I work with many local and national journalists, and few I consider friends. Lauren Chapin, the restaurant reviewer for The Kansas City Star was one of those friends. Her untimely death in December was a shock and hurt more than the death of a casual colleague should. For whatever reason, it really resonated with me because of the season, because of her writing about her family and because of our relationship, albeit a mostly business one.

And, I’m not unusual. It seems she was a remarkable person to many. The late Lauren Chapin left an indelible imprint on Kansas City’s culinary community via her restaurant reviews and food writing, so much so that local restaurants, suppliers and friends are hosting a benefit event for her daughters.

The event titled “Four Stars for Lauren” will be at 6:30 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 29 at the Boulevard Brewery, 2501 Southwest Boulevard, KCMO. Tickets are $50 per person and can be purchased in advance online at http://fourstarsforlauren.eventbrite.com/.

The tribute event to honor her memory will raise money for a college fund for her two teenage daughters.

Restaurants and other businesses supporting the event include the American Restaurant, Blanc, Bluestem, Capital Grille, Le Fou Frog, Hereford House, Jasper’s, JJ’s, La Bodega, McCormick & Schmick’s, NoRTH (my client!), Ophelia’s, Hotel Phillips, Pierpont’s, ReVerse, Room 39, Café Sebastienne, Michael Smith, Café Verona and Webster House.

I plan to attend, and I’d love to see you there.