FEEDING HOPE
BY D.C. CRENSHAW
PHOTOGRAPHY BY JAMES GUSTIN
hen disaster
strikes, when
crisis hits close
to home or across the globe, when communities are shaken and people are hurting — Chicago Chefs Cook is one of the first to step up to the plate. Co-founded by Chef Sarah Stegner, this non-profit humanitarian organization has become an unprecedented platform where chefs and restaurateurs unite their voices, their skills, and their hearts to serve those in need.
Through powerful culinary partnerships, Chicago Chefs Cook strengthens bonds across the city and empowers chefs to lead side by side. In a world filled with turmoil, uncertainty, and unimaginable hardship, these chefs have consistently shown what true leadership looks like: gathering resources, rallying their peers, and feeding people with dignity and compassion.
We’ve watched the rise of celebrity chefs on TV — big personalities, big accolades, Michelin stars and media buzz — but when you strip all of that away, the core of the profession remains simple: chefs feed people. And in moments of crisis, that mission becomes even more important.
Spotlighting Chef Sarah Stegner and the Chicago Chefs Cook team in our November food issue isn’t just timely — it’s an honor. Their work reminds me what community, service, and humanity truly look like.
W
Chef Sarah Stegner and the Power of Chicago Chefs Cook