THANK YOU TO OUR 2024 PARTICIPATING PROPERTIES!
These amazing chefs served their best dishes at this year's Great Chefs’ Tasting Party and Auction.
Against The Grain Street Culinary
Against The Grain is a pop-up based, off premise caterer. We take the passion and creativity of the industry and bring you creative dishes, unique flavors, and a fantastic experience for all of your guests! We strive to bring our creative menu and the customers vision to life. We customize menus for each event to not only bring great food but make great memories. Check us out on Instagram.
Bishops Hill Winery
A group of friends started making wine in Chicago over ten years ago. We all have roots with parents or grandparents that made homemade wine for family gatherings as far back as our Eastern European relatives. Carrying on family traditions and our love of wine has been our driving force. As time went on we continued to fine tune our wine making skills and decided to slowly evolve our hobby into artisanal wine making. It is truly a labor of love and we look forward to sharing with you, your family and friends.
Biteable Baked Goods
Biteable Baked Goods is a woman-owned and operated, small business that launched in August 2023. We are located in downtown Lockport, a small, yet charming, town. Our desserts are thoughtfully crafted with high-quality ingredients that focus on flavor and elevation. We’ve taken traditional favorites and turned them into modern and unique creations. Our Focus is to provide delicious baked goods that are budget friendly and that leave your tastes buds dancing through every bite—-because when you walk into our bakery, everything looks Biteable. Visit their Instagram Page or Facebook Page.
City BBQ
Your public smokehouse. You can smell the smoke around the clock: we’ve got three on-site smokers at every City Barbeque joint and we never turn them off. Our pitmasters use local hickory, years of experience, and all 24 hours of the day to craft the city’s best barbeque. There's more to our food than just meat and heat. So much goes into good barbeque, which is why we put our whole heart into every step. Whether we're sourcing a brisket, selecting the wood, watching the clock, or carving to order, we'll never give you anything less than our best.
Elvita's Bakery
Final Cut Steakhouse
The Final Cut Steakhouse, at the Hollywood Casino Joliet, serves
delicious steaks and seafood along with other tasty main courses.
Enjoy an evening of steak and lobster, Atlantic salmon, or Amish chicken.
Coupled with shareable sides truffle fries or broccolini –
you will feel like you won the jackpot with a delectable meal
from the Final Cut.
Happy Belly
Creative comfort food within the relaxed atmosphere of Werk Force Brewing in Plainfield. Happy Belly pairs beer-friendly snacks, sandwiches, soups, flatbreads and desserts with some of Werk Force's award-winning beers. Our chef-created menu changes often, is scratch made and inspired by local and seasonal produce. In addition to serving brewery customers, Happy Belly provides custom catering on-site at Werk Force and off-site for parties of 2 to 200 guests. We love being a part of your special occasions and celebrations! Happy Belly is proud to be a Women-Owned, Small Business.
Jacob Henry Mansion Estate
A national landmark and a local favorite venue for events, the Jacob Henry Mansion Estate in Joliet can deliciously host any wedding, shower, luncheon, or family reunion. The culinary staff can create any type of menu to meet your event’s taste and needs in a buffet or custom menu design.
Joliet Junior College Culinary Arts Management
The Culinary Arts Management program at JJC offers students a first-class education at one of the most highly respected culinary programs in the nation, and in one of the most state-of-the-art facilities in the world. Many students from the JJC program have gone on to find jobs at local restaurants or even realize their dream of owning a restaurant. Creativity abounds in this program and today’s idea is tomorrow’s renowned cuisine.
Kozol Brothers
For more than eight decades, Kozol Brothers has been supplying the Southern Chicagoland suburbs with domestic, craft, and import beers and ciders. The Kozol name continues to endure generation after generation by providing great opportunities and even greater beer. Kozol Brothers also maintains a dedication to its communities by supporting local events and nonprofits as one of the largest and great-performing beverage distributors in Illinois.
The Matrix Club
Originally from Jamaica, Chef Alonso Beckford's family emigrated to New York where he brought flavors from his Caribbean roots while exposing his culinary skills in French, Asian, Italian, Greek and American cuisines. Along with formal schooling at Johnson and Wales in Miami, Chef Alonso cut his teeth in kitchens in New York, Atlanta, Orlando and Chicago. His love for art, multi-culturalism, education in food nutrition and simply bringing folks together over a thoughtful meal is what Chef Alonso loves most. He is thrilled to bring his craft to The Matrix Room, presenting contemporary global cuisine highlighting flavor profiles from around the world.
Moe Joe's Cajun and Caribbean Cuisine
There is no place that will show you a better time while eating than Moe Joe's Cajun and Caribbean Cuisine. Walking up to Moe Joe's is like stepping out onto New Orleans' Bourbon Street. Complete with wrought iron, street lanterns and false building fronts with balconies, the exterior of the building looks as authentic as the food inside.
When you enter the building, you're overcome with music, decor and a feeling that puts you in the Mardi Gras mood. There is also a lower level, dubbed "The French Quarter Subterranean Speakeasy," which is everything it claims to be.
Moose & Me Baking Company
At Moose & Me Baking Company we employ adults with physical, developmental, and intellectual disabilities and create meaningful interactions within our community. Our inclusive workplace provides adults of all abilities a place to learn job skills and put them to use in a productive environment. Our wonderfully made treats are made by wonderfully made people!
The Nest Bar & Grill
The Nest at the Bolingbrook Golf Club is the perfect place to perch for a delicious steak and glass of fine wine. The Nest offers tender steak crostinis made from top choice tenderloin with a goat cheese spread, paired with a distinct bottle of red wine for a light meal. Or for a bigger appetite, choose the prime rib in a king or queen cut, served with a baked potato and asparagus. You can dine with a prime view of the beautiful golf course.
The Reserve
At The Reserve, Harrah’s Joliet’s American Steakhouse, we offer a fine dining experience second to none. Indulge yourself with the highest grade of USDA Prime Allen Brothers steaks that are a cut above the rest, one of our many succulent starters and finish your dining experience with one of our many exceptional desserts! Enjoy an intimate dining experience in our exquisite dining room or join in on the lively ambiance at our wrap around bar for an unforgettable evening at Harrah’s Joliet. It is the perfect place for a special night.
Richardson's Bistro
The newest Joliet gourmet restaurant joining the ongoing success and rejuvenation of downtown Joliet. Owner Marzell Richardson III describes Richardson's as cozy, comfortable and relaxing with that New York deli vibe but with a laid back California feel. It's a family run business dedicated to Joliet with a long family connection to the city. Richardson's Bistro is located 81 North Chicago Street, the four-story building adjacent to the Van Buren Plaza, which is across the street from the Rialto Square Theatre.
Rooted
Located in Downtown Minooka, Rooted is a Midwest American restaurant built around locally sourced ingredients, wine and bourbon. Our team works hard in creating a warm and honest atmosphere, focusing on hospitality and kindness.
2024 IMAGE GALLERY
