See best of Restaurant Week topic on Schaumburg cable station
A look at some of the appetizing palate pleasers available at Northwest suburban restaurants during Restaurant Week, which runs Feb. 19 through March 1, highlights the next episode of BCUZ, which began airing on Comcast Channel 15, Wide Open West Channel 14 and on AT&T U-Verse Channel 99 this week.
BCUZ is a news digest TV show produced by SPD-TV, Schaumburg Park District's own TV station.
Christina Mitchell, partnership development manager with Meet Chicago Northwest, also known as Woodfield Chicago Northwest Convention Bureau, chats with Tony LaFrenere, executive director of the Schaumburg Park District, about some of the culinary treats diners may sample during the event.
Mitchell said some 40 restaurants are offering three-course lunches and dinners at special prices for this year's event.
Many of the restaurants have previously participated in Restaurant Week.
"We also have quite a few new ones this year," she said. "We had 33 restaurants last year. It was a great success."
Mitchell said the event attracts both loyal customers and new diners ready for a culinary adventure.
Joining LaFrenere and Mitchell in the BCUZ studio is Angela Delmark, executive chef partner at Seasons 52, a contemporary American grill and wine bar in Schaumburg and one of the restaurants offering special menus during the Restaurant Week event.
Delmark said Seasons 52 is offering a lunch menu and a dinner menu.
"It's a really great way for people that haven't dined with us before to come in and have the opportunity to enjoy the fabulous menu we create," Delmark said.
All of the restaurants are offering Restaurant Week dinners; some are also offering a Restaurant Week lunch menu. Prices range from $10 to $35 per person. Another segment on the BCUZ episode features a chat with Pam Gauper, district party coordinator, who details the many themed and activity-centered birthday parties the district offers.
"See what kind of theme we can come up with for you," Gauper said.
The district offers a wide variety of party themes, from pirates, to outer space to dinosaurs. Activities include swimming, indoor playground games, tennis, baseball, flag football, gymnastics, crafts, building Lego robots, playing farm-themed games, applying glamorous makeup, decorating cakes and more. Different parties are intended for various age groups. During the warm weather months, parties may be booked at the District's outdoor pools. Paddle boat parties are available at Volkening Lake.
Next, the BCUZ episode takes viewers to the Senior Center at the Community Recreation Center for a visit to the first Love Boat Party, which was held during the last week of January.
"It's the dead of winter, in January, so we thought this might be a very good time to have a Love Boat party," said Lisa Perrone, senior citizens coordinator.
Seated amid tropically-themed décor including faux palm trees, seniors were treated to a catered buffet lunch and a performance by entertainer Sandi Haynes, whose lively show had participants dancing the limbo and grooving to the electric slide line dance.
While the day outside was gray and dreary, inside a warmer and sunnier attitude prevailed.
Perrone said the event was such a success that she plans to make it an annual event.
The new BCUZ episode airs at 7 p.m., midnight, 7 a.m. and noon daily on SPD-TV. The BCUZ episode also may be viewed at parkfun.com/tv/bcuz/2015/february-10-2015.
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