Hoffman Estates debuts International Food Tasting Festival

Would you like to sample exceptional ethnic cuisine from a variety of local restaurants? Would you like to taste the food, wines and liqueurs unique to the village’s sister city, Angouleme, France? Would you like to do all of this for only $10?

The first Hoffman Estates International Food Tasting Festival, “Think Global, Eat Local,” will be held on from 5-8 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 30, at the Stonegate Conference and Banquet Centre, 2401 W. Higgins Road.

The village has a diverse population reflected in its array of cross-cultural eateries. Approximately 20 restaurants are expected to participate in the inaugural International Food Tasting Festival, with food ranging from French and Italian to Chinese, Mexican, Pakistani and more. Sample-sized world cuisine will be provided. For an up-to-date list of restaurants, visit www.visithoffman.com.

Cupcake competition

An exciting highlight of the event will be the cupcake competition. Culinary students from Elgin Community College and Harper College will compete in a cupcake challenge for scholarship money provided by Tate & Lyle, a new addition to the list of corporate headquarters located in Hoffman Estates. One of Tate & Lyle’s products is Splenda sweetener, and the culinary team that best utilizes Splenda in its mini-cupcake recipe will win a $1,000 scholarship, with $500 going to the runner-up. All attendees will vote for the tastiest cupcake.

Additionally, Chef Patrick Guat from L’Amandier School in Angouleme, France, assisted by Chef Pascal and two culinary students, will prepare four savory dishes for sampling, including grilled eggplant caviar with sun-dried tomatoes, peach and cucumber macedoine with bleu cheese and a basil olive oil emulsion, gazpacho, and shrimp and mango minestrone with strawberry and balsamic vinegar jelly.

There will also be a French marketplace for attendees to sample various liqueurs provided by Heavenly Spirits, and wine tastings provided by Lurton. Chef Patrick will also offer samplings of duck pâté, foie gras, terrine of duck and salts from the Ile de Ré.

Tickets are now available on the Hoffman Estates Chamber of Commerce website, www.hechamber.com. They are $10 in advance, or $15 at the door. The event is co-sponsored by Tate & Lyle, the Sister Cities Commission, the Stonegate and the Chamber of Commerce.

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