Celebrate National Lobster Day at Benny's Chop House Today, June 15!

While great US Prime Steaks may rule Chicago’s restaurant scene most of the year, it is sweet, succulent lobster that steals the show at Benny’s Chop House (444 N. Wabash, Chicago; 312-626-2444) on Saturday, June 15, National Lobster Day. To celebrate the delectable lobster, Benny’s will offer several outstanding lobster dishes that will satisfy even the most avid lobster fan.

At Benny’s Chop House, lobster is as special as the top-quality steaks and chops. Guests can enjoy this tender treat many different ways, as a “Bar Bite”, a sandwich, an appetizer, a soup, a salad, a pasta dish, a risotto, or as a main course. Paired with a glass of wine from Benny’s award-winning wine collection, a lobster experience at Benny’s is a special pleasure.

In the bar area, at Benny’s raw bar, is Crab & Lobster “Louie”, served with avocado, tomato and horseradish ($19.99). Another signature Bar Bite is the Lobster Croquettes, with béchamel and mushroom pesto ($8).  

At lunchtime, guests can order the wonderful Lobster Cobb Salad, with tomato, bacon, avocado, sweet corn and tarragon ($16.99). If you’re in the mood for a sandwich, you’ll be more than thrilled with Benny’s unique Lobster Grilled Cheese Sandwich, with citrus mayonnaise and provolone, and served with a garden salad ($10.99).

In the dining room at dinnertime, for a memorable beginning to the meal, guests can order the spectacular Shellfish Tower for Two, a beautifully presented display of chilled lobster, king crab and shrimp ($69.99). Another great lobster beginning is the Lobster Bisque ($7.99), a creamy and aromatic soup that has become a great crowd pleaser at Benny’s.

Knowing that steak lovers often also have a craving for lobster, Benny’s offers the best of all worlds with the Surf-N-Turf Style entrée, which features an 8oz USDA Prime Wet-Aged Filet Mignon paired with a 10oz. Cape Breton lobster tail. Guests who can’t resist a full steak dinner can enjoy lobster as a perfect accompaniment by ordering the perfectly prepared Lobster Risotto ($14.99) or the Lobster Macaroni and Cheese ($7.99). Another delightful way to add a touch of lobster to your dinner is to order it as a Lobster Tail Steak Enhancement.

As one of Chicago’s finest steakhouses, Benny’s Chop House also knows that if there are steak lovers in the house, pasta lovers are not far behind. With Benny’s Lobster Ravioli, guests can have it all. This mouthwatering dish, made from fresh house-made pasta, is truly exciting, with luscious morel mushrooms in a rich Parmesan-cream sauce ($14.99 half order; $24.99 full order). It doesn’t get any better.

Finally, for the true lobster purist, Benny’s offers a generous, tender whole steamed Maine Lobster ($49.99), served with drawn butter and beautifully presented.

With so many delicious lobster choices, Benny’s Chop House is clearly the place to be on National Lobster Day. Sit back, relax, enjoy your glass of wine or a unique specialty cocktail and feast on one of America’s most prized treasures of the sea.

 

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All photos by Tim Turner:

 

Lobster Grilled Cheese

 

 

Lobster Cobb Salad

 

Shellfish Tower for Two

 

Surf-N-Turf Style

Weekly Live Jazz at Benny's Chop House Bar and Lounge this June

Benny's Chop House's Bar and Lounge (444 N. Wabash Ave. Chicago, IL; 312-626-2444) is the city's premier place to hear some of the best local jazz musicians. Catch Lynn Hilton, Lawrence Hanks, Fred Simon, Carmen Stokes, Cecile Savage and Calvin "Koco" Brunson select days this June. Joining the all-star lineup of musicians is Sami Scot, a versatile and unique vocal artist as well as an accomplished pianist sharing her special brand of jazz melodies with guests at Benny's Chop House.

