RampFest is The Land Connection’s annual Spring fundraiser, inspired by the wild ramp, allium tricocum, which is the first edible green to come up each spring, and which Chicago was named after. RampFest has rapidly gained in popularity over the past five years - selling out two weeks ahead of time in 2008 and was featured on Steve Dolinsky's Hungry Hound show on ABC-TV, on WBEZ's 848, and in the Chicago Tribune.

This year RampFest ’09, a benefit tasting featuring a live and silent auction, will be held on Friday, April 3 at the Garfield Park Conservatory in Chicago from 7:00 - 9:30 p.m. Make VIP reservations for sparkling wine from 6:00 - 7:00 p.m. with special guest emcee, Tallgrass Beef rancher Bill Kurtis and organic farmer auctioneer, Larry Wettstein, as we welcome students and graduates of our farmer and farmland programs.

All the ramps for the occasion will be donated by Kris and Marty Travis, the stewards of Spence Farm. Ramps from the first ramp harvest of the year will be transformed into a mouth-watering array of spectacular dishes created especially for the event by:

• Chef Paul Kahan, Blackbird Restaurant
• Chef Chris Opper, Food For Thought
• Chef John Bubala, Kendall Culinary College
• Chef Tony Galzin, mk Restaurant
• Chef Carrie Nahabedian, NAHA
• Chef Sarah Stegner & Chef George Bumbaris, Prairie Grass Cafe
• Chef Patrick S. Sheerin, The Signature Room at the 95th
• Chef Jonathan Goldsmith, Spacca Napoli Pizzeria
• Chef Jeff Muldrow, Va Pensiero
• Chef Paul Virant, Vie Restaurant

Reservations (held at the door): $75 before March 20, $125 VIP, $90 at the door.

To make your reservation please call (847) 570-0701 or purchase online now using PayPal (no PayPal account needed). To order by mail please send a check made payable to “The Land Connection” to:

RampFest 2009
The Land Connection
1227 Dodge Avenue, Suite 200
Evanston, IL 60202