Need New Ideas - Local Nonprofit "Dining at Home"

I'm on the Board of a local nonprofit organization, Alexian Brothers AIDS Ministry. They provide housing and support for people with HIV/AIDS in East Lakeview and Waukegan, and they're building some permanent housing now, too.
http://www.bonaventurehouse.org/html/main.htm

We have a series of fundraisers called "Dining at Home." While there is some variation, the general framework is that a professional chef comes to someone's home, guests pay around $100/person to attend the dinner.
In the past this program has been successful.

The problem that we're currently facing is that many of the chefs that we've contacted feel overextended. Many chefs have already done benefits for Hurricane Katrina. They find it difficult to be away from the restaurant and cover additional costs for food.

In the past, we have held events at restaurants, including Thyme and Hot Tamales. The organization is willing to cover the costs, as long as we could still generate a profit.

So, I'm looking to my fellow foodies for any possible ideas to get this thing running better for 2006. I'd love any advice or ideas, very simple and very creative are both welcome.

We may seek out other opportunities to have "Dining at Home" at restaurants or do some homegrown "Dining at Home" where a less professional chef does the cooking. Last summer, we had a Southern BBQ in someone's backyard that was wildly successful.

Once again, I'm looking for any ideas or resources you all might suggest. I hate to hit a lull when these events are often great fundraisers for the organization. If we try "Dining at Home" in a restaurant or at home with a nonprofessional chef, does anyone have specific ideas as to venues, themes, etc.

Thank you! You all are just too resourceful for me not to ask.

My suggestion would be to poll your board members and supporters for places where they are regular customers, and ask them to try chefs at those restaurants. Restaurateurs appreciate their regulars and may respond better to a request from someone who's given them a lot of support.

Look especially at places that don't get a lot of press all the time and therefore aren't first on every charity's list. Some of the GNR chefs fall into that category. Other places to look at are very new restaurants, which are trying to get some notice.

Also, don't overlook caterers, hotels and banquet facilities, who often get less attention than restaurant chefs. If anyone in your group has held a wedding or other big and costly event lately, see if they'll approach their caterer or venue. Further, if anyone is a member of a private club, see if they can host an event for you there or recruit its chef. Gourmet shops and other retail stores may be an option, too.

Finally, look at other kinds of activities such as wine tastings, cooking classes and picnics, perhaps combined with other events such as concerts, movies or plays. Given the economic climate and the fact that givers are as tapped out as chefs, you might want to consider holding some smaller, less-expensive fundraisers, too.

PM me with your e-mail address and I'll see if I can come with some specific suggestions.