Last weekend I spent the morning at Glowout, A Golden Girl Salon at Ashley Gilday‘s first pop-up brunch event, Brunch by Blog! Ashley contacted me about photographing the event a few weeks back, and I was definitely on board. It’s great to see more events like this popping up in Chicago, with an entirely vegan menu! It was a nice surprise to see some old friends and make new ones, all while sampling some delicious food and capturing photos of the event.
Glowout Salon is a beautifully-designed space in the West Loop with great natural light and a small seating area, perfect for a gathering of this size. I documented the event from start to finish, including the guests, the food, and many candid moments. I chose some of my favorites for this post, but Ashley posted a larger selection on her website.
The five-course meal started with a coffee and mimosa station, a gourmet vegan cheese plate with cheeses from Treeline, and fresh fruit platters for guests to snack on while the main course was being prepared.
Menu:
- Cannoli-stuffed ancient grain pancakes
- Fresh strawberry-lemon sauce
- Homemade coconut whipped cream
- Assortment of vegan artisanal cheeses
- Fresh fruit & berries
- Homemade sausage patties
- Sliced avocado
- Bite-sized desserts
Ashley and team prepared each part of the meal from scratch, joining in on the brunch between each course. The guests really enjoyed themselves, and the self-serve beverage station was a real hit!
The meal ended with a vast array of cheesecakes and tarts from Daiya and Hail Merry, and guests brought home a gift envelope filled with free product coupons (score!), as well as a gift from Chicago’s cruelty-free and vegan-friendly salon, Starship Salon.
All in all, it was a wonderful time, and it’s always great to participate and collaborate with other local businesses.
Ashley will be planning another event for December, so if you’re in Chicago, be sure to follow her events page!
If you or your business is looking for a Chicago event photographer this summer or fall, be sure to get in touch with the details and date of your event. I’d love to talk about your ideas!
Have a great week!
Just one more reason I want to move to Chicago!
I like this plan!
Kelly,
Thank you for a fantastic write up. Your photos turned out fantastic and I cannot wait to collaborate with you again for another “Brunch by BLOG” event soon!