Sample the Best of Barrington Restaurant Eats at Taste'fest & Expo

Many would say it’s the food event of the year for the Barrington area, and it’s not too late to buy a ticket to join in on the fun.

The 2011 Barrington Taste’fest & Expo will be held Thursday, Oct. 27 from 6 to 9 p.m. at in South Barrington. The eighth annual event is a fundraiser for the , and features wonderful cuisine and drinks served up from 25 area restaurants and eateries. Exhibitors not in the restaurant business will also have booths and offer raffles, games and prizes to attendees.

“We are very, very excited about it,” Barrington Chamber of Commerce President Janet Meyer said. “For the first time in eight years, our exhibitor space has been sold out as well as being close to sold out with tickets.”

Barrington Taste’fest & Expo was born in 2003 when the old Barrington Area Chamber of Commerce fundraising tradition of a Halloween party was outgrown.

“We chose the Taste’fest because we were blessed with so many restaurants in our area and we felt that they needed a way to showcase the best of their best to the residents and to the businesses,” Meyer said.

Attendees will have the chance to sample a selection of specifically chosen menu items from the participating establishments. Some mouthwatering dishes available for tasting include lobster bisque, trinity and Portobello mushroom sliders, red velvet rolls, butternut squash ravioli and more.

The first 500 people through the door will also receive an extra bonus: a celebration glass to take home with them that Meyer describes as a collector’s item.

Tickets cost $40 each or two for $70 in advance. Those interested in attending can buy tickets online or at the Chamber of Commerce office, 190 E. James St., until 2 p.m. Thursday. Tickets can also be purchased at the door for $45 each, or $75 for two.

“It’s rather expensive to go out these days, especially if you have a family. The nice thing about this is for the price of one ticket, you can spend three hours sampling the finest of the finest restaurants, looking at their menus and choosing your next date night,” Meyer said.

Participating restaurants include:

Barrington Cellars

Cook Street Coffee

Cucina Pazza LLC

Francesca's Famiglia

Georgio's Chicago Pizzeria & Pub

Jewel Food

Kernel Fabyan's Gourmet Popcorn Shoppe

Apple Villa Famous Pancake House & Restaurant

Lindy's Restaurant and Marina

On Occasion Catering 

Millrose Restaurant & Banquets

Millrose Country Store

Near Restaurant

Ruth's Chris Steak House

Slyce Coal Fired Pizza Company

Tasty Catering

The Anvil Club

The Great Grape

The Onion Pub & Brewery

Tastefully Simple

McGonigal's Pub

Park Avenue Wine Bar

Brunch Café

Buca di Beppo

The Lucky Monk

For more information on Barrington Taste'fest & Expo, visit the Barrington Area Chamber of Commerce website.