"Chicago's Thanksgiving Feast in the Heart of the Ballpark"
Chicago's Biggest Food Company Takes the Stage
Levy Restaurants, a renowned name in Chicago's food scene, has been orchestrating this grand Thanksgiving event for 28 consecutive years. They are now taking over Guaranteed Rate Field to ensure that 4,000 people have a delicious and memorable Thanksgiving. "We're looking at food from scratch for 4,000 people. We started two months ago with all the planning and logistics," said Levy Restaurants Chef De Cuisine Robin Rosenberg. This shows the meticulousness and dedication that goes into making this event a success.The kitchen at Guaranteed Rate Field is truly an ideal location for such a massive undertaking. As Rosenberg said, "Look at this kitchen. We can rock and roll here, you know?" With its industrial-sized facilities, they are able to handle the enormous quantity of food required.
This year, they are cranking out 1,700 pounds of turkey, 680 pounds of cranberries, 400 pounds of sweet potatoes, 440 pounds of mashed potatoes, 300 pounds of green beans, 180 pounds of stuffing, and a boatload of gravy. The sheer amount of food is astonishing and a testament to the company's capabilities.
The Early Morning Ritual
On Thursday morning, the team is back at the ballpark at 4 a.m. to fire up the ovens and heat up all the delicious food. This early start is a sign of their commitment to providing a hot and fresh meal to those in need. "And at about 8:30, we have the produce company Midwest Produce is helping us with their trucks to deliver to the Salvation Army. We have a little police escort to help us," Rosenberg added. This ensures a smooth and efficient delivery process.The Salvation Army Freedom Center will be the main venue for serving the meals in person and for to-go. But Levy Restaurants is also going the extra mile with Meals on Wheels. "We have remote feeding where we go in vans to all the areas where the unhoused are," Rosenberg said. "Under freeways, in parks. In shelters, and we set the same thing up. Tables with tablecloths. We do a full Thanksgiving meal." This shows their concern for the entire community.
About 45 Levy employees volunteer their time and energy to make this happen. Shauna Gilhooly, the human resources director, is one of them. "We're a part of the Chicago community and giving back and enriching the community is who we've been and who I know we'll continue to be for as long as we're here," she said. The smiles on the faces of those who receive the meals mean a lot to all of them.
Expanding the Reach
For the first time this year, Thanksgiving meals prepared by Levy will also be sent to the five Ronald McDonald houses in the Chicago area. This shows their willingness to extend their reach and bring joy to more people during the holiday season.Chicago's baseball stadium has become a symbol of community spirit and generosity during Thanksgiving. Levy Restaurants' efforts in preparing and delivering these meals are a shining example of what can be achieved when people come together to help those in need.