Girls Just Wanna Raise Funds Fourth Annual Girl Food Dinner at Zinfandel Restaurant By Nancy Ross Ryan And they did. There wasn't an empty seat in the house on Sunday, April 16, at the Fourth Annual Girl Food Dinner at Zinfandel Restaurant -- dubbed "Chick Chow" by Susan Goss (who hatched it). This year's dinner raised $14,000, doubling last year's receipts. 100% of it goes to support anti-hunger and anti-poverty efforts in Chicago. It's all part of Share Our Strength's Taste of the Nation annual drive, and Zinfandel's Susan Goss is chairwoman for Chicago events. She dubbed the dinner at her restaurant Chick Chow because all the chefs donating their time are women: Sarah Stegner of the Dining Room at the Ritz-Carlton; Priscila Satkoff of Salpicon!; Peggy Ryan of Va Pensiero in Evanston; Mindy Segal, pastry chef at mk; and Monique King, formerly of Soul Kitchen, now out in California at the Border Grill. And 100% of the proceeds can be donated to charity each year because the unsung heros, the supporting crew -- from kitchen help to dining room servers - are all unpaid volunteers. And, picking up the expenses are the major supporters, American Express and Williams-Sonoma, as well as Clearwater Fisheries, Illy espresso of the Americas, Evian Natural Spring Water, and L&L Packing Company, who supplied some of the food and drink. While there's a touch of irony in eating to fight hunger, as Goss and ensemble believes, "it takes more than food to fight hunger," and these fiercely committed chefs will do whatever it takes -- including sharing one kitchen and one menu. The results of their collaboration were six wine-matched courses: Susan Goss, Zinfandel: Applewood-smoked Diver Sea Scallops with Cheddar-Corn Grits and Charred Tomato Vinaigrette 1996 Vouvray, Le Mont Sec, Gaston Huet Peggy Ryan, Va Pensiero: Potato Ravioli with Lobster, Shrimp and Brown Butter 1996 Chardonnay, Ruxton Vineyard, Fritz Cellars, California Sarah Stegner, The Ritz-Carlton: Slow-Roasted Salmon over Lentil Ragout with Apple-Mushroom Salad & Truffle Purée 1997 Pinot Noir, Sanford & Benedict, Cold Heaven Priscila Satkoff, Salpicon!: Garlic-Marinated Grilled Manchester Farm Quail with Ancho Chile, Caramelized Onion, Honey and Potato-Queso Anejo Cake 1997 Shiraz, Isolation Ridge, Frankland Estate, Australia Monique King, The Border Grill: Four Seed-Crusted Lamb Chop over Plantain-Yucca Mash with Tamarind Glaze and Chayote-Fuji Apple Relish 1997 Le Cigare Volant, Bonny Doon Vineyard, California Mindy Segal, mk restaurant: Washington Rhubarb Gallette, Ginger Semifreddo & Sauteed California Strawberries 1997 Sarah's Vineyard White Riesling, California Parting was sweet: a beveled glass tray full of exotic chocolate truffles -- flavored with curry, Guinness stout and white pepper -- compliments of Katrina Markoff and Julie Lang, partners in Vosges Haut-Chocolat.

THE BUZZ - July 2000

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