Friends of James Beard benefit dinner - Nov. 18 - MK

On Nov. 18, some of the brightest stars in the local culinary world will align for a night of food and fundraising for the first Friends of James Beard benefit dinner.

River North's MK the Restaurant will host the evening, which will feature a mash-up meal of cuisines created by local and visiting chefs, including Grant Achatz of Alinea and the Aviary; Paul Kahan of Blackbird and Publican; Mindy Segal of Mindy's Hot Chocolate; Grant MacPherson of Scotch Myst in Las Vegas; Lachlan MacKinnon-Patterson of Frasco Food & Wine in Boulder, Colo.; and sommelier Ken Fredrickson of Tenzing Wine & Spirits in Chicago.

MK's chef and owner, Michael Kornick, executive chef Erick Williams and pastry chef Lisa Bonjour also will contribute to the meal. The chefs all will attend the dinner.