The Andersonville Chamber of Commerce Presents CULINARY BATTLE ROYALE

Local chefs Jacquelyn Lord of The Dinner Belle and David Welch of Kitchnstudio.com will once again face off in an epic culinary showdown at the 2nd annual Culinary Battle Royale on Tuesday, July 29, 2025 from 6 – 9 pm at Aura on the Lake, 5701 N. DuSable Lake Shore Dr. Presented in partnership with the Andersonville Chamber of Commerce, the two culinary artists will each create a mouth-watering meal using only pantry staples from Care for Friends. Guests will taste, vote and crown the winning chef – who will return to cook the winning meal for Care for Friends’ clients. Last year, Chef David served up a spicy victory, but Chef Jackie is back stirring up a pot of revenge (a dish best served warm).

The event includes a pre-dinner mixer at Aura with complimentary light bites and cocktail (starts at 5 pm), a multi-course meal featuring appetizer, dinner and dessert prepared by Chefs Jacquelyn and David, plus dinner karaoke. Tickets ($108.55* per person) are available here. *Ticket price includes processing fees.

All proceeds will support Care For Friends' mission to tackle Chicago’s food, housing and healthcare crises through an all-inclusive, no questions asked approach that provides easy access to critical resources.

About the Chefs

Chef Jacquelyn Lord, founder of The Dinner Belle, is a classically trained chef and proud Summa Cum Laude graduate of Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts. With more than ten years of experience in professional kitchens and event catering, she is skilled in a variety of culinary styles, including French, Mediterranean, Italian, and classic American cuisine. Jacquelyn works closely with each client to design menus that reflect their tastes and needs, turning familiar dishes into extraordinary meals.

Chef David Welch is a Le Cordon Bleu-trained chef based in Chicago. He has worked under culinary greats like Tyler Florence and Stephanie Izard, and appeared on America’s Test Kitchen: The Next Generation (Prime Video) and Food Network’s Supermarket Stakeout (Season 4, Episode 1). David was the founder of KitchnStudio – Chicago’s first LGBTQ and Black-owned culinary studio – and now develops recipes for Home Chef. He’s also collaborated with top brands like Kraft Heinz, KitchenAid, Google, Pam Cooking Spray and Ritz Crackers.

About the Andersonville Chamber of Commerce

The Andersonville Chamber of Commerce (ACC) fosters a vibrant environment in which Andersonville businesses can thrive by attracting a diverse customer base; providing business support services and advocacy; and engaging in business attraction, long-range planning and economic development.