SAMI SCOT BIOGRAPHY: Sami Scot is a versatile and unique musical artist whose tasty arrangements and vocal styling has earned the respect of both the public and her peers. Whether performing solo in lounges and restaurants, summer festivals or on concert stages, her definitive and obvious talent shines through. Scot is also well known among her fellow musicians to be a skillful and generous collaborator whenever a duo or trio is required for an engagement. Although Chicago is her home, Scot has appeared at prestigious venues throughout seven countries. Whether performing on five star world cruises, singing at the Riviera in Las Vegas, the Mark Hopkins hotel in San Francisco or alongside Ike Cole (Nat King Cole's brother) at Chicago's celebrated Pump Room, Sami Scot demonstrates the highest level of professionalism. Sami Scot has a reputation for lending a touch of class to special events and gatherings throughout the Chicagoland area. LAWRENCE HANKS BIOGRAPHY: Lawrence Hanks is an accomplished pianist, composer, orchestrator, conductor and college professor. He earned his Bachelors and Masters Degrees at University of Illinois at Chicago. To listen to Larry play is an opportunity to explore his soul and share in his love and compassion for music, as he brings to the stage the sum total of his life's experiences. Larry's many accomplishments include scoring and conducting the orchestra for renowned Soul artists Curtis Mayfield's and Jerry "The Iceman" Butler's "Reunion Tour." In the late 70's and 80's, He and his first writing partner, Rodney Massey penned songs recorded by nationally and internationally known artists such as Smokey Robinson, The Temptations, Melba Moore, The Stylistics, The Emotions, Dee Dee Sharp-Gamble, Jerry Butler, and their own group, OMNI, hitting the Billboard charts regularly. As a young man in his early 20s, Larry was chosen by Jerry Butler to conduct his orchestra, which consisted of a six-piece rhythm section, three background vocalists, and was often augmented by local orchestra players that would include nine horns and seven string players from various cities along the tour. In the 90's Larry found another writing, and ultimately life partner in Ms. Joan Collaso. They've traveled parts of the world, created, and played music together for the last 18 years. Larry has been the resident pianist for the Four Seasons Hotel in Chicago since 1995. And in 2006 his wife, Joan Collaso became the first featured vocalist for Four Seasons, entertaining audience from every part of the globe. CARMEN STOKES BIOGRAPHY: One of the many women pianists who started out playing classical but went to jazz in her early teens, Carmen Stokes is a stunningly beautiful pianist of great energy, versatility and enterprise.  As a Composer, Arranger, Instrumentalist, Vocalist, Educator and Music Director, Stokes incorporates jazz, gospel, blues, classical and Latin forms into her music.  She has constantly sought out novel directions to express her ideas. Stokes' multiple solo efforts and countless guest performances are recognized by both her peers and the knowing public as a first class musical artist.  Stokes has performed nationally and internationally as a trio/quartet, pianist/vocalist, along with gracing the stages of legendary artists including the likes of Dizzy Gillespie, Herbie Hancock, Prince, and countless others.  Stokes was personally contacted by Ramsey Lewis, Chicago's own legendary jazz pianist, who requested her to perform on his behalf at the Chicago Jazz Awards because he was scheduled to perform in London.  Lewis stated, "I only trust two people in Chicago to play my songs right and you're one of the two".  Stokes honored Lewis' request and received roaring applauses and a standing ovation for her tribute to Lewis.  In an article written by Howard Reich, arts critic for the Chicago Tribune, Stokes was tagged as being, "One of the more effective jazz pianists working in the Ramsey Lewis tradition".  