October Fun Abounds In Rosemont

FALL ENTERTAINMENT AND ONE-OF-A-KIND EVENTS FOR THE ENTIRE FAMILY 

AT MB FINANCIAL PARK AT ROSEMONT 

THIS OCTOBER

  

Whether you like your fall scary, sweet, philanthropic, or full of multicultural foodie fun, Rosemont's got you covered. 

October Events are in Full Swing this Season 

with A-List Comedians, New Offerings And Halloween Scares 

at MB Financial Park’s Restaurants and Attractions

MB Financial Park at Rosemont’s restaurants and attractions will offer specials throughout the month of October. Celebrate the season with authentic German food, beer and entertainment at Hofbräuhaus Chicago’s Oktoberfest through October 31. For the thrill seekers in the family, nothing will make spines tingle and palms sweat more than the Disturbia: Screams in the Park haunted house which will spook everyone now through November 1. 

Click here for our guest review and full details on the haunt.

Hofbräuhaus Chicago, the first and only German micro-brewery, beer hall and restaurant in the Chicago area, is celebrating Oktoberfest now through Oct. 31. Festivities include authentic Bavarian entertainment, stein holding competitions, celebrity keg tapping ceremonies and freshly brewed “Oktoberfestbier” which utilizes the recipes and techniques from the original Hofbräuhaus in Munich, Germany.

Limited-time Oktoberfest specials, changing daily, are offered Monday-Friday from 4 p.m. – 10 p.m. Specials include HB Bier Gulasch, an Oktoberfest Roulade and Brew Master Chicken Schnitzel. In addition to the Oktoberfest daily specials, Hofbräuhaus Chicago offers traditional cinnamon sugar roasted nuts Thursday-Sunday evenings during Oktoberfest. For more information or reservations, call 847.671.BREW (2739). www.HofbrauhausChicago.com.

Disturbia: Screams in the Park: Only the bravest should dare to enter Disturbia: Screams in the Park in Rosemont, located in the basement level of the parking garage at MB Financial Park at Rosemont.  There are terrors every step of the way in this immersive haunted house experience, where guests become part of an interactive world of horror, complete with an industry-unique entry that sucks guests into the haunt—whether they are ready or not.  Disturbia: Screams in the Park will remain open from 7 p.m. – 12 a.m. through Saturday, Nov. 1. 

Disturbia: Screams in the Park is an indoor environment that operates rain or shine. General admission tickets are $25.  VIP tickets, which allow ticketholders to skip the line from immediate entrance to the haunted house, are also available for $35. A minimum age of 13 is recommended and parental discretion is advised.  Tickets are available for purchase online or on site.  For more information, including haunted house hours, and tickets visit www.disturbiascreams.com 

Adobe Gila’s Margarita Fajita Cantina will host a pre-Halloween event Thursday, Oct. 30 for those working in the service industry Oct. 31. Festivities include a costume contest with a cash prize for the winner. The celebrations will continue on Oct. 31 with Halloween drink specials, costume contests and more fun that is sure to get everyone in the Halloween spirit. For more information, call 847.233.0080. www.chicago.adobegilas.com

Award-winning Fogo de Chão, the authentic Southern Brazilian steakhouse, opened its newest addition, Bar Fogo this month. Guests can now enjoy unique Brazilian-inspired appetizers and delicious small plates, including Picanha Sirloin Sliders and Warm Hearts of Palm, with specialty cocktails and carefully selected wines. For reservations or more information call 847.678.7200 or visit www.fogo.com.

HELP OUT:

Kings Bowl will be the home to “Stars and Strikes,” a special benefit for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation hosted by 103.5FM’s ‘Fred and Angie in the Morning’ October 23 at 7 p.m. Guests can enjoy the evening with cocktails, raffles, silent auctions alongside celebrities bowling for a cause. Patrons can sponsor a lane for $1,500 and bring a team of six to bowl with a celebrity guest. VIP tickets are available $100 and spectator tickets are available for $35. VIP tickets give ticket-holders lane access along with drinks, appetizers and an invitation to a VIP cocktail reception. Spectator tickets include appetizers and two drink coupons.

Kings will also be celebrating Halloween with plenty of entertainment options from Oct. 27 through Nov. 2. Festivities include cash prize costume contests for both children and adults, a variety of food and drink specials, live DJs and NFL game-day specials. For more information call 847.233.0099 or visit www.kingsbowlamerica.com/rosemont. 

