tonya gross millinery
LES DAMES HOST FASHION PLATES FUNDRAISER FEATURING tonya gross millinery
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

LES DAMES D’ESCOFFIER INTERNATIONAL
CHICAGO CHAPTER
www.lesdameschicago.org

CONTACT: Amelia Levin
Volunteer Media Coordinator
(312) 320-9459
amelia@amelialevin.com



LES DAMES HOST FASHION PLATES FUNDRAISER
SHOWCASING LOCAL FOOD AND FASHION

An evening with Chicago’s top chefs and fashion designers in a runway show and dinner gala.
CHICAGO – Chicago has two glamour camps - the foodie “in” crowd and the style conscious fashion scene. Every so often these worlds intertwine, and they’ll get that chance at Fashion Plates, a gala and runway show hosted by the Chicago Chapter of Les Dames d’Escoffier International, on May 10, 2010 at the Chicago Cultural Center..

In a “Top Chef” meets “Project Runway” event, Fashion Plates brings together six of the city’s most notable chefs with six top, local designers to create coordinating dishes and outfits based on fashion and food words drawn earlier out of a hat. Master Sommelier Alpana Singh of Lettuce Entertain You and host of WTTW’s Check Please! will emcee the event.

On the runway, chef and designer duos will showcase their collaborative efforts while guests get the chance to try the dishes at a seated dinner. Participating chefs include Dames Carrie Nahabedian of Naha and Shelley Young of the Chopping Block as well as Rick Gresh of David Burke’s Primehouse, Martial Noguier of Café des Architectes, Takashi Yagahashi of Takashi, and Randy Zweiban of Province, coupled with six outstanding Chicago designers—Pierre Colorado of Blake Standard, 5p1t designers Richard Morse and Daryl Sneed, Abigail Glaum-Lathbury, Tonya Gross, Michelle Tan, and Nora del Busto.

Proceeds from the dinner gala will go toward funding Les Dames-sponsored culinary school scholarships for outstanding women in the area. Part of the proceeds will also go toward Green Tables, a Les Dames Chicago Chapter initiative with the McCormick Boys & Girls club to teach children about healthy cooking and gardening.

“This is a very exciting event for Les Dames and everyone else,” said Nahabedian. “I am looking forward to working with Tonya to come up with a great dish and outfit that fits our two words, and to help raise money for a great cause.”

Zweiban showed similar enthusiasm for the event and collaboration process. “This event certainly takes everything out of the box,” said Zweiban, who is paired with Sneed and Morse. “When we looked at the colors and design of Province and at the fashion designers’ style, both are very tailored and sleek and there are a lot of similarities, so it will be interesting to see how that transforms into a complimentary dish and an outfit.”

Past recipients of the Les Dames Culinary Scholarship include JoAnn Relf, who now heads up the City of Chicago’s Culinary Concieges and World Kitchen programs, as well as Gail Mitchell, manager of the bake shop at Washburne’s Sikia Restaurant and Violeta Morales, Washburne Catering Manager.

“Working with Les Dames really opened my eyes – I didn’t realize there were so many women in the food industry that were top entrepreneurs and business leaders, and many have become my mentors,” said Relf, who used the scholarship to fund culinary studies at Washburne Culinary Institute.

Cocktails and Dinner
The Fashion Plates event kicks off with a cocktail hour featuring creations by Master Mixologist Adam Seger of Nacional 27, and passed hors d’oeuvres prepared by culinary students from CHIC, Kendall College, Robert Morris College and Washburne Culinary Institute.

Guests will also have the chance to peruse four table tops styled after Paris, Milan, New York and Chicago with china, crystal, linens, and centerpieces-all available for raffle.

When dinner service begins, guests will take their seats at tables for ten under the spectacular Tiffany dome in the Cultural Center’s Preston Bradley Hall. To start off, they’ll enjoy an amuse bouche prepared by the three scholarship winners.

The Runway Show
Let the show begin! The first three groups of fashion designers and chefs will make their way down the catwalk showcasing their outfit on live models as guests get to taste scaled down versions of their dishes. As an example, one pair chose the words tomato and tassel at random, while another pair plucked the words cinnamon and circular from a hat.