Stokes' vocal styling were compared in JazzChicago.net to the likes of  jazz vocalists Nancy Wilson, Diana Krall and the late Phylliss Hyman. Stokes started playing piano at the age of six.  Stokes' classical studies were completed at Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana and her jazz studies were completed at Long Island University in Brooklyn, New York, while working with Dizzy Gillespie.  Throughout Stokes' career, she received numerous accolades and first place awards in classical and jazz and one of her more memorable accolade came when Joe Sample, one of Stokes' greatest idols, recognized her talents and awarded her first place in the category, "Best Jazz Soloist", at the Notre Dame Jazz Festival.      Stokes continued her solo career in traditional jazz but found herself yearning for her love for R&B, Funk and Latin forms, and began integrating them in her acoustic piano playing funky and rhythmically appealing qualities.  Stokes recorded two successful CD's entitled, "Sexy Feelin'" and "Words Of Wisdom" which were sold nationally and internationally.  Stokes' CD's were in such high demand that she found herself with a full performance schedule which included sending her to Singapore where she played to "Standing Room Only" (SRO) audiences.  Upon returning to the United States, Stokes was still in high demand continuing to perform at venues with SRO audiences.. In 2003, Stokes' career was derailed from a tragic automobile accident which resulted in a an uncertainty as to whether or not she would be able to walk again let alone play again.  After 3½ hard years of rehabilitation, Stokes proudly recovered and returned to the piano.  She continues her piano/vocal career by wowing audiences through a style that is uniquely her own.  Stokes' motto, "Music comes from the heart and if what lies within your heart is true and genuine, your music will be true and genuine.  CÉCILE SAVAGE AND CALVIN "KOCO" BRUNSON BIOGRAPHIES: Cécile Savage (bass and vocals) and Calvin "Koco" Brunson (piano and vocals), who co-lead the jazz group "Komango," perform at Benny's. They offer a culturally diverse repertoire steeped in the African American, French and Brazilian traditions. Cécile Savage was born in Martinique, French West Indies, and grew up in Paris, France, where she studied piano. She moved to New York City in the early 70's where she studied guitar with Ted Dunbar and joined Sugar Blue's Blues Band, playing electric bass. It is with this band that she toured Europe and Africa. She composed music for Sugar Blue's album "Crossroads." She moved to Chicago in the early 80's, where she studied the acoustic bass with Steve Lester from the CSO, and in Madison, WI, with Richard Davis. She studied voice at the Center for Voice and Vandercook College of Music. As a bassist, she has worked with Von Freeman, some members of the AACM,Maggie Brown and many others. She has appeared in numerous clubs around the Chicago area as a singer and bassist. She played and sung at the Hotel Sofitel from 1993 to 1997. She often played the intimate Sunday evening Jazz set at the Green Dolphin. She also entertains for many private affairs such as the Marshall Fields fashion show and the French Market. She appeared at the 2004 Chicago Jazz Festival. Her repertoire included many French songs, which became jazz standards such as Autumn Leaves, Jazz standards, Brazilian bossas and her own compositions. She is currently working at recording her CD. With jazz, blues and musical theatre the major focus of his work, Calvin "Koco" Brunson has  collaborated with the late, great playwright, Oscar Brown Jr. in writing plays entitled In De Beginnin', Journey Through Forever, and Sliced Apple. Koco is also an "Artist-in-Residence" with Urban Gateways. Calvin "Koco" Brunson is a world-class musician, possessing deft keyboard skills and utilizing truly inventive harmonies to reach his audience. FRED SIMON BIOGRAPHY: Fred Simon has been making music