Prairie Center gala all about the food (mostly)

Twelve of the Schaumburg area's finest restaurants will prepare their signature dishes for guests at the Prairie Center Arts Foundation's annual gala, from 7-10 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 12.

The event also will have live music, dancing, a silent auction, caricature artists and a cash bar.

Tickets for Celebration 2009 are $50, or $60.00 at the door. They are still available from the Prairie Center box office at (847) 895-3600, or online at www.prairiecenter.org.

The Prairie Center is at 201 Schaumburg Court, Schaumburg.

Participating restaurants and their offerings are:

• Sam & Harry's: Sam & Harry's jumbo lump crab cakes with lemon herb tartar; an Artisan cheese display.

• Wildfire: chopped salad; tenderloin of beef with shallot balsamic reduction; red skin mashed potatoes.

• L'Eiffel Bistrot & Creperie: Dessert crepes with chocolate; Grand Marnier and mixed berries

• Anna Shea Chocolates & Lounge: Handmade, hand-painted Artisan chocolate.

• Bonefish Grill: Norwegian Salmon with warm mango salsa.

• Pinstripes: Tenderloin sliders with truffle shoestrings; Italian "jambalaya" risotto with spicy chicken breast; sausage and pesto shrimp.

• Entourage on American Lane: Beef tenderloin focaccia with caramelized onions and horseradish crema; Entourage signature chocolate cake.

• Fresh 1800: Braised pork shank with mushroom risotto; crispy root vegetables; truffle foam.

• Shaw's Crab House: Shrimp cocktail; chilled Alaskan king crab bites.

• Ram Restaurant & Brewery: BBQ meatloaf sliders with horseradish havarti cheese; spinach & artichoke cheese dip with garlic crostini.

• Moretti's Ristorante & Pizzeria/ Chandler's Chophouse & Grille: Penne chicken asiago, penne pasta with mushrooms, spinach, Roma tomatoes, prosciutto, peas, caramelized onions in a roasted garlic Parmesan cream sauce; baked spinach and artichoke dip served with toasted pita chips.

• John Barleycorn: Cash bar with martinis and more.