Chefs from many of Evanston‘s most critically acclaimed restaurants partner with prominent Midwest sustainable farmers and producers to celebrate the bounty of the autumn harvest on Oct. 15. Now We’re Cookin’,

1605 Payne St.

, will host a celebration dinner to benefit the Evanston Farmers’ Market and The Land Connection, a local grass-roots not-for-profit organization working to establish successful farmers on healthy farmland, ensuring an abundance of local and organic foods in Illinois.

“We are thrilled to be able to facilitate the growing trend of connecting farm to table,” said Now We’re Cookin’ Culinary Director Mary McMahon. “We look
forward to a future of even stronger relationships between local farmers, local chefs and Evanston Farmers’ Market patrons and hope to make our autumn harvest celebration a new Evanston community tradition.”

“This is a unique opportunity to interact directly with these great local chefs and dedicated farmers – all in one intimate setting,” said founder and owner Nell Funk.

Tickets are $80 if purchased online at www.thelandconnection.org by Oct. 1. Limited tickets are available after Oct. 1 for $100. Dinner begins at 6:30 p.m.

Featured producers participate weekly in the Evanston Farmers’ Market – one of the largest and oldest markets in Illinois.  The chefs – the stars of their restaurants in Evanston – are farm customers who incorporate local produce into their cooking whenever possible.   To date participants include Chef Michael Lachowicz of Restaurant Michael, Chef Mary McMahon of Now We’re Cookin’, Chef Andy Motto of Quince at the Homestead, Chef Jeff Muldrow of Va Pensiero, Chef Chris Opper of Food For Thought, and Chef Jose E. Romero of Chef’s Station.