Mariano’s hires chef to oversee in-store dining options

According to Crain’s, Mariano’s has hired chef Ryan LaRoche as its first executive chef and vice president of culinary. La Roche was the former head chef at NoMi Kitchen.

LaRoche will begin working at the local grocery chain this month.

To see the complete article from Crain’s, click here.

South Loop Pantry volunteer opportunities meeting August 20, 2014

South Loop Community Church Food Pantry, 1347 S. State St., is looking for volunteers to help with their food pantry and clothes closet ministries. The church will be holding a brief introduction meeting on volunteer opportunities, Wednesday August 20, 2014 at 7:15 p.m.

The food pantry serves between 85 and 100 walk-ins every week.

In operation for over two years, the food pantry serves between 85 and 100 walk-ins every week. If you’re looking for a way to serve or give back to your community, volunteering at the food pantry might be for you. The food pantry needs volunteers on Saturday mornings, when food distribution takes place, as well as during the week to help with accepting food deliveries and restocking shelves.

The food pantry offers free produce three times a month.

Food distribution is every Saturday, 9-11 a.m. Three times a month, the pantry also offers fresh produce. The clothes closet distributes clothes and accessories for men, women, and children twice a month. The clothes closet operates the second and third Saturdays of every month during the food distribution. After food pantry clients get their food, they can look at clothing.

Click here to download this flyer.

The food pantry has partnered with local businesses, like Overflow Coffee Bar, Marianos, Pret A Manger, and Urban Re-Mix, and community organizations like Greater South Loop Association (GSLA). The GSLA contributed $1000 to the help the pantry buy turkeys last year for Thanksgiving baskets.

For more information, visit the church’s Web site or contact them via e-mail at southloopcommunitychurch@gmail.com or call the church office at 312.566.9076.

For a look at how the food pantry operates, check out this post from local South Loop blogger Bonnie McGrath.

If you would like to promote this volunteer event in your building or office, click here to download flyer.


Full disclosure: The writer of this blog is a regular volunteer at the South Loop Community Church Food Pantry. It’s been a rewarding experience serving folks in need from our neighborhood.

Dominick’s pulling out of Chicago

According to the Chicago Tribune, Dominick’s grocery stores, will be leaving the Chicago market by next year. Safeway Inc., parent company of Dominick’s is the second largest grocery chain and currently has 72 Dominick’s supermarkets in Chicagoland.

To read the complete article, visit the Tribune Web site.

Will you miss Dominick’s? In the South Loop, we’re the opposite of a food desert, with Whole Foods, Target, Trader Joe’s, Jewel, and now Mariano’s grocery stores all within a mile of each other.