After a short break, the second group of three chef-designer duos will showcase their work on the runway as guests enjoy a second round of dishes.

Preparation for the event has allowed them the opportunity to branch out of their comfort zone into new forms of creativity in a truly collaborative partnership. In fact, Fig Media will shoot videos of the partnerships at work in their studio and play the footage in between runway shows.

Dessert Dash
Earlier in the evening, guests perused tables showcasing desserts created by leading pastry chefs in the city with the opportunity to bid on what they wanted to taste through a silent auction. During Dessert Dash, pastry queen Gale Gand will announce tables with the most bids and open final bidding up for a live auction.

Extravagent treats from Patty Rothman’s MORE Cupcakes as well as from Dames Dana Benigno and Tara Lane of Sweet Girls, Pamela Fitzpatrick and Melina Kelson will be available for auction; proceeds will also go toward culinary school scholarships and Green Tables.

The Details:
Fashion Plates
Monday, May 10, 2010
6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Chicago Cultural Center / Preston Bradley Hall
Price: $175
http://lesdameschicago.org/2010/01/2010-fundraiser-save-the-date/

About Les Dames d’Escoffier International
Les Dames d’Escoffier International (LDEI) is a worldwide society for women in culinary professions dedicated to achievement and excellence in their field through educational and charitable activities. The organization, meaning “The Women of Escoffier,” was named after Auguste Escoffier, the founder of modern French cuisine credited with elevating cooking to a professional craft. The Chicago Chapter was founded as a non-profit organization in 1983 to further the appreciation of food and wine. Through pro-active and charitable activities, the organization also seeks to mentor women in previously male-dominated culinary positions by developing leadership skills and fostering entrepreneurship. www.ldei.org.


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For more information, please contact Amelia Levin at
(312) 320-9459 or amelia@amelialevin.com
tonya gross millinery at new york fashion week 2010
tonya gross millinery is pleased to announce the premiere of the video presentation of anitra michelle for plutocracy at new york fashion week 2010 featuring head wear from tonya gross millinery s/s 2010.

be plutocracy

press inquiries:
info@beplutocracy.com
tonyagrossmillinery@gmail.com

special thanks to Opé!

photographer: zenith richards
stylist: Opé
make up: roshar
hair stylist: linh nguyen
models: anjhula singh bais, alex, hawa, michelle joo and kenneth johannes
Les Dames d'Escoffier Fundraiser: Fashion Plate, 10 May 2010
Please save the date!

The Les Dames d'Escoffier Fundraiser, Fashion Plate, 10 May 2010, will feature tonya gross millinery! This unique evening celebrates a few of our favorite things: Food, Fashion, Beautiful Tables and Sweet Desserts!

Six prominent chefs will be paired with six up-and-coming designers to create a unique dish with a complementary fashion ensemble. Think Top Chef Masters meets Project Runway-- all while guests dine at elegant tables under the Tiffany Dome at Preston Bradley Hall at Chicago Cultural Center.

Come eat, drink and be merry with the Chicago Chapter of Les Dames d'Escoffier and tonya gross millinery!

Chef/Owner Carrie Nahabedian, Naha, with tonya gross
Chef Martial Noguier, Cafe des Architects, with Nora del Busto
Owner Shelly Young, The Chopping Block, with Abigail Glaum-Lathbury
Chef Rick Gresh, David Burkes Primehouse, with Michelle Tan
Chef/Owner Takashi Yagahashi, Takashi, with Pierre Colorado,Blake Standard
Chef Randy Zweiban, Province, with Tennille White

Proceeds to benefit:
Scholarships for students in the culinary arts
McCormick Boys and Girls Club
Greater Chicago Food Depository

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tonya gross millinery hat in Chicago Magazine, February 2010
"ginger" featured in Chicago Magazine, February 2010

"ginger" from tonya gross millinery featured on Marisa Wegrzyn, winner of the 2009 Wendy Wasserstein prize for her play,%hickorydickory%in the February 2010 issue of Chicago Magazine.
link to article is pending...
tonya gross millinery's hat "pin up" featured in Chicago Tribune Style
Sunday, 15 November 2009
Practical magic Cold comforts. Gloves, hats, scarves -- she's gotta have them. But infuse them with some practical magic.

