Locavore Farm’s Dine on the Land w/ Chef Max Kolker

This year marks a decade of Dine on the Land and we couldn’t be more excited to celebrate this milestone with you. Over the years Locavore Farm has grown into one of Illinois’ premier agri-tourism destinations offering an unparalleled farm-to-table experience that brings people together through food farming and storytelling.

​​​Dine on the Land – A Night to Remember

Step away from the city and into an unforgettable evening at Dine on the Land—a four-hour journey of food music and connection set on a breathtaking 30-acre permaculture-based estate.

​An Immersive Farm-to-Table Experience

Begin your evening with a toast at our outdoor bar where locally crafted beverages set the tone for a relaxed yet vibrant gathering.

Tour the farm with Farmer Jones walking the land where your meal begins. Gain an intimate connection to the food the farmers and the regenerative practices that make this place special.

Gather at our stunning 110-foot handcrafted table surrounded by the beauty of nature. Here you’ll witness open-air cooking at its finest as chefs transform ingredients—harvested just steps away—into a multi-course meal smoked charred and roasted to perfection.

As the night unfolds live music fills the air blending with the warmth of the firelight. Dance on the grass sip from your glass and enjoy the company of those around you.

Close out the evening fireside where s’mores laughter and starlit skies make for a perfect ending.

Chicago-based and internationally traveled Chef Aram Reed is renowned for his expertise in private dining catering and interactive culinary instruction. A Le Cordon Bleu-trained chef Aram refined his craft in Sorrento Italy embracing the art of regional Italian cooking before establishing his bespoke dining business in Chicago. With a passion for bold flavors and fresh ingredients he creates stunning customized menus that deliver an unforgettable experience for every guest.

Chef Max Kolker Chicago

September 13

urrently a Sous Chef at Perilla one of Chicago’s top 50 restaurants Max Kolker is a rising star in the culinary world. His background includes working at acclaimed establishments like North Pond Disney’s Tiffins Signature Dining and Aspen Meadows Resort. His expertise spans everything from fine dining to wood-fired cooking and he thrives in high-energy innovative kitchens.

At Locavore Max is already influencing the farm’s crop selections requesting specialty Korean peppers Napa cabbage and garlic chives to complement his vision. With the outdoor grill smokers and open-fire pit moved to center stage guests will witness him expertly searing basting and charring ingredients to perfection. His approach fuses technique with instinct tradition with modernity—a thrilling balance that will unfold before guests’ eyes in a feast of fire and flavor.

As Locavore Farm celebrates a decade of Dine on the Land these chefs will not only cook—they will immerse themselves in the land harvesting alongside the team forging connections between soil fire and plate. Each dinner will be a wild sensory experience an open-air symphony of flavors and stories reviving the mind body and soul through the age-old tradition of gathering around a shared meal.

What’s Included in Your Ticket?

Multi-course farm-to-table feast featuring live-fire cooking and fresh seasonal ingredients

Live concert under the stars with a front-row seat to an intimate open-air performance

Guided farm tour to experience the land and meet the farmers who nurture it

Bonfire and s’mores to cap off the night with warmth and nostalgia

Farm market and mini shop to browse fresh provisions and artisan goods

Live cooking demos and food stories as chefs bring the flavors to life

Locally crafted beverages available at our outdoor bar

Fresh flowers to take home a fragrant reminder of the night

Also check out other Food & Drink events in Grant Park, Music events in Grant Park, Workshops in Grant Park.