Free Cooking Demonstrations

The North Suburban Legal Aid Clinic hosts a virtual cooking demonstration with professional chefs on the second Thursday of each month, inviting anyone with questions about domestic violence to ask those questions to NSLAC attorneys anonymously in the chat. The cooking demonstrations include a live chat via RingCentral. Guests can ask questions anonymously and seek help. No domestic violence content is shown in the video. Guests can log on anonymously using an alias. No registration is required.

Join any of our cooking demonstrations with professional chefs. Details below.

 

April 2023

Chef Mark Kwasigroch has been baking since 1975.  He owned his own bakery on Chicago’s North Shore for 20 years. He was a Chef Instructor at Kendall College while also consulting with his wife, Chef Veronica, in the growth of her business Dream Cakes. Since 2016 Chef Mark has been part of Dream Cakes full-time. Click here to join. 

May 2023

Trained pastry chef Anya Viner of Northfield will demonstrate how she creates her uncommon challah, such as Cinnamon Roll, Pesto Swirl, S’morEO, Pumpkin Pinata, and more. After baking more than 2,000 loaves of all kinds of challah over 16 years for her family and friends, word got out, and Anya was then baking for the North Shore. This led to teaching synagogue challah bakes, Zoom classes for numerous Jewish organizations, and private clients’ parties. But, more importantly, gave Anya a chance to put her artistic side to work. Click here to join. 

 

More About NSLAC's Cooking Demonstrations

The North Suburban Legal Aid Clinic is dedicated to reaching victims of domestic violence with information about how to obtain help and stay safe. In October 2020, NSLAC partnered with the Vernon Area Public Library to develop the website www.BananaBreadHelp.com. This website is a discreet way of getting critical information to victims. It is a disguise for individuals to learn about domestic violence and obtain resources for help without leaving an obvious digital trace. Building on the success of the website’s ability to reach domestic violence victims where they are, NSLAC hosted its first live cooking demonstration in December 2020.

For more information about NSLAC or our domestic violence resources, email info@NSLegalAid.org or call 847 737 4042.

We are so thankful to all previous participants! Please email info@nslegalaid.org if you would like to be a future guest.

 

Previous Guests:

March 2023- Mila Furman from Girl and the Kitchen 

Mila Furman is a recipe developer, writer, photographer, and chef. She has worked in many incredible restaurant kitchens as a chef, and she knows what it takes to make wholesome and delicious food with simple ingredients and bright flavors. Mila believes that anyone can make great-tasting food by knowing a few tips for the trade. 

Girl and the Kitchen is Mila’s thriving private chef and boutique cater company in the Chicago area, specializing in serving many homes on the North Shore. Learn more at https://girlandthekitchen.com.

February 2023- Nancy Krent

Nancy Krent is a retired lawyer.  Currently, Ms. Krent is an adjunct faculty member at Chicago-Kent College of Law, and she also serves as a mediator and trainer with the Center for Conflict Resolution.  More importantly, she is an avid home cook, and she is working on her baking skills.

October 2022- Judy's Pizza

Judy's Pizza is a family-owned local pizzeria serving the best pizza in town! The pizzeria was established in 1979 in Deerfield and in 1996, moved to its current location in Highland Park, IL. They use the highest quality ingredients from locally sourced vendors, with each pizza crafted to your liking!

Learn more at https://www.judyspizza.com/

September 2022- Nicole Putzel from Putzel Kitchen

Chef Nicole Putzel is a classically trained chef, cookbook author, recipe developer, and private cooking instructor in the North Shore of Chicago. In addition to leading private classes, she teaches cooking and nutritional skills to children and teens through a variety of after-school programs. As a trained chef, a teacher, and a mother, Nicole has seen how new foods and flavors can be exciting to kids and adults alike. Her goal is to bring that edible excitement to your table.

Learn more at https://www.putzelkitchen.com.

August 2022- Tracey Sachs

Tracey Sachs is a local baker! It all started when she was a real little girl. She'd come home from nursery school and her mom was always in the kitchen. She'd plop herself up on a countertop following her afternoon nap and they'd talk about her day and what she learned and then the magic started ... they'd cook, they'd bake and they would just have fun. This happened every day of the week. She was more than mommy's little helper. She immersed herself in it. She's been in the kitchen ever since. She loves to cook but baking is her real passion. For almost 30 years, she has been creating delicious goodies for teachers, tradesmen, friends, professionals, and numerous philanthropic events, all for pleasure.

