For the second year running, Chefs Dan Jacobs and Dan Van Rite of JVR Hospitality Group have announced that they will be hosting their second Dim Sum + Give Some gala to benefit the Kennedy’s Disease Association.
The gala will take place on Tuesday, March 24 at the Italian Community Center, 631 E. Chicago St. and will feature a selection of hors d’oeuvres and a six course dinner with wine pairings.
Impressive food + impressive chefs
Beginning at 6:30 p.m., guests will enjoy cocktails and hors d’oeuvres created by a variety of local chefs including Zach Engel of Galit in Chicago, Illinois; Paul Zerkel and Lisa Kirkpatrick of Goodkind; Dane Baldwin of The Diplomat; Gregory Leon of Amilinda; Thomas Hauck of Lowlands Group; Mitch Ciohon of Snack Boys; Andrew Miller of Third Coast Provisions; and Zak Baker of Ca'Lucchenzo.
A six course dinner will follow at 7:30 p.m., featuring courses prepared by Chefs Daniel Jacobs and Dan Van Rite of Dandan, EsterEv, Fauntleroy and Ash; Alex Seidel of Mercantile, Fruition and Chook in Denver, Colorado; Tory Miller of L'Etoile, Graze and Estrellon in Madison, Wisconsin; Stephanie Izard of Girl & the Goat, Little Goat, Duck Duck Goat, and Cabra in Chicago, Illinois; Adam Seigel of The Bartolotta Restaurants and Justin Aprahamian of Sanford.
You can watch a segment featuring last year’s Dim Sum + Give Some gala on this week’s episode of "Wisconsin Foodie." Here’s a peek!
What is Dim Sum + Give Sum?
Dim Sum + Give Sum was birthed in 2017 following the news that Daniel Jacobs of DVR Hospitality Group was diagnosed with Kennedy's Disease, a rare, currently incurable and non-treatable, genetic neuromuscular disease that – over time – severely impact patients' mobility and their ability to speak.
Rather than giving in to the despondency that often accompanies news of a terminal illness, Jacobs used it as an opportunity to bring awareness to the cause [Listen to Chef Jacobs talk about his experience on FoodCrush].
His efforts began with the first annual Dim Sum + Give Some, a dine-around event hosted with the support of Jennifer Bartolotta and countless area chefs. The inaugural event raised $25,000 for the Kennedy's Disease Association. The gala event was added in 2019 to provide an additional way for diners to contribute to the cause while enjoying a more formal dining experience.
Get tickets
Tickets for the Dim Sum + Give Some gala on March 24 are $175 per person, plus tax. Tables for eight are $1200, plus tax. Both can be purchased online.
The fourth annual Dim Sum + Give Some chef dine around event will take place on Sunday, June 21. Stay tuned for additional information.
As a passionate champion of the local dining scene, Lori has reimagined the restaurant critic's role into that of a trusted dining concierge, guiding food lovers to delightful culinary discoveries and memorable experiences.
Lori is an avid cook whose accrual of condiments and spices is rivaled only by her cookbook collection. Her passion for the culinary industry was birthed while balancing A&W root beer mugs as a teenage carhop, fed by insatiable curiosity and fueled by the people whose stories entwine with every dish. Lori is the author of two books: the "Wisconsin Field to Fork" cookbook and "Milwaukee Food". Her work has garnered journalism awards from entities including the Milwaukee Press Club. In 2024, Lori was honored with a "Top 20 Women in Hospitality to Watch" award by the Wisconsin Restaurant Association.
When she’s not eating, photographing food, writing or planning for TV and radio spots, you’ll find Lori seeking out adventures with her husband Paul, traveling, cooking, reading, learning, snuggling with her cats and looking for ways to make a difference.
