Last week I did a chef's demo at the Chicago Green City Market. During the growing season the market is held in Lincoln Park, but for the winter they've taken up residence in The Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum. The museum is a great venue for the market with lots of interesting exhibits to add to the experience. They also have a butterfly room where you can commune with hundreds of free-flying butterflies, which is really amazing.

The theme for the day's demos was 'meat and potatoes', so we made some lovely potato gnocchi and a rich tomato ragu with braised beef. It was perfect winter fare and definitely a unique take on the theme. Some of you may recognize my friend Nate, there in the photo looking sharp in his chef's whites.  Nate is a pilot, but back in the day he worked at Charlie Trotter's.  He was nice enough to come out to assist me so the rest of the MF crew could keep things together back at the shop.  Thanks, Nate!  You can learn more about the Chicago Green City Market at their website, and we'll keep you posted on any upcoming demos or talks we'll be doing. If you don't want to travel all the way to the city, you'll be able to catch us at the Geneva Green Market for several demos this summer too. See you there!