Dinner for Pet Owners

Community Dining, an organization formed in March of 2015, aims to connect people through shared meals that engage us in the means by which we fuel ourselves, stimulate substantive dialogue, and strengthen social bonds. Its main focus is Jeffersonian-themed dinners in the spirit of the gatherings that Thomas Jefferson would have at his home with the goal of bringing people of all different backgrounds and perspectives together to discuss important community issues.

Here is a description of what a Jeffersonian Dinner entails:

"As you build your table, consider political scientist Robert Putnam’s distinction between bonding and bridging social capital. Bonding is the connectedness between people who are like each other; bridging is connectedness between people across differences (think bowling league). The best groups will have some degree of bonding social capital (some people who know each other and can provide ballast for growing connections as the evening progresses), but should predominantly be people who don’t necessarily have pre-existing relationships (perhaps the point of the evening).”

https://jeffersoniandinner.org/jeffersonian-dinner

Jeffersonian dinners also involve the host gathering photos and personal bios of each guest that the host shares with everyone before the dinner, so be ready to share.

This dinner will take place at the home of Erica Bishaf (address and contact information to be provided upon signing up), founder of Pet Gotcha Day, an organization that exists to increase pet adoptions and reduce the incidence of euthanasia nationwide through empowering animal welfare organizations with both standard and revolutionary 360-degree video technology that will engage, delight & motivate potential adopters as they watch immersive videos of adoptable pets.

A portion of the proceeds will go towards Pet Gotcha Day! and Real Estate to the Rescue, whose mission is to mobilize the real estate community to help homeless animals in the Chicagoland Area. Real Estate to the Rescue addresses their mission in three different ways: Fundraising, Community Outreach, and Animal Rights Advocacy

The topic will focus on issues that pet owners face, some of which are included the the questions below. This type of forum will provide great opportunites to connect fellow pet owners who can share valuable resources and provide meaningful support.

1. What are the major challenges to pet ownership?

2. What are your favorite pet activities?

3. What is your favorite story about your pet?

4. What kind of concerns do you have as a pet parent? What keeps you up at night?

5. What process do you as a pet owner use to vet pet service providers such as sitters, trainers, groomers, walkers, and day care professionals?

6. What are the pros and cons of taking your dog to a dog beach or dog park?

7. What steps can the city of Chicago take to make it more pet friendly? What actions can pet owners take on their own?

Menu (catered by Kitchfix):

https://kitchfix.com

http://communitydining.com/blog/entrepreneurship-promotes-transparency

Pan-Seared Falafel

House-made falafel, seared - not fried, and served with tangy, dairy-free tzatziki sauce.

Sides: Quinoa “tabouleh” salad and marinated cucumber, asparagus, and kale with lemon & parsley

Kale and Spinach “Caesar”

Organic spinach and lacinto kale with cucumbers, oven-roasted herbed tomatoes, and almond “parmesan (non-dairy)”

Housemade Vegan Caesar

Sweet potato cornbread (gluten free – ingredients below)

Sweet Potato, Sweet Potato Puree, Coconut Oil, Honey, Coconut Water, Salt & Pepper, Baking Soda, Pastured Eggs, Almond Flour (GF), Coconut Flour (GF)

Snacks:

Almond Flour Crackers from Simple Mills (Certified Gluten-free; free of Grains, Soy, Corn, Dairy & Gums/Emulsifiers)

8 SIMPLE INGREDIENTS: Nut and Seed Flour Blend (Almonds, Sunflower Seeds, Flax Seeds), Tapioca, Cassava, Organic Sunflower Oil, Sea Salt, Organic Onion, Organic Garlic, Rosemary Extract (For Freshness)

https://www.simplemills.com/collections/almond-flour-crackers?gclid=EAIaIQobChMImKaFm8PV2QIVzLrACh0oRApjEAAYAiAAEgK9nfD_BwE

Nutrition bars from Simple Squares (tied for the highest rate snack bar!)

Each Square is not only free of gluten, but also free of wheat, dairy, corn, soy and refined sugars

https://simplesquares.com

https://www.cornucopia.org/scorecard/snack-bar-scorecard

TeaSquares (vegan, gluten free)

https://myteasquares.com/

Within Without Granola (gluten free)

https://withinwithout.com

Dessert:

Superfood Fudge Brownies

http://fastlanetohealth.com/where-can-i-buy-superfood-fudge/

Chocolate chip cookies from Kitchfix

Freshly Baked Chocolate Chip Cookies made with Almond Flour, Chopped Walnuts, Organic Coconut Oil, Pasture-Raised Eggs and a touch of Organic Honey

Sacred Serve (vegan ice cream handmade in Chicago)

http://sacredserve.com

Drinks:

Wine from ONEHOPE

ONEHOPE was founded by eight friends with a lofty vision: to create exceptional products that inspire people to indulge while doing good. Our commitment to quality wine is as important as our commitment to the causes we suport. To date we have made more than $3 million in donations, provided 46,000 people with global health care, 49,000 forever homes for shelter animals, 1.8 million meals for children, 163,000 life saving vaccines and much more.

We are product of the impact we've been able to make and grateful to our supporters who give us the opportunity to continue. If you have ever purchased ONEHOPE products or even told our story, you're part of something bigger than a brand. You're part of a movement to make giving back part of what you do every day. Thank you for being part of the movement and making the wolrd a better place.

Cheers!

SOCIAL Sparkling Wine

https://socialsparklingwine.com

Virtue Cider

https://virtuecider.com/ourcider

Tempo Sparkling Tea

https://www.tempobev.com/