for more than forty years, composing for records, live performance, film, dance, and television, with instrumentation ranging from solo piano to symphonic orchestra. Since childhood he has been convinced that he is a singer/songwriter trapped in the body of someone who can't sing. His recorded work includes seven albums of original music under his name: SHORT STORY and TIME AND THE RIVER (Quaver), USUALLY/ALWAYS (Windham Hill), OPEN BOOK (Columbia), DREAMHOUSE (The Naim Label), REMEMBER THE RIVER (The Naim Label), and, most recently, SINCE FOREVER (The Naim Label); three albums (as principle composer) with the Simon and Bard Group: MUSAIC, TEAR IT UP, and THE ENORMOUS RADIO (Flying Fish); as well as TWILIGHT (NorthSound Music Group), a collaboration with reed player Paul McCandless and guitarist Teja Bell; THE MUSIC OF THE BEACH BOYS (NorthSound Music Group), an album of solo piano arrangements of Brian Wilson songs; and numerous appearances on compilations released by Windham Hill, Columbia, Narada, Private Music, Imaginary Road, NorthSound Music Group, Jazziz Magazine, and, currently, The Naim Label. Fred has recorded and/or performed with Ralph Towner (founding member of Oregon), Paul McCandless (founding member of Oregon), Larry Coryell, Lyle Mays, Iain Matthews (founding member of Fairport Convention), Jerry Goodman (Mahavishnu Orchestra violinist), Steve Rodby and Paul Wertico (both with Pat Metheny Group), Bonnie Herman (Singers Unlimited), Kurt Elling, Fareed Haque, David Onderdonk, Ingrid Graudins, Ross Traut, The Stan Kenton Orchestra, and many others. LYNN HILTON BIOGRAPHY: In the spirit of the legendary Sarah Vaughn, Carmen McCrae, and Nina Simone, the baton has not only been passed but the banner flies high and steady in the capable hands and voice of Lynn Hilton. Composer, Arranger, Vocalist, Instrumentalist, Music Director, and Educator - she continues to expand of her proven track record of professionalism, creativity and charisma. This modern day Renaissance woman is one of most sought-after musicians in the industry. Ms. Hilton energizes her audiences with charismatic and exciting performances, both nationally and internationally. According to Russia's St. Petersburg Times: "Lynn Hilton captivates the most demanding audiences with her innovative style and wit." Beginning her career as a teenager, she was appointed musical director for the KUUMBA repertory theater in her native Chicago. She represented the U.S.A. in the International Festival of Song and Voice competition where she was awarded "Best Arrangement" and "Best New Composer" honors. Ms. Hilton continues her long distance work on behalf of American Theatrical companies by serving as musical director in absentia for several theatrical productions including Fences, and Jitney. She continues her hallmark of excellence as composer of several theatrical scores, including Kasimu and the Coconut Palm, and Thunderstorm by award-winning playwright Shongodina Ifatunji. Continuously working the live jazz scene, Ms. Hilton is one of the most sought-after performers on stage and in the studio with her versatile repertoire that includes Jazz, Blues, Latin, Gospel, and today's contemporary music. She has shared her unique performances with fans in many countries in the Caribbean, Far East, Middle East, South America, Africa, and Europe. Her unique keyboard and extraordinary vocal styling has resulted in her affiliation with a variety of luminaries including Sherry Scott, Morgana King, Jonathon Butler, Marion Meadows, Hugh Masekela, and Steve Winwood.  As a composer Ms. Hilton has written and arranged many national television and radio commercials often serving as composer, contractor, pianist, vocalist and voice-over announcer. In every generation the universe catapults a special star that blazes a new path. That special star is Ms. Lynn Hilton. Catch her rising star and treat yourself to the colors and sounds of this extraordinary pianist and singer.