Muvico Theaters plans to instill classic Halloween fear in moviegoers this October. Guests can return to the small town of Haddonfield, Illinois to experience the cult classic “Halloween” Oct. 30 at 7:30 p.m. and Oct. 31 at 11:30 p.m. Muvico will also celebrate the 10^th Anniversary of the original “Saw” film with showings from Oct. 31 through Nov. 6.

Guests looking for even more chills and thrills can purchase tickets to Muvico’s Haunted House Double Feature Oct. 17, 18, 24 or 25. The $26 ticket includes admission to “The Exorcist “(playing Oct. 17 and 18) or “Texas Chainsaw Massacre” (playing Oct. 24 and 25) and admission to Disturbia: Screams in the Park haunted house. For more information, show times, and tickets call (847) 447-1040 or visit www.muvico.com.  

Park Tavern will be celebrating Halloween festivities on October 31 at 9 p.m. Plenty of “shocktails,” a live DJ and late night kitchen will be offered to partygoers for an evening of friends, food and fun. VIP Tables can be reserved for a minimum of four people. Park Tavern will also be having a costume contest with prizes for winners. For more information, or to reserve seats or VIP Tables call, (847) 349-5151 or visit www.parktavernrosemont.com.

This October, prepare to roar with laughter at Zanies Comedy Club. Saturday, Oct. 18, guests can enjoy a side-splitting show from “The Chelsea Lately Show” regular and “Last Comic Standing” semifinalist, Fortune Feimster. Monday, Oct. 20, “Last Comic Standing” star Doug Benson comes to the Zanies stage. His sketches landed him a reoccurring spot on Comedy Central’s “@midnight.” Wil Anderson’s award winning show “GoodWil” comes to Zanies Saturday, Oct. 25. For reservations or more information, call 847-813-0484. www.zanies.com

HELP OUT:

About The Village of Rosemont, Illinois: Rosemont, Illinois, Chicagoland’s business and entertainment suburb, is conveniently located five minutes from O’Hare Airport and twenty minutes from Chicago’s downtown. Rosemont is home to the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, a wide variety of hotel and dining options, the Allstate Arena, the Akoo Theatre at Rosemont, and a host of entertainment and retail venues. Rosemont continues to grow and evolve based on the new vision of Mayor Bradley A. Stephens. MB Financial Park at Rosemont features an array of great dining and entertainment options. For more information, visit www.Rosemont.com.

About The MB Financial Park at Rosemont: MB Financial Park at Rosemont is a 200,000 square-foot entertainment and dining complex whose 10 venues offer upscale international cuisine, live music and comedy, state-of-the-art film, bowling and more. Conveniently located near O’Hare International Airport, MB Financial Park at Rosemont is easily accessible from Chicago as well as the suburbs. The address is 5501 Park Place, a new looping street situated west of River Road between Bryn Mawr and Balmoral Avenues.  A 20-minute drive from Chicago’s Loop, MB Financial Park at Rosemont is walking distance from the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, the CTA Blue Line Rosemont station and Rosemont Theatre. Convenient parking is available. For more information visit www.mbparkatrosemont.com.

WIN a $50 Gift Card To Fogo de Chao Rosemont Through Oct 8th #giveaway

You'll need to forgo the chow before and for a while after a meal at the impressive Brazilian Steakhouse, Fogo de Chao.   It rhymes with shown, so you'll sound like those in the know, and we were recently shown an enticing and endless array of meat swords, when Chicagonista invited us to a private press event.   We were in on Fogo de Chao's first lunch seating at their new Rosemont local last Monday.   Their name has the poetic meaning of "Fire of the Ground" and they feature every meat imaginable from top sirloin, ribs, pork and lamb, to sausages and chicken wrapped in bacon (my personal fav).

Fogo de Chao also features a drool worthy salad bar, an award winning wine cellar (proud recipient of the prestigious Wine Spectator Magazine Award of Excellence for eight consecutive years.), and desserts to die for.  I was a vegetarian for 10 years, until I married a self professed "meatatarian", so I have to make up for lost time.   And Fogo De Chao is just the carnivorous paradise to do it in!

My meat lovin' husband went to Brazil, Carnival in Rio to be exact, with Comedy Central, on an Insomniac With Dave Attell shoot.   And he came back raving about the amazing Brazilian steakhouses.   Sure, he dug the world famous parades and had an amusing time hangin' with wickedly witty Attell, but the highlight of the trip for him was the food.   He couldn't stop talking about the incredibly delicious steakhouses where you flip a green disc for endless meat servings and a red when you're good for the moment.

