Bayless’s Farm to Table History Inspires Everything Local

Callicrate note: Every community should have a Rick Bayless

Creator of the Frontera restaurant empire presented keynote to remember.

Bob Benenson

Jan 18, 2024

Frontera and Center

Chicago Chef Rick Bayless stressed the importance of farmer-restaurant partnerships on the opening day of the three-day Everything Local Conference in Springfield. Photo by Bob Benenson.

I was in familiar territory as I listened to Chef Rick Bayless at the January 17 opening session of the Everything Local Conference, in conversation with Rita Frazer, director of audio services at the rural-focused RFD Radio Network.

I’ve had the honor of getting to know Rick several years ago during my work with the non-profit formerly known as FamilyFarmed, and was part of the team that in 2017 produced the event — marking the anniversary of Frontera Grill opening 30 years earlier — that raised funds for that organization and Frontera Farmer Foundation. I am an admirer of his work to build today’s expansive local food ecosystem in the Chicago region, without which my second career as a Good Food advocate and publisher would never have happened. 

For full article: Bayless’s Farm to Table History Inspires Everything Local