"Pairing The Best" Success For Treasure Chest

A wine pairing contest was held at the Orland Park Civic Center Friday September 26, 2014 for Pediatric Oncology Treasure Chest (www.treasurechest.org), with guests being treated to wine, dinner, and art auction. Sponsored by Holistic Happenings Healing Center in Tinley Park, Rago & Associates of New Lenox, & the Oak Forest Rotary, it was a great night of friendly competition between some of the local businesses who offer wine for purchase.

Contestants were given the menu of the food being served from Polonia Catering, and it was their job to select a wine that best paired with the dinner. Competitors included Granite City Food & Brewery, Tin Fish, Little Joe’s, Chef Klaus, Stray Bar, and the Tinley-Frankfort Rotary Club. Granite City won the red wine pairing, successfully defending their title of ‘best red wine’ at last year’s event. Newcomer Tin Fish of Tinley Park took the title of ‘best white wine’, pairing with Fettuccini Alfredo with Grilled Chicken and Baked Ham with Au Gratin Potatoes.

The Silent Auction Art Exhibition showcased six local artists from the area, and featured over 30 pieces of art that guests could bid on and win. Artists included Matthew Flaws, Christina Snider, Noel Roberts, John Howard, James Rodriguez, and Martin Kisel, whose mother founded Pediatric Oncology Treasure Chest and was just awarded a scholarship for his art work.

In addition to great food and wine, two treasure chests with $400 in gift cards and merchandise were raffled off. Guests also participated in a grape pull sponsored by Polar Heating & Air, paying for a chance to pull a red grape out of a container of green grapes to win a bottle of wine. Music was provided by the talented duo Afterglow, singing a variety of classic songs during dinner. In all, the event took in over $2000 for Pediatric Oncology Treasure Chest. For more information or to support the Treasure Chest Foundation, please visit their web site at www.treasurechest.org.

Tim Howe

Event Coordinator

New Lenox Chamber Member

(708) 244-3906