The Chicago Cubs are trading in their gloves and helmets for oven mitts and chef’s caps in the Chicago Cubs Cookbook: All-Star Recipes From Your Favorite Players to benefit the Ryan and Jenny Dempster Foundation.
Here’s more snippets from the publishing company’s descriptive shill of the book:
From Ryan Theriot’s favorite jambalaya to Lou Piniella’s chicken salad, or Hall of Fame chicken tacos from Ryne Sandberg to ginger pork from Kosuke Fukudome—dozens of recipes from current and former Cubs players, coaches and broadcasters are included. The cookbook also features signature recipes from Levy Restaurants at Wrigley Field and some of Chicago ’s leading restaurants, all lavishly illustrated with specially commissioned photographs of Cubs players.
Fans will not only discover some of the players’ favorite dishes but also get a little insight into the Cubs themselves. Want to make pitcher Tom Gorzelanny happy? Make him anything with Oreos. There are plenty of tidbits to go with the treats.
The most unique feature of the Chicago Cubs Cookbook is the reason for its existence, which is to raise money for the Ryan and Jenny Dempster Foundation. In June, 2009 the Dempsters announced their infant daughter Riley was born with DiGeorge Syndrome, a genetic deficiency that affects swallowing, breathing and speech. The foundation provides support to charities and organizations that help children with this and other illnesses through monetary grants, programs and increased community awareness. It empowers organizations to help children with rare illnesses overcome difficult situations by providing funding to continue research for early detection of this disorder in children. The foundation remains especially focused on DiGeorge Syndrome programs that provide education, physical therapy and activity to promote long-term well being.
The Cubs’ players came up with the idea of sharing their favorite recipes to help one of their favorite teammates, Ryan Dempster. Edited by Carrie Muskat of cubs.com
Although Riley’s favorite food is Cheez-It Crackers, she loves to try whatever the family is eating, so she’ll undoubtedly be sampling these recipes right along with you!