Brandon Baltzley Hosting 10-Course Charity Pop-Up Dinner

The guy may have been down, but he's showing he's definitely not out. Brandon Baltzley, who had to exit his gig as exec chef at the now-open Tribute for a stint in rehab, is gearing up for a 10-course pop-up dinner in August with all proceeds going to charity.

Baltzley's eclectic menu will feature such, um, exotic ingredients as tobacco, bone marrow "scallop," eel gastrique and grass jam, alongside more traditional items like beef, broccoli, buttermilk panna cotta and caviar. Seatings will be staggered starting at 5 p.m. with everything finishing up by 10. The dinner is BYOB and beverage consultant Paige Jacoby will create non-alcoholic pairings for some courses.

The location, which will be revealed at 9 a.m. on the morning of the event via text, will be on the 32nd floor of a South Loop building with sweeping views of Lake Michigan and the skyline.

Proceeds from the Aug. 19 dinner, which will also be created by chefs Emmanuel Cadengo (Mado, Longman & Eagle) and Jaimee Vitolo (NY's Marlow and Sons, 6th St. Kitchen), will benefit the Chicago Recovery Alliance. Reservations for the $100 dinner can be made via email and confirmation will follow with payment instructions. No parties larger than four allowed and parties of two or less may be seated with other groups.
· Brandon Baltzley Out at Tribute; Lawrence Letrero In. Is Baltzley Heading to Rehab? [~EChi~]
· Look Inside Tribute, Opening Today Inside Essex Inn [~EChi~]