Ambrosia Plans Benefit For Local Chef

When times are tough, it’s easy to tell who your true friends are. Chef Rob Macey of Port Barrington feels lucky to have so many who are willing to go above and beyond during his time of need.  

Macey’s story begins when he was just a teenager with a dream of becoming a chef.

“I was like the kid in ‘Rattatouille.' There’s a young American clumsy kid working in a French restaurant—that was me,” Macey said fondly.

Macey worked hard to make his dream a reality.  He attended the Culinary Institute of America and got to work making a name for himself in the culinary community.  Macey’s resume includes working for esteemed chef Charlie Trotter, and opening his own restaurant called Harvest Moon in Woodstock. It was during his time as a banquet chef at Macy’s Restaurant in Chicago that his life changed forever. 

“One night I just felt sick,” Macey said. “Not bad, but I had a really severe headache. We had a party for 650 people, and I think if you have a headache you can’t pass a party like that up.”

When Macey went to work that, disaster struck. He suddenly fainted in the kitchen, falling backwards and slamming his head on the floor.

“I was a big bloody mess. I was unconscious. A lot of people thought I was dead, it was pretty scary I guess,” he said.

Macey was rushed to Northwestern Memorial Hospital where he started to have grand mal seizures. After running a series of tests, doctors confirmed that Macey had the virus encephalitis, which was attacking his brain.

“I was just talking to the doctor and challenging him to see where this came from,” Macey said. “Nobody knows.”

The infection got into his body through the nervous system and killed part of the left side of his brain.  Even with large doses of prescription medication, the seizures just kept coming. Doctors gave Macey two choices: manage the seizures for the rest of his life, or have massive brain surgery that could prove to be fatal. Macey chose surgery.

Macey’s first surgery took place in February, when doctors opened up his skull and placed 100 electrodes on his brain to find out where the problem was.

“I had to sit in the hospital for a week with my brain opened up,” Macey remembers. “Fortunately, it didn’t hurt, but I couldn’t do anything.”

The second and most important surgery took place on March 2. Doctors were forced to cut out a portion of Macey’s brain to stop the seizures from happening. Even through major surgery, Macey kept his sense of humor.

“I being a chef, I told the doctors I want my brain back. I told them I’m a French chef, I have a very good recipe for sautéed brain,” Macey laughed.

Post-surgery, Macey’s physical diagnosis is good, and he reports feeling better every day.

“I just got a good bill of health from my doctor,” Macey said. “The area where my brain was damaged is the part of the brain where you have short-term memory and some verbal problems…I have something I’m going to be challenged with for the rest of my life.”

Due to his medical condition, Macey has been unable to work for the past year and a half.  With medical bills stacking up, there is an immense financial stress on his family.  Ambrosia Euro American Patisserie owner Debby Rivera and a group of Macey’s friends have stepped in to help.  On Saturday, May 21, Ambrosia will be hosting a fundraiser to help pay for Macey’s medical bills. One hundred percent of the proceeds will be donated to his family.

“This has really come together very quickly,” Rivera said. “We just kind of got Rob on board a few weeks ago. He is a very private and humble man that was very reluctant to jump on board and endorse us wanting to do this for him and his family.”

For a $20 admission fee, those attending the fundraiser will enjoy a variety of cold and hot savory appetizers and a full assortment of pastries and other sweet treats. There will also be live music playing as well as a silent auction.

“We’re having a silent auction with incredible generous donations from customers and friends and businesses. Everything from Cubs tickets, to restaurant gift certificates to luxury downtown Chicago hotel accommodations. We’ve been given a wonderful array of contributions,” Rivera said.

Macey is humbled and honored that so many in the Barrington community are eager to help his family in their time of need.

“What they are doing for me is mind blowing. I hope nobody goes through what I’ve been through, but I hope I can have the opportunity to help someone else who has helped me,” Macey said.

Sweet Relief Fundraiser & Silent Auction for Rob Macey will take place on Saturday, May 21 from 5 to 9 p.m. at Ambrosia Euro American Patisserie, 710 W. Northwest Highway.  Tickets are $20 in advance, and $25 at the door. Reserve your tickets by calling Ambrosia at 847-304-8278.