Now Chicagoans can experience the wonder of a top notch Brazilian Steakhouse first hand, at two locations, without jet lag and TSA lines.  River North has been open 10 years and just underwent a remodeling transformation.  The brand new Rosemont location is close to O'Hare and features easy, free parking.   The food is fantastic, and their prices are reasonable if you arrive hungry.  Lunch is just $26.50 and it's $46.50 per person for dinner. 

The lunch was so delicious and a lot of fun.  I sat next to WGN's own Nancy Loo (reporter/anchorwoman) and Little Tech Girl, Kris Cain (blogger supreme).   The food and company were superb.   

Little Tech Girl & ChiIL Mama enjoying lunch at Fogo de Chao

phone photo by Kris Cain

Back when I was in 4th grade (just a bit younger than my daughter is now), we were asked to write an essay about what we wanted to be when we grew up.   I wanted to write about being an anchorwoman.   The teacher told me women couldn't be news anchors and to pick something else!   It was the mid 70's not the middle ages.   I'm so happy that our generation of women responded to that mindset with a resounding "Oh yeah?!" and not "Oh well." 

Chicagonista invited an array of Chicago's best press and bloggers to The Fogo de Chao lunch, and I was in the company of some amazing and inspiring women including anchorwomen, writers, power bloggers, and women who collectively influence millions.   I'm so happy to count such smart, savvy, talented women among my colleagues and friends!

Chicagonista will be broadcasting live from the restaurant October 8th at 2pm, and #FogoDeChao will be picking one of ChiIL Mama's lucky readers to win a $50 gift card and announcing the winners on the show.

In the comments below, just tell us if you're more stoked for steak, salivating for the salad bar or delirious for desserts.  You can watch the show at ChicagonistaLIVE.com.   Special guests:      WTTW's Check, Please! new host Cat D' Orio and Guy-a-titian David Grotto 

Good luck!

**All of Our Readers Are Winners**

Diners at Fogo de Chao in Rosemont receive a complimentary dessert if you mention “ChicagonistaLIVE” throughout the month of October! 

Lunch – Beginning Monday, September 30 

$26.50 (Salad Bar Only - $19.50)

Monday – Friday:  11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Dinner – Beginning Thursday, September 26

$46.50 (Salad Bar Only - $22.50)

Monday – Thursday: 5:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.

Friday: 5:00 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.

Saturday: 4:00 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.

Sunday: 4:00 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. 

Children six years of age and under enjoy complimentary dining. Children seven to 12 years of age dine at half price.  Beverages, desserts, taxes and gratuity are additional.  

Award-winning Fogo de Chão, the authentic Southern Brazilian steakhouse, opened its 21^st U.S. location in Rosemont, Illinois, on Thursday, September 26.   

• This is the second Chicagoland location and the first time the restaurant has opened a second location within a local market. 
• Following a $750,000 renovation and expansion of the Chicago’s River North location last October, and celebration of the location’s 10 year anniversary in 2012, Fogo will continue to meet demand in the market for churrasco cuisine by offering more than 10,000 square feet and more than 250 seats in Rosemont, including private dining and event space.

ChiIL out with ChiIL Mama for your chance to win a $50 gift card and try Fogo de Chao yourself.   Just comment below for your chance to win.  Tell us if you're more stoked for steak, salivating for the salad bar or delirious for desserts.



Dessert Photo by Kris Cain who was sitting next to me

As most of you know, as a photographer/videographer I'm usually all over the original photos.   This time I didn't have my pro camera along and after the first 20 minutes or so of tweeting/Instagram/FB my phone died.   So this time photos are credited to the Fogo de Chao site unless otherwise noted.

Culinary Journey:

• A Zagat-rated top U.S. restaurant, Fogo de Chao offers customers a unique and authentic Brazilian dining experience centered around the gaucho way of preparing meat, known as churrasco, the art of roasting meats over an open fire. 

• A prix fixe menu features 16 freshly grilled meats prepared by Brazilian-trained gaucho chefs and carved tableside, as well as an extensive salad bar offering more than 30 selections and authentic Brazilian sides.
• Guests decide both the pace and the portions of their dining experience by using a small, double-sided disc that signals to the gaucho chefs that they are ready for additional service—green queuing servers to continue bringing meats and red signaling a break. 
• Fogo also offers an award-winning 200-label wine list and signature dessert options, including papaya cream, made with fresh papaya, vanilla ice cream and Crème de Cassis liqueur, and South American flan.