July 2022- Jessie Becker from Herbivore Galore

herbivore.galore is a hub for all things vegan and for all food lovers. Delicious recipes, amazing vegan/vegan-friendly restaurants, alternative product recommendations, information on the benefits of veganism/going more plant-based, vegan memes, and more!

Peace starts with how we treat the most vulnerable. Spread hummus, not hate.

Learn more at Instagram: @herbivore.galore

June 2022- Mila Furman from Girl and The Kitchen

Mila Furman is a recipe developer, writer, photographer, and chef. She has worked in many incredible restaurant kitchens as a chef, and she knows what it takes to make wholesome and delicious food with simple ingredients and bright flavors. Mila believes that anyone can make great tasting food by knowing a few tips of the trade.

Girl and the Kitchen is Mila’s thriving private chef and boutique cater company in the Chicago area, specializing in serving many homes on the North Shore. We made salad dressings together!

Learn more at https://girlandthekitchen.com/  TikTok: @girlandthekitchen Instagram: @girlandthekitchen

May 2022- Cathy Cunningham from Cake Craze 

It all started with a sweet tooth, a lightbulb, and some Jiffy cake mix….For those of a certain age, you know exactly what Cathy is talking about! For those who have no idea, Google “baking with a light bulb.”

As Cathy Cunningham grew from a child baking in a toy oven to an adult utilizing a double convection, her sweet tooth remained, but it evolved. She became an avid label-reader with an aversion to preservatives, chemicals, and hydrogenated fats in my foods. With this anti-artificial-ingredient mindset serving as my guide, she committed herself to creating desserts that contain none of these additives.

For the better part of a quarter-century, she has been perfecting the recipes she uses for her artisanal cakes and other desserts. Referred to as “The Cake Lady” by friends and family for always baking birthday, holiday, and other special event treats, for years she was encouraged to open a baking business. Then, after 20+ years of nudging, Cake Craze was launched!

Cake Craze’s commitment to every customer is simple: Every dessert ordered is made from scratch using pure, whole, quality ingredients. No Cake Craze product will ever simply look beautiful – though the aesthetic is extremely important. It will first and foremost taste AMAZING. No dessert leaves the Cake Craze kitchen unless and until it meets this exacting quality standard.

Cathy made chocolate Oreo cake truffles with us in May.  Learn more at https://www.cake-craze.com/about

April 2022- Daniela, Oh Lala! Cakes and Veronica, Dream Cakes

Oh Lala! Cakes is a customized cake studio located in Northbrook, IL. They bake special occasion treats for weddings, bridal and baby showers, birthday parties, and holidays. Oh Lala! Cakes is owned and operated by Mexican pastry chef Daniela Segoviano. Daniela was joined by Veronica of Dream Cakes. Learn more about Oh Lala! Cakes at: https://ohlalacakes.com/ Instagram: @ohlalacakeschicago FB: Oh Lala Cakes

March 2022- Mark, Dream Cakes

Chef Mark Kwasigroch has been baking since 1975.  He owned his own bakery on Chicago’s North Shore for 20 years, he was a Chef Instructor at Kendall College while also consulting along with his wife, Chef Veronica, in the growth of her business Dream Cakes. Since 2016 Chef Mark has been part of Dream Cakes full time. Learn more about Dream Cakes at http://www.dreamcakeschicago.com/.

February 2022- Chef Nicole Putzel, Putzel Kitchen

Chef Nicole Putzel is a classically trained chef, cookbook author, recipe developer, and private cooking instructor in the North Shore of Chicago. In addition to leading private classes, she teaches cooking and nutritional skills to children and teens through a variety of after-school programs. As a trained chef, a teacher, and a mother, Nicole has seen how new foods and flavors can be exciting to kids and adults alike. Her goal is to bring that edible excitement to your table. This was Nicole's second time partnering with us for cooking demonstrations. Learn more at https://www.putzelkitchen.com.

January 2022- Moishe & David, Casa De Isaac

Brothers Isaac, Moishe, David and Israel hail from the town of Huitzuco, Guerrero de los Figueroa in Mexico. The Nava brothers moved to America at a very young age. Prior to the opening of the restaurant and the deli, the brothers worked for 20 years in the restaurant industry. This inspired them to chase the American dream by opening a restaurant and deli where they could prepare the dishes that their mother served them as children. La Casa De Isaac was established in 2010. Now it’s their pleasure to serve their family recipes and dishes to you. They seek to share the soulful food of their home and family as you continue to share your homes and families with them. Learn more at: http://lacasadeisaacmoishe.com/

December 2021- Rebecca Weininger, North Suburban Legal Aid Clinic

Our amazing Director of  Domestic Violence Law Practice, Rebecca, took us back to our roots with a banana bread demonstration with a recipe created by her daughter. We began this initiative with Rebecca hosting banana bread demonstrations while having the other attorneys answer domestic violence-related questions.  We returned to this format for December- Rebecca baking, Ilana & Charlotte answering questions. Rebecca was entertaining as ever, and cameos were made by her partner, mother-in-law, father-in-law, and daughter.

