Elgin-area restaurants unite for annual Pallet to Palate fundraiser to fight food insecurity

Chefs and restaurateurs from 19 Elgin-area eateries will come together to help fight food insecurity during Food for Greater Elgin’s Pallet to Palate charity event later this month.

Tickets are available now for the annual foodie fundraiser that takes place from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. on March 31 at The Centre of Elgin’s Heritage Ballroom.

Emily Tyler, the organization’s director of development, said she thinks they’ve been holding the event for about 13 years.

“We’ve been doing it nearly as long as the food bank has been here,” she said.

The event format and location have changed over the years as it has grown. The number of vendors this year is an increase compared to last year, when about 250 guests attended. This year, more space has been added.

Participating restaurants include downtown Elgin favorites like BeaUnique Latin Kitchen, El Patio, Elgin Public House and Kubo Sushi, in addition to other well known area eateries like Portillo’s, Culver’s, Duke’s Blues n BBQ in East Dundee, Main Event and I Smell Bacon from Hoffman Estates, Le Cochon Wine Bar and Bistro and Mosaic Kitchen & Cocktails in Geneva.

“Almost a third of our vendors are new, which is great for us, great for them and the community,” Tyler said.

The evening features small bite stations set up around the ballroom, with each restaurant offering one item.

“That’s the idea,” said Erin Cody, a development associate with Food for Greater Elgin. “But I know for a fact, based on who’s said what they’re bringing, that it’s gonna be a lot of food. People should definitely come hungry.”

There will also be a cash bar, live music, a photo booth and prizes.

Food for Greater Elgin is a client-choice food pantry where shoppers can select meat, fresh produce, dairy, deli and shelf-stable items. Most visitors leave with their shopping cart full of food, weighing about 100 pounds in total.

Feeding America estimates that 1.2 pounds of food equals a meal.

“That’s quite a few meals for an average family,” said Andres Diez, the executive director of Food for Greater Elgin.

Diez said the organization has had to make adjustments recently, given the nervousness many people in at-risk communities are experiencing regarding immigration enforcement.

“The culture of fear has really paralyzed people,” he said. “We’ve definitely seen an impact here and in talking with other nonprofits in the area.”

To combat the reluctance people may have about visiting the food bank at 1553 Commerce Drive, Diez said they’ve been expanding distribution options, including delivering boxes of food to Elgin Area School District U-46 schools and planning for some mobile pantries and more collaboration with area churches.

The organization also delivers boxes of food to people with disabilities, as well as making deliveries to low-income housing developments and residents of the Lexington Inn.

“We’re trying to do anything we can to get food out to people,” he said.

General admission tickets for the Pallet to Palate event cost $75 and can be purchased at foodforgreaterelgin.org/pallet-to-palate.