Authentic Brazilian Design:

• In addition to the food, the unique interior elements enhance the authentic Brazilian experience, from the Brazilian slate and Brazilian Rosewood palette to custom murals that depict the southern Brazilian culture and the gaucho lifestyle.

Q & A:

Q: What is Fogo de Chao?

A: Fogo de Chão (pronounced fo-go dèe shoun), is an award-winning authentic Southern Brazilian steakhouse, best known for its unique dining experience based on the centuries-old gaucho tradition known as churrasco, the art of roasting meats over an open fire.  A prix fixe menu features freshly grilled meats carved tableside, as well as an extensive salad bar and authentic Brazilian sides.

Q: Where is the Fogo located in Rosemont?

A: Fogo is conveniently located within MB Financial Park in the heart of the city’s thriving business district. The exact location is 5640 Park Place in Rosemont, Ill., 60018.   (It's a little tricky to find, but well worth it.   Free parking is available in the multilevel garage and it's a short walk from there.) 

Q: Do I need to make a reservation?

A: Reservations are preferred. Visit www.fogodechao.com for more information.

Q: Does Fogo have the capacity to support large parties and/or events?

A: Yes.The expansive restaurant boasts seating for more than 250 guests and offers private and semi-private dining rooms for group events, meetings and celebrations. Equipped with AV capabilities and Internet streaming, the spaces are ideal for groups, meetings and events. 

Q: What is the gaucho way of preparing meat?

A: The restaurant’s dining experience is based on the centuries-old gaucho tradition known as churrasco, the art of roasting meats over an open fire. The prix fixe menu regularly features 16 freshly grilled meats prepared by Brazilian-trained gaucho chefs and carved tableside Some examples include Picanha, the prime part of the sirloin, seasoned with sea salt and flavored with garlic, and the rib eye, an elite cut, perfectly marbled and rich in flavor. Cordeiro is an offering of fresh lamb served as lamb chops or leg of lamb sliced off the bone.

Q: Is the only option a prix fixe menu?

A: Yes. A prix fixe menu features 16 freshly grilled meats prepared by Brazilian-trained gaucho chefs and carved tableside, as well as an extensive salad bar offering more than 30 selections and authentic Brazilian sides. However, guests can opt to only experience the salad bar for a reduced charge. Fogo also offers an award-winning 200-label wine list and signature dessert options, including papaya cream, made with fresh papaya, vanilla ice cream and Crème de Cassis liqueur, and South American flan. Beverages, desserts, taxes and gratuity are additional.

Q: Is there a children’s menu?

A: Children enjoy the same experience as adults. Children six years of age and under enjoy complimentary dining. Children seven to 12 years of age dine at half price.  

Q: What really sets Fogo apart from the other Brazilian steakhouses in Chicago?

A: Fogo was the FIRST Southern Brazilian steakhouse in the Chicagoland area 11 years ago, and has been a mainstay of the thriving restaurant scene ever since.  We’ve developed a loyal customer base who continue to dine with us for the authentic Brazilian experience, which encompasses every part of our restaurant – from the Brazilian-trained gaucho chefs and the food/preparation to the servers/service and interior décor.

Q: How authentic is Fogo de Chao?

A: Very. From the food preparation to the décor, Fogo is known for its authentic and unique Southern Brazilian dining experience. Fogo currently has eight restaurants in South America (29 locations across the Americas), with a ninth location opening this Winter in Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Q: Does Fogo cater to people with certain dietary restrictions (e.g. food allergies) and/or dietary habits (e.g. vegetarian)?

A: Yes. In addition to the 16 cuts of meat, Fogo is well-known for its extensive salad bar offering more than 30 selections – including grilled vegetables, prepared fish, a variety of cheeses and salads. Prior to attempting the salad bar or meats, tell your server about any dietary restrictions and he/she will share the best options for you.

Q: Isn’t the idea of all-you-can eat meat really unhealthy?

A: While the Fogo dining experience is based on a prix fixe menu, it’s really all about moderation. It’s up to the guest to control the pace of service and how much food they choose to consume.

Q: Where does Fogo source its meat?

A: The meat is sources locally within the US, with the bulk of meat shipped fresh from Texas, where Fogo is headquartered in the States.

For more information, visit www.fogodechao.com.  

And, follow Fogo on Facebook at Facebook.com/fogorestaurants.