 

November 2021- Jimmy Thai/Ramen Time

Jimmy Thai/Ramen Time offers fresh, authentic Thai food, made to order with casual dine-in and carry-out services at 405 Lake Cook Road, Deerfield, IL. Chef Jimmy has made appearances at Chicago Gourmet in 2017, 2018, and 2019 with Chicago Tribune recognition honor in each of the first two years. Jimmy and his staff strive to be the best in serving quality Thai food and prompt, friendly service during busy weekday lunches or family-packed evenings for dinner.

Learn more at http://www.jimmythaideerfield.com/

 

October 2021- Madame Zuzu's

Musician Billy Corgan, founder of the Grammy-award-winning band, The Smashing Pumpkins, and fashion designer Chloé Mendel established Madame Zuzu’s, a local plant-based teashop in Highland Park, IL, combining insanely delicious plant-based foods with teas of the world and good vibes. Chloé Mendel was raised in New York City by French and Taiwanese parents, Chloe grew up in the fashion by day and cooked with her family at night. She lives between New York and Chicago with her son, Augustus, her daughter, Clementine, and partner Billy Corgan. Growing up with an auto-immune disease, eating with her family, and not feeling left out was her goal by cooking the family meals herself. The importance of eating together has been vital to her family values so she made it a mission to make her 'special’ food taste delicious to everyone. Madame ZuZu’s is an extension of her conscious lifestyle. Eat great food without feeling like you are making a sacrifice. Learn more at www.madamezuzus.com Instagram: @madamezuzus @chloemendel Facebook: www.facebook.com/MadameZuZusTeahouse

 

September 2021- MK Fresas

Delicious custom chocolate-covered strawberries that make a great treat for any event. MK Fresas was started by two college students four years ago. They have continued to pursue their passion for creating custom and one-of-a-kind treats for our all to enjoy.

 

Learn more at https://linktr.ee/mkfresas Instagram: @mkfresas Facebook: @mkfresas

 

August 2021- Rachel Cantor of Morning Brew

Rachel Cantor is a foodie and writer at Morning Brew. She writes Sidekick, a 2x a week newsletter curating recommendations around smarter living. Rachel is originally from North Shore suburbs (Glencoe) and currently lives in New York City.

 

Learn more at https://www.morningbrew.com/sidekick

 

July 2021- Chef Nicole Putzel of Putzel Kitchen

Chef Nicole Putzel is a classically trained chef, cookbook author, recipe developer, and private cooking instructor in the North Shore of Chicago. In addition to leading private classes, she teaches cooking and nutritional skills to children and teens through a variety of after-school programs. As a trained chef, a teacher, and a mother, Nicole has seen how new foods and flavors can be exciting to kids and adults alike. Her goal is to bring that edible excitement to your table.

Learn more at https://www.putzelkitchen.com.

 

June 2021- Elmer Martinez of Ravinia Brewing Company 

Chef Elmer makes Ravinia Brewing’s delicious tacos. One of the fastest-growing brands in the Chicagoland area, Ravinia Brewing Company has a cozy Taproom and Taco Bar located in the historic Ravinia Business District in Highland Park. The Taproom features amazing craft beer, live music, and an expansive beer garden. Ravinia Brewing will be opening its second location in the Logan Square neighborhood of Chicago in 2021.

Learn more at https://www.raviniabrewing.com/.

 

May 2021- Wendy Malkin of Sugarcraft LLC

Cookie artist, Wendy Malkin, of Barrington started decorating as a hobby, which then became a favor for friends’ parties and events. Soon enough, Wendy began getting calls from all over the area for her delicious and creative cookies. Soon after, Sugarcraft was born.

Learn more at https://sugarcraftllc.com

 

April 2021- Anya Viner of Tigertail Bakery

Anya taught us how to make rainbow-themed challah! Each week she creates a unique challah, such as Cinnamon Roll, Pesto Swirl, S'moreEO, and the list goes on. She has taught hundreds of people to make challah at challah bakes and in private classes.

Learn more at https://tigertailbakery.com