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Two towns at a time: TV star, Mexican chef visits the North Shore
Rick Bayless, star of PBS’ “Mexico: One Plate at a Time” and owner of Chicago’s Frontera Grill restaurants, shared the story of his culinary journey Sept. 14 and 15 in Winnetka and Northfield. PHOTO SUBMITTED
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Libby Elliott, Freelance Reporter 4:12 pm CDT September 18, 2017 Share +
He’s authored nine cookbooks, opened nine restaurants and launched a successful packaged foods company, but Chicago celebrity chef Rick Bayless — host of the acclaimed PBS series “Mexico: One Plate at a Time” — still gets a thrill from seeing people relax, share and converse around a meal. “The nucleus of community is at the dinner table,” said Bayless in an interview with The Winnetka Current. “A restaurant is one of the only places left in our modern society where people come together, look each other in the eye and create honest to god conversation.” Bayless was a guest and featured speaker at the Winnetka-Northfield Public Library District’s annual One Book Two Villages event held at The Winnetka Community House on Sept. 14. This year, the library renamed this regular fall program “One Table Two Villages,” retooling it to feature events and book discussions around the theme of food and community. Bayless also spoke at a luncheon held at Northfield’s The Happ Inn
on Sept. 15. After mingling with guests over appetizers and cocktails on the Community House’s patio, Bayless addressed a sell-out crowd inside the 350-seat Matz Hall. There, and in an interview with The Winnetka Current, he shared his views on the importance of building community through food, the value of human connection and the origin of the diverse flavors that go into his famous mole sauce. Dressed in his uniform chef’s jacket, standard black jeans and sturdy kitchen shoes, Bayless described the work of his Frontera Farmers Foundation, the nonprofit he founded to bolster Chicago’s local agrarian economy. Over the course of 15 years, the foundation has given $2 million in grants to local family farms with the aim of making them more productive and profitable. The foundation also helped support a new generation of Chicago farmer’s markets, which Bayless compares to the old town squares of Europe. “Over time, we have broken a vital connection to the people who actually grow our food,” Bayless told the audience on Sept. 14. “Some of the most interesting and delicious foods don’t travel well.” As a historian, Bayless is deeply interested in telling stories through food. Mole poblano, a classic Mexican fiesta dish that many assume has deep indigenous roots, actually contains ingredients from as far away as Southeast Asia. Bayless said nearly half of the 25-30 ingredients used in a mole sauce are from outside Mexico, a result of the country’s unique geography and migratory patterns. “It’s wonderful to look at a dish in Mexico and start to decipher it in term of its history and culture,” Bayless told The Current. Above all else, said Bayless, he is driven by a deep commitment to creating community through his work, both in the dining room and beyond. “I like to say I’m the luckiest guy in the world because what I do is bring joy to people in groups,” Bayless told The Current. “That is our goal, every day, when we open our restaurant doors.” Once a year, as a fundraiser, Bayless and his wife, Deann, welcome eight guests to join them for a home-cooked meal at their dining room table. It’s an annual event they
affectionately named “Dinner with Strangers.” “We have absolutely no idea who we’re going to be dining with,” Bayless said. “They could be on opposite sides of the political spectrum, we never know.” But despite the inherent risk in hosting a room full of strangers, Bayless said the series of dinners have been “spectacular.” “We wind up talking about our families, places we traveled, and friends that have touched our lives,” he said. “By sharing food, we start to see each other as more alike than different.”
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More from The Winnetka Current 10 Questions with Rachel Rhee, New Trier girls golf Breaking News: Northbrook motorist strikes tree, dies in Winnetka car crash Podcast: The Varsity — North Shore Episode 4 2018 District budget passed amid construction completion Winnetka prepares for Downtown Master Plan streetscape renovation Cook County wage, sick leave updates discussed among Northfield officials, residents
Publications Chicago Southwest The Frankfort Station The Homer Horizon The Lockport Legend The Mokena Messenger The New Lenox Patriot The Orland Park Prairie The Tinley Junction
Chicago North Shore The Glencoe Anchor The Glenview Lantern The Highland Park Landmark The Lake Forest Leader The Northbrook Tower The Wilmette Beacon The Winnetka Current
Company West Coast Malibu Surfside News
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© Copyright 2017, 22nd Century Media, LLC. All rights reserved.
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SPORTS High School Youth Athlete of the Month Athlete of the Week
OPINION From the Editor Letters to the Editor Contributing Columnists
LIFE & ARTS Dining Out Faith Briefs The Scene
MARKETPLACE 2017 Summer Fun Guide 2017 North Shore Choice Award Winners Spring Active Aging Guide 2017 Camp Guide 2017 Camp Guide Part 2 Real Estate Classifieds
CURRENT PLUS Member Benefits Digital Paper
Home / Life & Arts
Two towns at a time: TV star, Mexican chef visits the North Shore
Rick Bayless, star of PBS’ “Mexico: One Plate at a Time” and owner of Chicago’s Frontera Grill restaurants, shared the story of his culinary journey Sept. 14 and 15 in Winnetka and Northfield. PHOTO SUBMITTED
Most Viewed
1.
