Chuck's Mardi Gras 2008 - Jan 29 & 30

Just thought I'd give a heads up on this event since, according to his website, tickets for this event sold out in 12 days last year!

Don't know if they're holding this at the Burbank Manor on 79th street again, but I can definitely attest to the quality of the food -- it was probably the best banquet-style dinner I've ever attended. Almost everything I had was on-par with the quality you get when you eat in there.

I know LTH bought a couple tables last year (I bought a couple tickets) -- don't know if we'd like to do that again this year. Tickets go on sale on Friday, 11/29.

Information can be found at Chuck's website on his forums. I think I might get a couple tickets right away, just in case!

HI,

Chuck's Mardi Gras was a very well organized event. I didn't see a price, yet. Last years $35 fee was terrific, though Chuck said last year it would be increased. I can only hope the sponsorship will keep the price from rising too much.

Regards,

It actually says on the site that tickets go on sale today! I saw the pics from last year and remember thinking "Yum, I'm definitely going to have to try to make it to this next year," I was about to call to check on availability and cost, but realized it is dinner time and I hate calling during busy hours. How were tiks ordered last year? Do you have to go to the restaurant or can you just call in?

You could probably just call them, I would guess. If not, I go there several times a week and would pick up tickets for anyone who needs them. Please PM me and let me know if you need me to do that.

I actually changed the date of the ticket sale until 11/29 on my post because when I went into the shop today, that's what their sign on the door said. I will ask the next time I'm there.

Just an update for anyone who's wondering: the ticket price we paid was $47 per ticket, so it did go up from last year's price. I personally think it's worth the price. You can call the restaurant for tickets if you can't make it there to buy them.

I got a call from Chuck today about his upcoming Mardi Gras Bashes. Here's the latest (sorry if this seems too long, but I think it's all of interest):

Tues. night is the Cajun Festival night with an 8-piece Cajun band. Tickets are $45.
Wed. night is the Blues night with Wayne Baker Brooks. Tix are $47.

To help LTHers get tickets last year (which sold out quickly), I bought a couple of tables while they were still available--including the last table left--and battled the US Mail to get tickets into the hands of attendees in time. (It was also a means of assuring that I'd get to sit & share with other LTHers, which is a definite "plus" in my view, of course.) I don't mind admitting that it was a bit stressful for me to front the $$ for 20 tickets while hoping that enough people would subsequently want one...but it worked out well. This year, I'd be willing to try it again, at least for a single table of ten to begin with. I'll be targeting the Tuesday night bash, initially. Post or PM me if you're interested (include address & phone info too, please.)

Miscellaneous notes:
- Each night will have seating for 550 people at tables of ten-each.
- Chuck's got 600 (!) pounds of steak for the two nights.
- He'll be doing his own bar, and the drinks should be more interesting (along with the various Abita beers, Chuck said he'd have bottles of wine, mojitos, fresh mint juleps, and hurricanes) and they'll be relatively less expensive this year.
- In addition to slightly different ticket prices for the two nights, the menus will vary somewhat, too. Here's an extract from his follow-up e-mail to me, today, with the planned menus:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TUESDAY MENU
SOUPS
*Smoked Duck and Andouille Sausage Gumbo
*Seafood Bisque
*Red Beans and Rice Soup
*Turtle Soup (if available)
*Seafood Gumbo

APPETIZERS
*Shrimp and Crab Au Gratin
*Cajun Cakes
*Shrimp and Andouille Sausage Enchiladas

MAIN ENTREES
*Cajun Filet Tails w/ Mushroom Etouffee-(grilled on site, these steaks were incredible last year)
*Seafood Jambalaya
*Penne W/ Shrimp Vodka sauce
*Shrimp Creole
*Authentic Muffaletta w/ homemade olive salad
*Cornbread-Crawfish Stuffed Tilapia
*Chicken Etouffee
*Fried Alligator
*Curry Chicken Ala Paul Pruddhomme

SALAD
*Danish Blue Cheese Salad

SIDES
*Baked 3 cheese Macaroni and Cheese
*Jalapeno-Cheddar Cornbread

DESSERTS
*Bananas Foster- served with vanilla ice cream
*Peach Cobbler-served hot w/ ice cream on the side

