GOLD LEVEL

Plugra

Plugrá is a European style butter lower in moisture and higher in butterfat than conventional butters. Plugrá butter imparts a richer taste and smoother texture to foods and is long preferred by leading chefs, bakers, confectioners and anyone who appreciates fine food.

www.kellerscreamery.com • 800.535.5371

Art Smith
Art Smith, chef, author, and television personality has brought meaning and symbolism back to the word “table”, uniting families and friends through the sharing of a meal. In 1997, he began a 10-year position of personal chef to Oprah Winfrey and Stedman Graham.  He currently acts as the specialty chef for Ms. Winfrey’s most talked about events. His restaurant in Chicago, “Table”, serves handmade, organic foods from some of the best Midwest farms. Art established Common Threads, a nonprofit organization based on his passionate belief that families (by blood or of friends) share an innate desire to care for each other, regardless of culture, race or geography. 

www.chefartsmith.net

SILVER LEVEL

Barry Callebaut

Barry Callebaut is the world's leading manufacturer of high-quality cocoa and chocolate - from the cocoa bean to the finished product on the store shelf. We have been producing cocoa and chocolate products for more that 150 years and we are a fully integrated company that masters every step from the sourcing of cocoa beans to the shelf.

www.barry-callebaut.com

Sara Lee Corporation

Sara Lee Corporation has one of the world's best-loved portfolios with its innovative and trusted food, beverage, household and body care brands, including Ambi Pur, Ball Park, Douwe Egberts, Hillshire Farm, Jimmy Dean, Kiwi, Sanex, Sara Lee, and Senseo.  The company generates more than $12 billion in annual net sales covering approximately 200 countries, and has 52,000 employees worldwide.

www.saralee.com

Swiss Chalet

When Hans and Claire Baumann founded Swiss Chalet Fine Foods in 1968, their goal was to bring superior products and specialty items, often unavailable in the United States, to the food service industry. Today, Swiss Chalet Fine Food is on its way to becoming the #1 secondary supplier to the food service industry.

www.scff.com • 800.347.9477

BRONZE LEVEL

Advanced Gourmet Equipment & Design

Advanced Gourmet Equipment & Design provides top quality, high performance equipment, education and support services to the food industry, focusing on the frozen dessert sector.

www.advancedgourmet.com • 336.333.9225

American Chartered Bank

At American Chartered Bank, we understand that success results from hard work and big ideas. Like many of our customers, we are privately owned and operated and have experienced many of the same challenges. We have the financial strength to meet your banking needs and provide flexible, cost effective products designed to help growing businesses such as yours.

www.americanchartered.com • 630.515.3703

American Culinary Federation - Windy City Chefs

ACF Windy City Professional Culinarians represents all who learn, practice and craft the art of gastronomy in greater Chicago. As one of the fastest-growing chapters of the American Culinary Federation, we uphold the highest standards of cooking while supporting a vibrant culinary community through education, professional development and promoting the renowned foodways that make Chicago the envy of the world.

www.acfwindycitychefs.org

Bauscher

Founded in 1881, Bauscher remains focused exclusively in the production of fine hotel and restaurant porcelain. Bauscher is committed to supplying the restaurant industry with exceptionally gorgeous, functional and durable fine china. An industry leader and innovator, Bauscher offers a unique (and exclusive) five-year glaze warranty as well as a chip warranty. Tables that command beauty and quality demand Bauscher.

www.bauscher.com • 919.844.2801

Bochner Chocolates • Eric Bochner

Bochner Chocolates makes affordable and all natural luxury chocolate confections with a uniquely indulgent and innovative twist on familiar favorites from Europe and the US—artfully designed and packaged with style.  Bochner Chocolates is a wholly-owned daughter of Bochner Confections, a premium confection private label and contract manufacturing group – which develops, manufactures and sells assorted box chocolates, bars, coated articles and small assorted pieces.

Eric Bochner, founder, is a graduate of The French Pastry School.

www.bochnerchocolates.com • 319.354.7900

Chef Rubber Silicones & Supplies

Chef Rubber specializes in 2 part RTV silicone rubbers for mold making.  Chef Rubber silicones where developed for the artisan chef to make molds they can use for production, competition, one time special events and other creative applications.  Chef Rubber also supplies the tools necessary to complete the mold making process, as well as unique tools the artisan chef can use to create their works of edible art.

www.chefrubber.com • 702.614.9350

Clabber Girl Corporation

Clabber Girl is the leading manufacturer of baking powder in the nation.  For more than 150 years, Clabber Girl has earned the trust of home cooks and culinary professionals alike. Today, Clabber Girl is more than just baking powder; it is a leader in the food industry, expanding its product offerings to include a broader range of cooking and baking ingredients, creating a stronger presence in retail, foodservice and industrial markets.

www.clabbergirl.com

Connelly Roberts & McGivney LLC

Connelly Roberts & McGivney LLC is a full-service firm that provides legal services in all areas of corporate transactions, as well as in litigation involving mergers and acquisitions, securities, technology law, licensing, intellectual property, commercial real estate, healthcare, commercial litigation, professional liability, product liability, transportation, rail and aviation law, insurance and reinsurance disputes.

