Steak, wine (and then some): annual Chefs' Fest still a bargain

Posted April 13, 2009 11:00 pm

By Deborah Pankey

A salmon crepe was just one of the delicacies of past Chefs' Fests. Daily Herald file photo

You'd be hard-pressed to walk into a steakhouse or similar fine restaurant these days and walk out with a tab of less than $25 a head.

Yet there's a place where you can sample steaks, pastas, seafood and other chop-licking dishes from some of the Northwest suburbs' top restaurants. That place is Arlington Park Racecourse, and the event is the 16th annual Chefs' Fest.

For one night only, nearly 60 restaurants will gather in the clubhouse as hundreds of eager palates graze on salmon, pork tenderloin, elaborate desserts and more.

Purchase tickets by Monday, April 20, and all that can be yours for $25.

Despite the increased costs of doing business, the Woodfield Chicago Northwest Convention Bureau held the line on ticket prices this year.

"We try to make it a very affordable event," says David Parulo, director of membership and community outreach for the convention bureau. "We really want to showcase the local restaurants in the community."

Restaurants participating this year include Birch River Grill, Sam & Harry's, Grand Station and Morton's The Steakhouse. See a complete list

Even with running shoes and a massive appetite, you'd be hard pressed to sample fare from every restaurant. People start lining up outside the doors by 4:30, and it can be slow-going getting in and making your way through the lines. Parulo said the event draws people from a 20-mile radius of Arlington Heights and attracted about 2,200 people last year.

Be patient. I know from experience that there will be enough food for everyone. Seats, however, are not guaranteed and handicapped seating is limited.

You'll want to try to snag a seat, or at least a close place to stand, for Lynfred Winery's Wine 101 seminar. The seminar proved quite popular in 2008, Parulo said, and will start at 7 p.m. Before the seminar the ArlingTones, a men's a cappella chorus, piano players from Big Shot Piano Lounge and the Kendall Kelly Lewis Quartet will perform. Items in the silent auction are available for viewing and bidding near the stage. Proceeds benefit the group's tourism and marketing initiatives.

While in the past Chefs' Fest frequent diners have brought in cafeteria-type trays and even plates and cutlery, the bureau reminds guests that backpacks, trays and containers for leftovers are prohibited.

What the convention bureau would like you to bring is food - for the needy. Parulo said last year the group collected 20 cases of nonperishable foods for the Greater Chicago Food Depository. No glass jars, please.

Restaurants participating in Chef's Fest

Big Shot Piano Lounge, Arlington Heights

Birch River Grill, Arlington Heights

Blue Fire Grille, Schaumburg

Cabela's Fox River Grill, Hoffman Estates

Finn McCool's, Schaumburg

Fore Season Grill at Top Golf, Wood Dale

Fox and Hound Smokehouse & Tavern, Arlington Heights and Schaumburg

Fresh 1800, Schaumburg

Fuego Mexican Grill & Margarita Bar, Arlington Heights

Garden Café, Wood Dale

Grand Station Restaurant & Cocktails, Arlington Heights

Grillworks at eSkape, Buffalo Grove

Harper College culinary arts program, Palatine

John Barleycorn, Schaumburg

Lafitte's, Schaumburg

Levy Restaurants at Arlington Park Racecourse, Arlington Heights

Lou Malnati's, multiple locations

Macy's, Schaumburg

McCormick & Schmick's, Schaumburg

Moretti's, Schaumburg

Morton's The Steakhouse, Schaumburg

Oberweis Dairy, Schaumburg and Rolling Meadows

Pinstripes, South Barrington

Qdoba Mexican Grill, Schaumburg

Ram Restaurant & Brewery, Schaumburg

Real Time Sports Bar and Grill, Elk Grove Village

Ruth's Chris Steak House, South Barrington

Sam & Harry's, Schaumburg

Schaumburg Flyers, Schaumburg

Shiraz on the Water, Bloomingdale

Shula's Steak House, Itasca

Sweet Baby Ray's Barbecue, Elk Grove Village and Wood Dale

The Olive Oil Place, Schaumburg

Uno Chicago Grill, Schaumburg

Weber Grill, Schaumburg

Wildfire, Schaumburg

Arlington Park Racecourse hosts local dining establishments showing off their work for the Woodfield Chicago Northwest Convention Bureau. Daily Herald file photo

Chefs' Fest at Arlington Park Racecourse draws restaurants from across the suburbs. Daily Herald file photo

Chefs' Fest 5 to 8 p.m. April 21 Arlington Park Racecourse, 2200 W. Euclid Ave., Arlington Heights $25 until April 20; $30 at the door Order at <a href="http://www.chefsfest.com" target="new">chefsfest.com</a> or the Woodfield Chicago Northwest Convention Bureau, (847) 490-1010 Participating restaurants Big Shot Piano Lounge, Arlington Heights Birch River Grill, Arlington Heights Blue Fire Grille, Schaumburg Cabela's Fox River Grill, Hoffman Estates Finn McCool's, Schaumburg Fore Season Grill at Top Golf, Wood Dale Fox and Hound Smokehouse & Tavern, Arlington Heights and Schaumburg Fresh 1800, Schaumburg Fuego Mexican Grill & Margarita Bar, Arlington Heights Garden Café, Wood Dale Grand Station Restaurant & Cocktails, Arlington Heights Grillworks at eSkape, Buffalo Grove Harper College culinary arts program, Palatine John Barleycorn, Schaumburg Lafitte's, Schaumburg Levy Restaurants at Arlington Park Racecourse, Arlington Heights Lou Malnati's, multiple locations Macy's, Schaumburg McCormick & Schmick's, Schaumburg Moretti's, Schaumburg Morton's The Steakhouse, Schaumburg Oberweis Dairy, Schaumburg and Rolling Meadows Pinstripes, South Barrington Qdoba Mexican Grill, Schaumburg Ram Restaurant & Brewery, Schaumburg Real Time Sports Bar and Grill, Elk Grove Village Ruth's Chris Steak House, South Barrington Sam & Harry's, Schaumburg Schaumburg Flyers, Schaumburg Shiraz on the Water, Bloomingdale Shula's Steak House, Itasca Sweet Baby Ray's Barbecue, Elk Grove Village and Wood Dale The Olive Oil Place, Schaumburg Uno Chicago Grill, Schaumburg Weber Grill, Schaumburg Wildfire, Schaumburg

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