121 Plates to Raise Awareness for Mental Health

On Sunday, Jan. 21, six of Chicago’s most well-respected chefs and mixologists come together at GreenRiver (259 E. Erie St., 18^th floor) to raise money and awareness for mental health.

The benefit dinner, entitled 121 Plates, symbolizes the 121 Americans who complete suicide each day, and gives participating chefs a platform to break the silence about suicide prevention in the hospitality industry and beyond.

The evening consists of a one-time-only, six-course dinner with optional beverage pairings prepared by: Brian Ahern (Boeufhaus), Aaron Lirette (GreenRiver), Ryan McCaskey (Acadia), Ryan Pfeiffer (Blackbird), Andrew Zimmerman (Sepia/Proxi), and Laura Kelton (Sportsman’s Club).

Seatings for the benefit dinner begin at 5 p.m. with the last seating taken at 9 p.m. Tickets are priced at $121 per person, with an optional wine pairing for an additional $48 per person. Sportsman’s Club offers an a la carte cocktail selection at the GreenRiver bar throughout the evening. Tickets can be purchased online at 121plates.org.

All the funds from the dinner are being donated directly to Sip of Hope, the world’s first coffee shop where 100 percent of the proceeds support proactive suicide prevention and mental health education. Sip of Hope is a project between Hope for the Day and Dark Matter coffee, and is scheduled to open in Logan Square this Spring.

GreenRiver  is the Michelin-starred restaurant by Danny Meyer’s Union Square Hospitality Group located in Chicago’s Streeterville neighborhood. With one of the city’s largest outdoor terraces, GreenRiver boasts sweeping views of Lake Michigan and the city’s downtown skyline. Native Chicagoan and Executive Chef Aaron Lirette’s menu is solidly rooted in Midwestern mentality, paying tribute to Chicago’s culinary past and present, with nods to modern gastronomy technique. GreenRiver’s nationally-recognized bar program is led by Head Bartender Amit Gilad, a transplant from Israel, who incorporates his diverse background into the 22-drink cocktail menu. The ingredient-driven menu is organized to reflect guests’ ‘mood of the moment’ with the categories Refresh, Contemplate, Indulge, and Savor. Barrel-aged cocktails round out the drink menu, which is complemented by an all-American wine list and craft beers on tap, predominantly from Chicago breweries. GreenRiver also offers a variety of versatile dining and event spaces including Gallery at GreenRiver and Annex.