Our Workforce Development Partners
We strive to provide quality connections and a step up for our students in their new careers. By sharing their knowledge of culinary and hospitality career paths, our employment partners, guest presenters and chefs have made a huge impact on the success of our students.
We are always happy to welcome new partners. If you run a culinary or hospitality business and are interested in hiring our qualified graduates, contact us. Call us at 773-247-3663 for more information.
Employment Partners
These businesses employ graduates of our workforce development programs. Employment partners find qualified and dedicated staff through this program while supporting the mission of the Food Depository by investing in the employability of program graduates.
- Ain’t She Sweet Café
- Aramark at Soldier Field
- Belhaven Nursing and Rehabilitation Center
- Boka Restaurant Group: GT Fish & Oyster, J Parker
- Brookdale Senior Living
- Brown Sugar Bakery
- Buzz Café (Oak Park)
- Carole Robertson Center for Learning
- Chartwells
- Chipotle
- The Chopping Block
- The Duck Inn
- Eataly Chicago
- Evelyn’s Food Love
- Farmer’s Fridge
- Farmhouse Evanston
- Gary Comer Youth Center
- Gibsons Restaurant Group: Quartino Ristorante
- Gourmet Gorilla
- Griffith Foods
- Harvest Room (Palos Heights)
- Hilton’s Hotels
- Honest Foods Catering
- Honey Baked Ham Company
- J&L Catering
- Jewell Events Catering
- Joe’s on Weed Street
- Lettuce Entertain You
- Mariano’s
- Mather LifeWays
- Oak Lawn Respiratory & Rehabilitation Center
- One Off Hospitality Group: The Publican, Publican Quality Meats, Big Star, Dove’s Luncheonette
- Pathways Supportive Living Facilities
- Pacific Standard Time Restaurant
- Pete’s Fresh Market
- Presence Health
- The Salvation Army
- St. Bernard Hospital
- The Spoke & Bird
- Sopraffina Marketcaffe
- South Shore Hospital
- Taste 222
- Urbanbelly
- Vie Restaurant
- Wheat’s End Cafe
- Whole Foods Market
Chef Mentors/Demo Product Donors
These chefs and their businesses contribute materials and professional mentorship to our job training program. Their contributions provide students with valuable insight and educate on the diverse career paths that exist in the culinary and hospitality industries.
- Dan Kurczak – Fortune Fish & Gourmet
- Chef Michele Glancey – Chef’s Warehouse
- Chef Amy Biller – Folkart Management
Our Restaurant Partners
We’re thankful for the support we receive from Chicago’s proud culinary community. Local chefs, restaurants and catering companies help to raise awareness and funds for our mission to end hunger.
- Big Star
- Boka
- Bread & Wine
- Café Spiaggia
- Carnivale
- Cold Storage
- David Burke’s Primehouse
- Devon Seafood Grill
- Ditka’s
- Duck Duck Goat
- Eddie V’s
- Edzo’s Burger Shop
- Farmhouse Chicago
- Frontera Grill
- The Gage
- Gibsons Steakhouse
- Girl & The Goat
- Harry Caray’s Restaurant
- Howells & Hood
- Italian Village Restaurants
- J. Parker
- Kinzie Chophouse
- Lawry’s The Prime Rib
- Little Goat
- Mastro’s Steakhouse
- Mexique
- Momotaro
- Morton’s Steakhouse
- Nico Osteria
- Pub Royale
- Range Restaurant
- River Roast
- Saigon Sisters
- Shula’s Steak House
- Smith & Wollensky
- Swift & Sons
- Travelle
- Wildfire Chicago