"Generate heat rather than losing it with a hat that projects personality plus. "Even with a plain coat, a hat adds instant total style," Hamill says. Tonya Gross "Pin Up" purple hat, price on request, at tonyagrossmillinery.com."

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Fashion Focus Chicago Glitter Holiday Shopping Event
tonya gross millinery to showcase fall/winter 2009 collection at the Fashion Focus Chicago Glitter Event

Preston Bradley Hall
Chicago Cultural Center
76 E Washington Street, 3rd Floor
Thursday, 3 December
11am-8pm

Please join us for an evening of fashion featuring local clothing and accessories designers!

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interrogating the interesting: defining millinery with local chicago artist tonya gross
15 September 2009
interrogating the interesting: defining millinery with local chicago artist tonya gross
interrogated. still interesting?
read the interview

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thursday, 17 sep: Fashion Focus Chicago Fashion Cafe: Accessories!
An Evening of Accessories featuring hats by tonya gross millinery and other Chicago accessories designers

Thursday, 17 September
5-8pm
Chicago Cultural Center, 1st floor
77 E Randolph @ Michigan Ave
need more information? |tonyagross@gmail.com|email us

Flyer

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tonya gross of tonya gross millinery wins 2008 Hatty Award!
8 January 2009
http://www.hatlife.com/hatty_a

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tonya gross wins Raymond Hudd Millinery Award at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago
tonya gross millinery is THRILLED to announce that Tonya Gross has won a Raymond Hudd Millinery Award from the Fashion Department at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) for her collection for spring 2008.

The Raymond Hudd Millinery Awards are given to SAIC millinery students in honor of renowned Chicago hat designer Raymond Hudd. Raymond Hudd's millinery career spanned over 50 years and is one of the last of his generation of great milliners. Whimsical, humorous and beautifully crafted hats are his signature.

Tonya Gross says "she is truly honored to receive an award in the name of one of her favorite milliners. Raymond Hudd is a legend and an inspiration."

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shows, exhibitions and installations

2009 Fashion Focus Chicago Summer Sidewalk Sale & Fashion Show
2009 Wolfbait & B-girls Headwear Trunk Show, Chicago, IL
2008 Glessner House Museum, Holiday Arts & Crafts Show, Chicago, IL
2008 Chicago Fashion Week, O’Hare Fashion Show, Department of Cultural Affairs, City of Chicago
2008 “DeVine Hats” Millinery Exhibition, TLD Design Center and Gallery, Westmont, IL
2008 Fall Collection Trunk Show, Strand, Chicago, IL
2008 2nd Annual Sidewalk Sale & Fashion Show, Department of Cultural Affairs, City of Chicago
2008 Student Fashion Show & Exhibition, Fashion Department, the School of the Art Institute
2008 Student Art Sale, the School of the Art Institute
2008 Fleurotica Fashion Show, 100-Year Gala, Garfield Park Conservatory
2008 Dedication Ceremony & Student Exhibition, Fashion Department, School of the Art Institute
2007 Chicago Artists Month, TLD Design Center and Gallery Exhibition, Westmont, IL
2007 FlatFile Galleries Wearable Art Show, Chicago, IL
2007 The Drake Hotel Arcade vitrine exhibit, Chicago, IL
2007 “Spring Fling” Millinery Exhibition, The Drake Hotel, Chicago, IL
2007 1st Annual Sidewalk Sale & Fashion Show, Department of Cultural Affairs, City of Chicago
2007 St Anne Women’s Luncheon, Millinery Exhibition, Barrington, IL
2006 Chicago Artists Month, TLD Design Center and Gallery, Westmont, IL
2006 Bastille Day Celebration, Millinery Exhibition, Department of Cultural Affairs, Maxim’s, Chicago, IL
2006 Garden Party 2006, Fundraising Event/Exhibition, Parkways Foundation, Chicago, IL
2006 Student Fashion Show, the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL