Restaurant tasting event draws hundreds to Wheeling
Taste of the Town, featuring sample sizes of dishes from Restaurant Row in Wheeling and other restaurants in nearby towns, drew hundreds of people to the Westin North Shore one night last week.
The village of Wheeling and local community agencies partnered with the Wheeling/Prospect Heights Chamber of Commerce’ Restaurant Row Hospitality Group to produce the event and a related 17-day campaign of dining offers and special events to promote the area’s restaurants.
Besides food, the evening featured a chance to try various wines and craft beers, see cooking demonstrations by noted local chefs, listen to live holiday music, and participate in a silent auction and raffles.
“We really want our residents and visitors to experience firsthand what the village has to offer,” John Melaniphy, director of economic development for the village, said in a news release.
The majority of proceeds from the event support the Wheeling/Prospect Heights Area Chamber of Commerce’s promotional programming of its local business members. From each ticket sold, $5 is donated to the Korean Cultural Center of Chicago’s Next Generation Mentorship Program, which provides career guidance and mentorship for local young people of all backgrounds and cultures in the community.