In the Media - Common Threads

People Magazine
December, 2007
Oprah viewers might know Smith – her formal personal chef – from his guest appearances whipping up hummingbird cake or pistachio-crusted chicken on her show. But the boisterous cookbook author says his greatest creation is the nonprofit he launched in 2003, which uses food to teach low-income kids the value of healthy eating. “You have to teach children to make good choices,” he says.
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WPLG Miami
June 2, 2009
Renowned Chef Creates Healthy Meals, Family Atmosphere for Low-Income Students
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Miami Herald
June 4, 2009
Life Lessons: A Top Chef Teaches 16 Lucky Kids Cooking and Much More
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Chicago Sun-Times
March 19, 2008
From Padma Lakshmi to Rocco DiSpirito to Ming Tsai and Paula Deen, the foodie celebs used only two words Monday night to explain their attendance at the third annual benefit for Chicago's Common Threads charity event: Art Smith. Food Network host Steve McDonagh, half of the Hearty Boys catering and cooking team, summed it up: "There's a lot of chefs who are not well liked, but then there's Art, whom everyone loves."
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Crain's Chicago Business
March 17, 2008
Common Threads was founded in 2004 by Art Smith, former personal chef to Oprah Winfrey and co-owner of Table 52, and his partner, artist Jesus Salguerio. It works to educate children on the importance of health and nutrition and to foster an appreciation of cultural diversity through food. Guests at its gala will mingle with Food Network stars Paula Deen, Tyler Florence, Ming Tsai and Jacques; Padma Lakshmi of "Top Chef," and local chefs Gale Gand (Tru), David Burke(Primehouse), Kevin Hickey(Four Seasons) and Matthias Merges (Charlie Trotter's).
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Chicago Magazine
March 24, 2008
Common Threads - the charity co-founded by Oprah toque and Table Fifty-Two honcho Art Smith that teaches kids about nutrition and healthy cooking-held its third annual World Festival Monday night at the Museum of Contemporary Art. The scene was sort of like an all-star episode of Top Chef: Local bigwigs including David Burke (David Burke's Primehouse) and Gale Gand (Tru) handed our haute-cuisine samples while schmoozing with guests.
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Chicago Cooks
March 17, 2008
Common Thread's annual fundraiser was packed with national and local celebrity chefs who gathered to help raise funds for Art Smith's charitable foundation which teaches culture and cooking to children.Over 500 guest enjoyed delectable dishes from Chicago's top chef talent, sipped champagne from Moet Chandon and participated in a live auction hosted by Top Chef judges Tom Colicchio, Gail Simmons and Padma Lakshmi.
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Crain's Chicago Business
March 25, 2008
Common Threads founders Art Smith and his partner artist, Jesus Salguerio, hosted their third fundraising spectacular at the Museum of Contemporary Art on March 17, and this World Festival put just about every other party in town to shame. With more than 600 lively guest circulating around the MCA, a passel of big-name chefs dispensing delicious food at every turn, and an appearance by Grammy winner John Legend at the after-party, the evening entertained lavishly while raising more than $377,000 for programs that teach children the importance of health and good nutrition.
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BizBash Chicago
March 31, 2008
Chef Art Smith has friends in high (or highly gourmet) places. This much was evident at the third annual Common Threads’ World Festival,held on March 17 at the Museum of Contemporary Art. Attended by food-world celebrities ranging from Padma Lakshmi to Rocco DiSpirito and Paula Deen, the fund-raiser produced some culinary star power.
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YouTube
March 17, 2008
Chicago Tonight’s exposé on Common Threads
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NBC Nightly News: Making A Difference
August 29, 2008
NBC's Tamron Hall reports on how Art Smith is using his cooking skills to teach- and feed- young hearts and minds.
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