Winnetka woman conquers back-to-back Chicago Triathlon races
2.
Breaking News: Northbrook motorist strikes tree, dies in Winnetka car crash
3.
A brand new start: Sunset Ridge School opens entirely updated building
4.
Cherishing a decade of awareness: Fundraiser honors memory, mission for Northfield suicide victim
5. Girls golf: Penelope Tir’s low score leads New trier past Loyola View More
e
Libby Elliott, Freelance Reporter 4:12 pm CDT September 18, 2017 Share +
He’s authored nine cookbooks, opened nine restaurants and launched a successful packaged foods company, but Chicago celebrity chef Rick Bayless — host of the acclaimed PBS series “Mexico: One Plate at a Time” — still gets a thrill from seeing people relax, share and converse around a meal. “The nucleus of community is at the dinner table,” said Bayless in an interview with The Winnetka Current. “A restaurant is one of the only places left in our modern society where people come together, look each other in the eye and create honest to god conversation.” Bayless was a guest and featured speaker at the Winnetka-Northfield Public Library District’s annual One Book Two Villages event held at The Winnetka Community House on Sept. 14. This year, the library renamed this regular fall program “One Table Two Villages,” retooling it to feature events and book discussions around the theme of food and community. Bayless also spoke at a luncheon held at Northfield’s The Happ Inn
on Sept. 15. After mingling with guests over appetizers and cocktails on the Community House’s patio, Bayless addressed a sell-out crowd inside the 350-seat Matz Hall. There, and in an interview with The Winnetka Current, he shared his views on the importance of building community through food, the value of human connection and the origin of the diverse flavors that go into his famous mole sauce. Dressed in his uniform chef’s jacket, standard black jeans and sturdy kitchen shoes, Bayless described the work of his Frontera Farmers Foundation, the nonprofit he founded to bolster Chicago’s local agrarian economy. Over the course of 15 years, the foundation has given $2 million in grants to local family farms with the aim of making them more productive and profitable. The foundation also helped support a new generation of Chicago farmer’s markets, which Bayless compares to the old town squares of Europe. “Over time, we have broken a vital connection to the people who actually grow our food,” Bayless told the audience on Sept. 14. “Some of the most interesting and delicious foods don’t travel well.” As a historian, Bayless is deeply interested in telling stories through food. Mole poblano, a classic Mexican fiesta dish that many assume has deep indigenous roots, actually contains ingredients from as far away as Southeast Asia. Bayless said nearly half of the 25-30 ingredients used in a mole sauce are from outside Mexico, a result of the country’s unique geography and migratory patterns. “It’s wonderful to look at a dish in Mexico and start to decipher it in term of its history and culture,” Bayless told The Current. Above all else, said Bayless, he is driven by a deep commitment to creating community through his work, both in the dining room and beyond. “I like to say I’m the luckiest guy in the world because what I do is bring joy to people in groups,” Bayless told The Current. “That is our goal, every day, when we open our restaurant doors.” Once a year, as a fundraiser, Bayless and his wife, Deann, welcome eight guests to join them for a home-cooked meal at their dining room table. It’s an annual event they
affectionately named “Dinner with Strangers.” “We have absolutely no idea who we’re going to be dining with,” Bayless said. “They could be on opposite sides of the political spectrum, we never know.” But despite the inherent risk in hosting a room full of strangers, Bayless said the series of dinners have been “spectacular.” “We wind up talking about our families, places we traveled, and friends that have touched our lives,” he said. “By sharing food, we start to see each other as more alike than different.”
Add comment You're currently logged in as: Libby Elliott Comment
Comment
Preview
More from The Winnetka Current 10 Questions with Rachel Rhee, New Trier girls golf Breaking News: Northbrook motorist strikes tree, dies in Winnetka car crash Podcast: The Varsity — North Shore Episode 4 2018 District budget passed amid construction completion Winnetka prepares for Downtown Master Plan streetscape renovation Cook County wage, sick leave updates discussed among Northfield officials, residents
Publications Chicago Southwest The Frankfort Station The Homer Horizon The Lockport Legend The Mokena Messenger The New Lenox Patriot The Orland Park Prairie The Tinley Junction
Chicago North Shore The Glencoe Anchor The Glenview Lantern The Highland Park Landmark The Lake Forest Leader The Northbrook Tower The Wilmette Beacon The Winnetka Current
Company West Coast Malibu Surfside News
22nd Century Media About Us Contact Us Advertise With Us Careers
© Copyright 2017, 22nd Century Media, LLC. All rights reserved.
Terms of Use
Privacy Policy
Code Of Conduct
Sound Off Policy
