College basketball won't be the only “Madness” this month

As college hoops fans fill out their brackets for March Madness, Elgin's Downtown Neighborhood Association hopes residents will get involved in another March competition: Downtown Madness.

DNA organizers are pitting 16 local restaurants and bars against each other for a rivalry based on signature dishes and drinks. The DNA will randomly choose the pairings to launch four stages of competition, giving people the chance to vote for which dish they like best.

Voting for the matchups of the “Sweet 16” will last from March 4 through March 14 with each of the following voting blocks lasting one week.

“It's a fun way to engage not only downtown patrons but people who maybe haven't heard of all our great places,” said Jason Pawlowski, promotions coordinator for the DNA.

People can vote online each week, but also get even more involved in the Pick the Winner challenge. Participants should submit their own brackets in person to 2 Douglas Ave., or via e-mail to downtownelgin@gmail.com, by March 14 for the chance to win $100 in downtown gift certificates. Official brackets will be available March 4 at dailyherald.com/community/elgin and downtownelgin.com.

Elgin Public House was one of the first restaurants to get involved in the competition. Co-owner Greg Fhannon said they will enter their pulled pork sandwich in the competition, hoping to at least make it to the Final Four.

Fhannon is a college basketball fan himself and said customers will be able to watch some of the March Madness games on a 10-foot screen — all while trying out the pulled pork for the Downtown Madness competition.

“Everybody needs to get around to everywhere that's got an entry,” Fhannon said. “Everybody needs to try them all and make their own decisions.”

Voting for the competition will end April 4, the day of the NCAA championship game, with winners announced April 6.

Pawlowski said the goal is to create more foot traffic in the downtown and as people try the signature dishes, foster long-term business for these establishments.

“We know how great our downtown businesses and restaurants are but we need people outside of downtown and outside of Elgin to come down here and see it,” Pawlowski said.

Downtown Madness

Throughout the month of March, 16 downtown Elgin restaurants and bars will pit their signature dishes and drinks against each other. The first-round matchups will be selected at random with winners moving on. Download your bracket form at <a href="dailyherald.com/community/elgin">dailyherald.com/community/elgin</a> or <a href="dowtownelgin.com">downtownelgin.com</a>

<b>Round 1:</b> Voting March 4-14

Domani Cafe's Domani Latte vs. La Quebrada's Tampiqueña

Al's Cafe and Creamery's Burns Malt vs. Spanky's Gyros' Italian Sausage

Douglas Street Sports Pub's Bacon Cheddar Burger vs. La Puesta del Sol's La Puesta Margarita

Elgin Public House's Pulled Pork vs. Ravenheart Coffee's Mediterranean Club Sandwich

Buckingham's Steakhouse's Grand Tomahawk vs. Gasthaus Zur Linde's Das Boot

Bangkok House & Shanghai Restaurant's Pa Naeng vs. Red Bar Winery's Spicy Butter Poached Shrimp

Martini Room's Martini vs. Toom Toom Thai Restaurant's Spicy Thai Chicken Wings

PRIME Burger House's Drunken Bull Burger vs. Villa Verone Ristorante Italiano's Asparagi

<b>Round 2:</b> Voting March 13-21

<b>Round 3:</b> Voting March 23-28

<b>Round 4:</b> Voting March 30-April 4