Blackbird’s Salon Series is typically one of the best places to see food and art collide, or at least see how a particular artist can influence the work of another artist: the chef. Blackbird co-owner Donnie Madia and crew have always been more likely to feature an artist the likes of DZine than Thomas Kincade, but the next in this regular series of dinners in Blackbird’s second-floor private party room looks to be the most interesting yet.

The featured artist for the November 13 dinner is Chicagoan Juan Angel Chavez (whose light boxes have been added to my Christmas list), so chef de cuisine Mike Sheerin and pastry chef Tim Dahl plan to riff off of Chavez’s use of found objects in his work. No, they’re not going all freegan on you with five courses of stale Einstein Bros. bagels; the plan is to compose the menu of as many foraged ingredients as the team can get its hands on (the meal isn’t set yet, but think wild mushrooms, elderberry, lamb’s quarter, etc). And instead of wine, the crew has tapped Three Floyds to "find" whatever rare, leftover, random bottles they have stashed around their brewery and bring the haul to the dinner to be paired with the meal. Sonotheque’s Joe Bryl is getting in on the action too: he’s been called in to DJ whatever vinyl diners can scavenge from their collection. And all you have to "find" is $135.

Considering the price includes five courses of Blackbird food, beer pairings, tax, gratuity and, of course, the opportunity to break bread with the featured artist, that’s not unreasonable. Especially now that you know about those discarded Einstein bagels to keep you going the rest of the week.

Seating is limited. Call 312-715-0708 for reservations. Nov 13, 6:30pm.