Celebrate National Wine Day May 25 at Benny's Chop House

Wine has been an important aspect of human culture for thousands of years. Archaeologists in Speyer, Germany discovered the oldest bottle of wine in existence while excavating two Roman stone sarcophaguses in 1867. The bottle dates back to at least 325 AD. It is now on display at the History Museum of the Pfalz in Germany.

In spite of wine's longevity as a worldwide cultural staple, one might think that National Wine Day on May 25 was created with Benny's Chop House in mind. Benny's, a modern and sophisticated take on the traditional American steakhouse (444 N. Wabash, Chicago; 312-626-2444) has made its wine program one of the finest in Chicago.

Many restaurants like to boast about their Wine Spectator Award of Excellence. Yet Benny's Chop House surpasses them-it is one of a select few restaurants in Chicago that has earned the Wine Spectator "Best of" Award of Excellence.

According to Wine Spectator, the "Best of" designation gives "special recognition to restaurants that clearly exceed the requirements of the Award of Excellence. These lists typically offer 400 or more selections, along with superior presentation, and display either vintage depth, with several vertical offerings of top wines, or excellent breadth across several wine regions."

"We have succeeded in creating an exceptional wine list that wine lovers will truly appreciate," said Mitchell Schmieding, Benny's Director of Operations. "Nothing makes a wonderful dining experience more memorable than an excellent, enjoyable glass or bottle of wine. Since our menu includes a great variety of dishes in addition to our USDA Prime Natural steaks, Prime Dry-aged steaks and Prime Wet-aged steaks, we have built a wine collection that complements many different foods while catering to a wide range of wine preferences."

Benny's also has a unique wine locker program that enables frequent guests to purchase wines from the wine list by the case and store them on-premises in climate controlled lockers.  

Benny's Wine List features many hard-to-find New World and Old World wines, by the glass or bottle, at a variety of price points. "We search for wines that are excellent values at whatever price level," said Schmieding. "Quality and variety are our most important criteria, and we make sure that all of our guests are given excellent guidance from one of our Sommeliers in picking the wines that fit their mood and choice of meal."

Wines by the glass range in price from $11 to $35.  Benny's will also serve a 3-ounce "half pour" serving of any wine by the glass. The pinnacle of the wines by the glass is the collection of Fine & Rare Selections, stored using the EnoMatic® preservation system which keeps the wines in their most pristine condition through the use of argon.  Benny's also offers two outstanding private label red house wines by the glass which are delicious and exceptional values: Benny's Chop House 2006 Merlot and 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon, both from Howell Mountain, California and priced at $17 per glass.

Benny's wines by the bottle are extensive and wide ranging-more than 1,200 labels are on hand.  Bottles range in price from $34 to an eye-popping $4,500 for the exceptionally rare and prized 2003 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti en Magnum, Èxchézeaux Grand Cru. Benny's stocks more than 200 white wines by the bottle, covering numerous styles and points of origin. Guests can choose from Champagnes and sparkling wines, including the increasingly popular Brut Rosé. Other white wines include Chenin Blanc, Sauvignon Blanc, Rhône Varietals, Chardonnay, Riesling, Pinot Gris, Pinot Grigio, Gewürztraminer, Grüner Veltliner, Pinot Blanc, Auxerrois, Spanish Varietals, Mediterranean Varietals and Rosé.

In keeping with its status as a top-tier steakhouse, Benny's stocks nearly 1,000 red wines that comprise a world-class collection from across the wine spectrum. The Pinot Noirs emanate from the Côte de Nuits, Côte de Beaune and Côte Chalonnaise regions of France but there are also selections from Germany, Austria, Slovenia, South America, New Zealand, Oregon and California.

Benny's Rhône wines originate in the Northern and Southern Rhône Valley of France as well as from the Languedoc-Roussillon and Provence regions, plus Australia, Washington and California. The Bordeaux wines come primarily from the Pauillac and Saint-Èstephe, Saint-Julien and Margaux regions of France, but there are also Bordeaux-style wines from Italy, New Zealand, Chile, South Africa and domestic versions from Washington and California.

The Cabernet Sauvignon collection comes primary from the United States, including the Napa Valley region and Washington. Other excellent selections originate in Australia, while there are some delicious Cabernet Franc wines from the Loire Valley of France. Merlot selections are domestic, from California and Washington, while the Malbec wines are from France, Australia and Washington.

Benny's wine list continues with an extensive collection of interesting Spanish red wines. Tempranillos are primarily from the La Rioja and Castilla-León regions, with a few domestic versions from Oregon and Washington. Wines made from the Spanish Garnacha grape are from Priorat and Catalonia regions of Spain.

Italian wines are well represented as well, with Sangiovese wines from Toscana; Barbera and Dolcetto wines from Piemonte; Nebbiolo wines from Piemonte and California; numerous regional wines from Barbaresco, Amarone della Valpolicella, Sicily, Umbria and Calabria.

Zinfandel lovers will find a varied collection of wines from California and Washington, and there are some interesting varietals including Lagrein, Gamay, Syrah, Petite Sirah and Pinotage from both the Old and New World that are not to be missed.

Of special note is Benny's global and domestic collection of half bottles (375 ml) including Champagnes, white and red wines, and dessert wines.  Other notable bottles include large format bottles from Burgundy, Bordeaux, California and Italy.  Benny's is home to the only magnum bottle of Quinta do Crasto Vinha Maria Teresa, from Portugal, in the entire state of Illinois.

