The Knockout Kitchen is an enterprise driven by the Warriors and Mission of Opportunity Knocks. We offer the finest and freshest dining experience featuring locally-sourced, scratch made menus that are prepared and served with love by the OK Warriors.
The Knockout Kitchen offers a variety of high-quality, hand-crafted culinary delights for small to medium-sized events. The Knockout Kitchen works in concert with the Knockout Farm to round out a full-circle food enterprise that creates at creates and supports meaningful vocational opportunities for young adults with intellectual and developmental differences.
Under the direction of the Knockout Leadership Team, we have cultivated a menu and carved out some creative partnerships that allow us to pop up and present ourselves in person, as well as serve your various private event needs. We craft our culinary delights with emphasis on safety, quality and meaningful expereince in a supported work environment that welcomes a mixed ability team and foster opportunities for Warrior employees to take autonomous roles in all aspects of the operation, from menu planning, food prep, setup, food service, and breakdown.
Like most things at OK, each of our businesses developed organically out of our Warrior-focused program efforts in OK Programs, where culinary activities have long been a mainstay. Those activities led us to launch a line of Knockout Pickles and eventually a full-service catering business through the Knockout Kitchen.
Since launching in 2016, Knockout Catering has seen significant growth, year after year. That growth has led to great experiences, awesome community connections and most importantly a visible platform to showcase the abilities of the Warriors that work within the ranks of the Knockout Kitchen Crew.
The Knockout Catering Co. offers a variety of high-quality, hand-crafted culinary delights for small to medium-sized events. The KCC is the second installment in the social enterprise programming at Opportunity Knocks, aiming to create and support meaningful vocational opportunities for young adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Under the direction of OK’s Head Chef, Joe Hart, we created a menu, carved out a commercial production space and developed a safe and supported work environment that allows our Warrior employees to team up with our culinary team to work on all aspects of the operation, from menu planning, food prep, setup, food service, and breakdown.
Like most things at OK, each of our businesses developed organically out of our Warrior-focused program efforts in the culinary arts. The more work the Knockout Catering crew gets, the more paid Warrior positions we can support.
Since launching in 2016, Knockout Catering has seen significant growth, year after year. That growth has led to great experiences, awesome community connections and most importantly a visible platform to showcase the abilities of the Warriors that work within the ranks of the Catering Crew.
From large groups to small affairs, from rustic comfort food to elegant dinner parties, Knockout Catering is sure to make you and your guests have an event to remember.
From large groups to small affairs, from rustic comfort food to elegant dinner parties, Knockout Catering is sure to make you and your guests have an event to remember.
When we say a portion of our ingredients are locally sourced, we mean it! The Knockout Farm is a fully functional urban farm entrenched in our enterprise efforts, producing fresh, organic, Warrior-grown crops that make their way through our catering kitchen and onto your plate. The farm also serves as a key learning space in our programs and a primary source for the key ingredients in our Knockout Pickles.
When we say a portion of our ingredients are locally sourced, we mean it! The Knockout Farm is a fully functional urban farm entrenched in our enterprise efforts, producing fresh, organic, Warrior-grown crops that make their way through our catering kitchen and onto your plate. The farm also serves as a key learning space in our programs and a primary source for the key ingredients in our Knockout Pickles.
Michele Zurakowski, Exec. Director of Beyond Hunger, formerly OPRF Food Pantry
Elliott Bambrough, co-host of WGN’s Chicago’s Best
Keith Huizinga, co-Owner of Kinslahger Brewing Co.
Marianne Birko, Executive Director of WSSRA (West Suburban Special Recreation Association)
We aim to produce high quality food. We also aim to produce a high quality experience. We also aim to build a stage that creates an opportunity for Warriors to perform, create and connect in a meaningful way
MON – FRI
10:00am – 4:00pm
SUN
We are closed
Don’t be shy. Let us know if you have any questions or ideas!
General Inquiries to the Knockout Kitchen Coordinator, Dave Gebhardt
email: david.gebhardt@opportunityknocksnow.org