2021-03-20 01:02:16
ECO-CONSCIOUS VENUES AND CATERING Plan an eco-friendly event in Chicago, one of the first cities in the world to receive LEED for Cities Platinum certification from the U.S. Green Building Council — the highest level achievable. We’ve rounded up a selection of some of the most environmentally responsible venues and caterers in the city. VENUES The Midwest’s largest outdoor rooftop garden sits atop the LEED-certified McCormick Place, with a terrace that can accommodate up to 800 guests for receptions. The 2.5-acre garden produces roughly 8,000 pounds of seasonal vegetables and herbs that are used in **SAVOR…Chicago at McCormick Place’**s kitchens, the convention center’s exclusive food and beverage provider. SAVOR leads the meetings industry in green certifications. Its innovative Grind2Energy system converts nearly 100 percent of McCormick Place’s pre-consumer food waste into renewable energy. You can’t get much greener than the Chicago Botanic Garden in Glencoe, home to more than 25 blooming gardens and the Platinum LEED-certified Learning Center. The waterside McGinley Pavilion is the perfect spot to hold a summer cocktail party for up to 350 guests. Plan a party in the treetops at the seasonal Bird’s Eye Bar & Grill at Lincoln Park Zoo. The picturesque, open-air rooftop venue is certified by the Green Restaurant Association. It accommodates 235 people seated (200 with a dance floor) or 400 reception-style. Greenhouse Loft is located within the Platinum LEED-certified Green Exchange building, a former manufacturing facility. The light-filled venue holds up to 225 people and features an outdoor garden. On-site recycling and composting systems reduce up to 90 percent of event-generated waste. Chicago’s renowned Studio Gang architecture firm offers a nature escape with the Studio Gang Treehouse, located atop its Wicker Park headquarters. The glass-walled rooftop venue, with room for 60 people, overlooks a prairie ecosystem buzzing with birds and beehives. CATERERS Food for Thought creates dishes that are ethically sourced and sustainable, using ingredients such as cage-free eggs and responsibly caught seafood. The caterer operates Mae District, a historic Motor Row venue accommodating up to 400 guests. The wife and daughter of noted Chicago restaurateur Phil Stefani are the power duo behind Inspired Catering & Events. With sustainability in mind, ingredients for dishes are sourced from local farmers markets by the caterer’s chef, a graduate of Le Cordon Bleu. Family-owned The Paramount Group is certified by the Green Restaurant Association. The caterer picks fruits, vegetables, and herbs from its own West Loop greenhouse, which yields bounties all year round. Its chef-driven cuisine is focused on fresh, all-natural food. Catering by Michaels is the only caterer in North America that’s certified by both the Green Restaurant Association and Green Seal. To minimize waste, the caterer offers returnable packaging (such as Pyrex) and biodegradable products like tree-free napkins and compostable plates. Blue Plate Catering was Chicago’s first certified Green Caterer. Blue Plate diverts more than 100 tons of food and other organic waste yearly from its kitchens, recycling it into renewable energy and high-quality compost. Plan a meeting or event at Larkin Hall, Blue Plate’s state-of-the-art venue. Limelight Catering was a pioneer in the conscious catering movement, installing the city’s first green commercial dishwashing system and purchasing renewable energy credits. Limelight embraces a socially responsible farm-to-table ethos, incorporating local and sustainable ingredients in its dishes.
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