'Hungry Hound' Making Grand Marshal Debut At Tinley Irish Parade

TINLEY PARK, IL — ABC-7 culinary reporter Steve Dolinsky, known to many Chicagoans as the "Hungry Hound" who covers a variety of food and drink-related topics, will embark on a new adventure come Sunday when he takes to Oak Park Avenue and Downtown Tinley to be the grand marshal of the 2020 Tinley Park Irish Parade. The 13-time James Beard award-winning TV and radio personality has never before been a parade grand marshal.

"I'm kind of surprised they reached out to me," Dolinsky said. "I've never been asked to to this sort of thing before."

Dolinsky said he will be riding in an open air Jeep as grand marshal of the parade that will step off at 1 p.m. on Sunday, March 8 at 179th Street and Oak Park Avenue. The parade route is less than a mile, running from 179th north to 172nd Street along Oak Park.

"I haven't been able to ask other grand marshals about the job description and responsibilities," he said. "Am I suppose to be practicing my wave?"

His grand marshal appearance will be Dolinsky's first time at the Tinley Park Irish Parade. He's only been to a handful of St. Patrick's Day parades in all.

"I have heard Tinley's is super family friendly though," he said.

The hope, of course, is for good weather.

"I've lived in Chicago for 27 years and I know that mid-March is hit or miss," he said. "We'll pray for no snow and no rain. It will be an awesome day if that happens."

The stop in Tinley Park on Sunday will give Dolinsky a reason to visit the restaurants in the village. A few years back he visited Cuzin's Pub and still remembers it as having "good tavern-style pizza."

"Whenever I'm in a different part of the region I try to dive deep and hit as many places as possible," he said. "I'm probably going to get down there (to Tinley) either an hour or two early or stay an hour or two late to check out 1 or 2 places."

"So if there is a consensus on a place I must visit, I'll check that place out."