Choose Chicago First Bites Bash

Choose Chicago Restaurant Week starts today and goes through Thursday, February 8^th. Restaurant patrons have the opportunity to enjoy specialty prix fixe menus from more than 370 participating Chicago Restaurants. The multi-course dining experience starts at $22 for brunch and lunch and $33 and/or $44 for dinner (excluding beverages, tax, and gratuity). Restaurant Week LISTING

To celebrate Chicago Restaurant week foodies from near and far gathered at the Aon Grand Ballroom at Navy Pier yesterday for the 11^th Annual Choose Chicago First Bites Bash! First Bites Bash is the official kick-off party to restaurant week. Attendees get to sample sweet and savory items from 60 of Chicago’s most celebrated chefs and restaurants. A portion of the proceeds from the event benefits the Chicago Food Depository.

Our host for the evening was Lee Wolen, executive chef and partner at Boka Restaurant in Lincoln Park. You could feel the excitement as everyone sampled what’s to come for restaurant week. Check out some of my fav bites of the evening below. For tips on how to navigate restaurant week and where I plan on going, check out my past article here.