, he has served as a Trustee for Kendall College and a Director for the American Institute of Wine & Food, founded by Julia Child.

JONATHON SAWYER

Executive Chef, Kindling

Chef Jonathon Sawyer, James Beard Award-winner and Chef Partner at Kindling, brings a worldly perspective and decades of wood-fired cooking to Kindling's internationally inspired menu. Chef Sawyer returns to his hometown Chicago after nationally-recognized success in Cleveland, OH. Winner of Food & Wine’s “Best New Chef” award in 2010 and the James Beard Foundation Award for Best Chef: Great Lakes in 2015, Chef Jonathon has been featured on many national TV shows including The Best Thing I Ever Ate, Chopped, Top Chef, The Dish and Bobby Flay’s Triple Threat.

JESSE VAZQUEZ

Head Chef, Tasty Catering

Chef Jesse Vazquez is a proud graduate of Cooking & Hospitality of Chicago. Vazquez is the driving force behind the innovation emerging from Tasty Catering. He specializes in menu development and creating custom tasting menus.

MICHAEL “WALLY” WALLACH

Executive Chef, Millenium Hall

Born and raised in Chicago, Chef Wallach has been cooking for 20+ years starting his career at the Restaurant Gasthaus Zum Hecht in Switzerland. Upon returning to Chicago, Michael has worked in various acclaimed restaurants, where his love for food led him to climb the ranks to the role of Executive Chef. Wallach has a strong passion for fresh and seasonal ingredients and for creating imaginative and innovative dishes. He has a straight-forward approach to food with a rustic soul.

PATRICK WASSERMAN

Executive Chef, Double Clutch Brewing Company

Chef Patick Wasserman, winner of the National Restaurant Association Salute to Excellence Award, graduated top of his class in culinary school. Wasserman not only runs Double Clutch Brewing Company, but he also runs two seasonal locations. He is proudly a no-waste chef, stating “I don’t run out, I sell out”.

DEAN ZANELLA & JAMES DE MARTE

Owners & Executive Chefs, Tutore

Both Chef Zanella and De Marte are passionate about creating an educational environment for those looking to master an intuitive cooking approach to traditional Italian cuisine. Focusing on techniques that go beyond a recipe, the recently opened Tutore school is an opportunity for this generation to return to the tradition of at-home cooking. Combined, the two chefs have over 75 years of culinary experience around the globe. Chef Dean Zanella grew up in a true Italian family and has taken his childhood experience in the kitchen into his culinary career. Chef James De Marte’s Chicago roots date back to his grandparent's immigration to Chicago from Italy in the early 1900s.