WEDNESDAY MENU
SOUPS
*Steak and Andouille Sausage Gumbo
*Cream Of Poblano
*Seafood Bouillabaisse
*Corn Chowder W/ Shrimp
*Seafood Gumbo

APPETIZERS
*Cajun BBQ Shrimp
*Crab Cakes
*Crawfish and Tasso Ham Enchiladas

MAIN ENTREES
*Cajun Filet Tails w/ a Portabella Bordelaise--(grilled on site, these steaks were incredible last year)
*Chicken and Sausage Jambalaya
*Pasta Magnifique(shrimp, crawfish, crab)
*Creole Beef Stew
*Mini Shrimp Poboys
*Cajun Roast Chicken winglets W/ Oyster Stuffing
*Crawfish and Andouille Etouffee
*Creole Fried Catfish
*Crawfish Boil w/ Cajun Potatoes and Corn

SALAD
*Danish Blue Cheese Salad

SIDES
*Cajun Potatoes Au Gratin
*Jalapeno-Cheddar Cornbread

DESSERTS
*Bananas Foster- served with vanilla ice cream
*Mixed Berry Cobbler-served hot w/ ice cream on the side
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

For being a first-time event, last year's turned out surprisingly well; this year's versions promise to be even better.

--Matt

I have my table for Wednesday night. My table features "Check Please Pete" aka "Binko" here on LTH (he did the Xni Pec review on CP in case you missed that one..)

Antonio from Xni Pec and his wife and some others will be there on Wednesday night as well (not at my table). I still have a few seats left but I think they will be used up shortly unless someone here figures out how to become my best friend really fast

Mike aka UniAddict aka ChicagoMike (on yahoo) aka so many other names don't bother

mhl,

I would like two tickets for Tuesday night. I can pay you at the party on Saturday.

Regards,

I'll take one of those Tuesday tickets, mh.

I'm also going to try to persuade other friends from non-chow acquaintance to join the party again this year. Don't know that they need to end up on your ticket count, though.

Giovanna

figjustin and I are interesting in attending, but we've been so busy I forgot to get tickets. If anyone has any available for Tuesday or Wednesday, PM me.

Thanks

figmolly wrote:figjustin and I are interesting in attending, but we've been so busy I forgot to get tickets. If anyone has any available for Tuesday or Wednesday, PM me.

Thanks

Cathy2 & Helen, Giovanna & friends, and the Figs are covered.

I have one remaining ticket available for our table.

Any takers? -->Now's the time to PM-me or post.

--Matt

Matt,

If the ticket is still available I would like it.

Just an update to let you know that all the tickets for the table are currently allocated.

I just checked, and individual tickets are still available directly from Chuck's (their phone is: 708.229.8700), so if you get one via that route for Tuesday the 29th, ask to be pointed to the LTHForum table when you arrive and we'll see about fitting you in.

--Matt

P.S. ...And the latest word is that they *will* have turtle soup at the Bash. --mhl

So, it's a bit last minute, but I just looked at the ticket and realized that dinner starts awfully early (6 pm); I was going to run home and grab a car, but that's really not practical for the schedule. Is anyone going down who'll be anywhere near River North/Downtown or passing by? My office is literally at the Ohio Street exit from I-90/94 (although if you can help it, you probably won't choose that route at rush hour.)

Anyway, I have a backup plan to get there, but if anyone will be passing near by en route who could pick up a hitcher, please PM me.

Hi,

I can do this, because I will pass your direction. I just don't know yet when I am leaving. I have the feeling it will earlier than planned due to predicted weather.

Of course if someone else wants the privilege, I will defer to them.

Regards,

Hi,

Despite the weather, the food, entertainment and company was terrific.

While they could have accomodated 550 tonight, they had approximately 325 people. I have the impression they are not sold out for Wednesday evening, so potentially they will accept walk-ins. I would double check this by phone.

I left home this afternoon it was 46 degrees, I came home to find it was 1 degree. Cold!

Regards,