 

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Photos courtesy of Benny's Chop House

Celebrate National Hamburger Month and National Salad Month All Month at Benny's Chop House

You don't need a special occasion to enjoy a delicious salad and hamburger, but when National Hamburger Month and National Salad Month are celebrated throughout the month of May, it's time to savor these American classics by enjoying the extraordinary selections at Benny's Chop House, (444 N. Wabash, Chicago; 312-626-2444).

If you want a burger that's a true culinarian's delight, you'll love the burgers at Benny's. They all are made from USDA Prime Beef that is freshly ground in-house. Benny's Burger is topped with blue cheese, port wine onions and served with a huge order of truffle fries, for only $9.99. Another scene stealer is Benny's Fried Egg and Truffle Oil Aioli Burger, $10.99, topped with delicious house-made aioli, crowned with an organic egg, and accompanied by decadent black pepper-bacon fries. Finally, if you're a burger purist, you'll love the Classic Burger, topped with your choice of cheddar or blue cheese and served with hand-cut French fries, $9.99.

National Salad Month
The Association for Dressings & Sauces launched National Salad Month in 1992 and the celebration's 21st anniversary is this May. According to SaladaDay.org, "less than 50% of the U.S. population (and 80% of women) is getting enough of the essential nutrients for optimal health." Research shows that eating just one salad a day can have a significant positive impact on your health.
 
Benny's Chop House makes it easy to get your quota of fresh organic greens. Stop by for lunch and enjoy generous salads made from the finest fresh ingredients. The Prime Steak Salad features USDA Prime beef with garden greens, asparagus, and cherry tomatoes, lightly dressed with béarnaise vinaigrette and served with hand-cut fries, $13.99. Another delicious choice is the Sesame Atlantic Salmon Salad with asparagus-fingerling potato salad and English peas and served with Dijon-miso vinaigrette, $14.99. The Asian-Blackened Chicken Salad is served with grilled pineapple, edamame, scallion, carrot, cucumber, and mint in tangy ginger vinaigrette, $11.99. The Lobster Cobb combines succulent fresh lobster with tomato, bacon, avocado, and sweet corn with tarragon vinaigrette. The Warm Spinach Salad is topped with a sunny side-up egg in a sun-dried tomato, bacon vinaigrette, $18.99, and Benny's special Caesar Salad is served with focaccia crouton, white anchovy, fresh Parmesan and a zesty Caesar dressing, $5.99 small/ $12.99 large.

Dinner guests will enjoy Benny's signature Grilled Romaine Salad with lemon-garlic vinaigrette, $8.99, a customer favorite, the Belgian Endive Salad with goat cheese, pecans and mustard vinaigrette, $8.99, or Benny's Seafood Salad with shrimp, calamari, octopus and sepia, $14.99.

Enjoy the Ultimate Administrative Professionals’ Day Wednesday, April 24 at Benny’s Chop House

Benny’s Chop House (444 N. Wabash, 312-626-2444) will be celebrating Administrative Professionals’ Day Wednesday, April 24 for the entire week April 22 – 26, 2013.

The special menu features Faroe Island with Tarragon Pesto, 7 ounce Petite Filet with www.bennyschophouse.com to view Benny’s complete menu selections.
Béarnaise, Maine Lobster Cobb Salad with First of the Season Tomatoes, Avocado, Asian-Blackened Chicken Salad with Pineapple, Edamame and Ginger, or the Hand-Made Tortelloni of English Spring Peas and Ricotta served with Fava Beans and a Mushroom Ragout. Save room for the desserts prepared by Pastry Chef Aaron Lindgren, as they are as stunning as they are delicious and will rival any desserts in Chicago.  Lunch is served from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. daily. Visit

Every Administrative Professional enjoying Benny’s for lunch during this period will receive a $25 gift certificate to use towards future dining.