www.crmlaw.com • 312.251.9600

Eli's Cheesecake

At Eli’s Cheesecake, baking is an art as well as a science. Over the past 28 years we’ve continued our tradition of slow-baked and hand-decorated desserts, made with the finest ingredients, sourced from local suppliers. At Eli’s we believe that our products are only as good as our people. We are proud of our diverse workforce, mentor programs, and the technical training we provide which has lead to careers for aspiring chefs and scientific food specialists.

www.elicheesecake.com • 800.354.2253

Guittard

As the oldest family owned and operated chocolate company in the US, a new generation now continues to grow the company with the same indomitable spirit that has made the Guittard Chocolate Company one of the world's most respected purveyors of premium chocolate.

www.guittard.com • 800.468.2462

Horseshoe Casino

Horseshoe is not just another casino. It’s an original. One of the first great gambling joints. Since 1951, we’ve been giving gamblers the kind of action you won’t find anywhere else. Featuring world-class tables. And jackpots that are as big as they come. Add in award-winning restaurants, exceptional service, and the best comps in the business, and you’ve got Chicagoland’s favorite casino.

www.harrahs.com • 800.711.7463

Irinox

Irinox is the leading manufacturer of Blast Chillers and Shock Freezers. Present in more than 50 countries worldwide, Irinox is an innovator and a specialist that focuses on providing customer solutions and continuous technology advancement. Blast Chilling cooked food with Irinox triples the shelf life of cooked food while Shock Freezing allows products to be stored for months while preserving the original freshness, texture, flavor and aroma.

www.irinox.com

John E. Koerner Company

Since 1907, the John E. Koerner Company has been dedicated to bringing fine quality bakery supplies and specialty food products to its customers. Koerner imports and stocks chocolate decorations, canned and dried fruits, and tartlets from Europe. Our product mix supports the needs of our pastry chefs and now includes brands such as Comatec and IBC Belgium. In addition, Koerner stocks Barry Callebaut, Guittard, and Valrhona. Call us for your specific needs.

www.koerner-co.com • 504.734.1100

Labriola

www.labriolabaking.com • 708.385.4884

Orbitz

Welcome to Orbitz (www.orbitz.com) , a brand of Travelport, Inc. (www.travelport.com) . Orbitz is a leading online travel company offering leisure and business travelers a wide selection of low airfares, as well as deals on lodging, car rentals, cruises, vacation packages and other travel. The site was created to address consumers' need for a comprehensive display of fares and rates in a single location.

www.orbitz.com

Pfeil and Holing

Building beautiful cakes takes the right supplies, tools and equipment.  Everything you need to complete your dream cake is available from Pfeil & Holing.  Choose from over 7,500 items - from our exclusive Masterpiece Blooms gumpaste flower collection, to tier separators, bakeware, fondant, cookie faces and every tool and supply you'll need - shipped complete, on time and priced right.  We'll impress you!

www.cakedeco.com • 800.247.7955

Qzina

Qzina Specialty Foods is the largest importer and distributor of Specialty Chocolate, Pastry, and Dessert Ingredients in North America. Our range goes from imported Chocolate ( from Belgium, France and Germany ), chocolate decorations, chips and chunks, chocolate coatings, transfer sheets, purees, jams and glazes, pastry shells to a wide range of molds, pastry tools and equipment.

www.qzina.com

St-Germain

St-Germain liqueur is made from the Elderflower, a blossom of the Elder Tree, picked fresh from the Alps. St-Germain is the first liquer in the world created in the artisanal French manner from freshly handpicked elderflower blossoms. 

www.stgermain.fr

State Farm

The Jeff Keicher Agency is here to help our clients MANAGE the RISKS of everyday LIFE, RECOVER from the unexpected and REALIZE their DREAMS. We make it our business to be LIKE A GOOD NEIGHBOR we are a PREMIER AGENCY, making and keeping promises. We are the INSURER OF CHOICE in our marketplace offering ALL of the State Farm Insurance and Financial Services.

www.jeffkeicher.com • 877.895.5178

Synergy Flavors, Inc.

Synergy Flavors has 100 years of flavor expertise and tradition and is proud to sponsor this foundation, supporting sponsorships for students looking to enter the field of culinary arts. Synergy sources materials from around the world to bring inspiring tastes from classic organic vanillas to exotic lemongrass ginger or Scottish tayberry to your creations.

www.synergytaste.com • 847.487.1011

Testa Produce

Testa offers the quality and price value of a broadline distributor, but their outstanding service really distinguishes them. They supply all varieties of fresh fruits and vegetables—domestic and international—and frozen, canned and specialty products from their facility just west of the Loop.

Testa understands the importance of accurate and timely deliveries and strive for perfection. Their full service customer support department, open 24 hours a day, 6 days a week, is unique in the industry.

www.testaproduce.com • 312.226.3237

Union League Club

The Union League Club specializes in exceeding expectations - offering members unparalleled opportunities for camaraderie, stewardship and enrichment.  The Club delights in encouraging members to discover new interests and capabilities and to participate in nonpartisan political, social and civic affairs.

www.ulcc.org • 312.427.7800

MEDIA SPONSOR

metromix

Metromix is your one-stop local entertainment on where to go and what to do in Chicago, from the hottest restaurants and bars, to the latest in events, music, style, and TV.  With Metromix, you can search thousands of Chicago hotspots by neighborhood, type of food or music, a specific date. 

www.metromix.com