Benny’s Chop House’s Pastry Chef Aaron Lindgren Joins Baconfest Chicago

Benny’s Chop House (444 N. Wabash Ave., Chicago, IL 60611; 312-626-2444) will be bringing in the bacon, literally. This year, Benny’s executive pastry chef, Aaron Lindgren, will be participating in Baconfest Chicago on April 20.

Lindgren’s Baconfest menu (served during the lunch session beginning at 11:30 a.m.) includes the sweet and savory Strawberry Rhubarb “Pie” with Applewood Smoked Bacon Streusel and a very unique Applewood Smoked Bacon Doughnut with Green Apple Jelly and Apple Butter. Benny’s Mixologist Extraordinaire, Natalie Converse  has been doing some recipe writing on her own and will feature the B-Cubed, B3  (Benny’s Bacon, Bitters); a cocktail using Kentucky’s Buffalo Trace Bourbon infused with smoked bacon, add a touch of cream for elegance and topped with a delicate splash of Benny’s house-made bacon bitters….never served – and once consumed, never forgotten.

If you didn’t secure Baconfest tickets, fear not. Benny’s will be offering this very special dessert April 11 to April 30 during lunch and dinner hours, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.  As always, guests at Benny's are also able to enjoy house-cured Maple Glazed Bacon, a Benny’s menu favorite (photo below).
 
About Baconfest

Baconfest Chicago is a festival that pulls together the best chefs in the Chicagoland area. It provides a place for bacon lovers to try different dishes while providing liquor, beer and wine to complement the meal. The event donates a portion of the proceeds to the Greater Chicago Food Depository. Along with this, Baconfest hosts a raffle, food drive and holds a volunteer day at the repacking warehouse at the Depository. Not only are people provided the chance to eat incredible bacon, but they are able to help a great cause.

Lindgren will be joining more than 100 chefs who will compete in one of two sessions each. Participants include Hub 51’s R.J. and Jerrod Melman and last year’s 2012 Golden Rasher Award Winner, Daven Wardynski from 676 Restaurant and Bar. The Gold Rasher Award is Baconfest’s top prize for chefs’ “bacon arts,” awarded by a panel of judges.

Benny’s Aaron Lindgren has an extensive culinary resume, with a pedigree that spans over decades and speaks of prodigal talent, starting with “gourmet ghetto” cooking lessons from his mother while growing up in Berkeley, California. Later the chef was trained professionally through the French techniques of Kendall College Culinary School in Evanston. Lindgren was the Executive Pastry Chef at the Beverly Wilshire Four Seasons Hotel, Beverly Hills Four Seasons in Los Angeles and Charlie Trotter’s famous restaurant. He also oversaw the pastry program for five Smith Brothers businesses.

In 2004 Lindgren was named Chocolate Pastry Master by Gayot.com. In 2009, the pastry chef was named one of the Top 100 Up and Coming chefs by Angelino Magazine and Modern Luxury Magazine and was also named Rising Star Pastry Chef for Las Vegas by Starchefs.com. He headed operations for Zelda’s Sweet Shoppe, a retail food manufacturer in the Chicagoland area, where he was provided the opportunity to develop pastry products and recipes for Whole Foods, Ross and TJ Maxx. At Benny’s Chop House, Lindgren uses ingredients with Americana flavors and techniques to create amazing, highly praised desserts that are fitting finales to Benny’s exceptional food.

The Baconfest takes place Saturday, April 20, at the UIC Forum (725 W. Roosevelt Rd., Chicago, IL 60608) with lunch and dinner sessions. The VIP Hour for the Lunch Session will be between 11:30am and 12:30pm. General Admission is from 12:30pm-3pm. The VIP Hour for the Dinner Session will be between 5:30pm and 6:30pm. General Admission is from 6:30pm-9pm.

Although the event has been sold out, Baconfest encourages everyone to join the email list at http://baconfestchicago.com in order to learn more about this event, one of Chicago’s most popular food festivals. To keep up to date on all the Baconfest Chicago news, follow them on Twitter, @baconfestchi, or Like them at Facebook, http://facebook.com/baconfest.