Restaurants: Join Bite Nite & Foodie Fest 15!

ANNOUNCING – FOODIE FEST 2015!
Dear restauranteurs, caterers, chefs, and gourmet specialists –
The OPRF Chamber of Commerce, in cooperation with Downtown Oak Park, Visit Oak Park and the Wednesday Journal designed an event and promotion tailored for you!
Building off the success of last year’s restaurant-week-like promotion of area restaurants, we’ve improved FF15 by adding a kick-off event and a more focused media roll-out.  We hope you’ll participate this year in what we hope to be a reason for consumers to GO OUT TO EAT in February 2015.  Most importantly this is an opportunity to showcase you – our wonderful foodies in our community.
 
DATES: 
BITE NITE KICK-OFF PARTY:  Friday, February 20 from 5:30 – 9:30 at the 19th Century Club in Oak Park.  A fun night geared towards adults with food, entertainment, beer and wine and cooking demos.  The night is designed like “Chicago Gourmet” in that a $25 ticket gives the guest an opportunity to sample small “bites” from various restaurants, caterers, craft brewers and wine folks in town. 

FOODIE FEST:  Saturday, February 21 – Saturday March 7 Restaurants across the community will be offering prix fixe lunch and/or dinner with 3 menus items.  Price points of $10, $20 or $30 is up to the restaurant.

BENEFITS:
We are hoping to attract a big crowd for Bite Nite and plan to market it heavily.  All participants will be showcased at the event and in print and online media.  You’ll also have a chance to interact directly with local “foodies” in a fun setting.
Similarly, Foodie Fest will be heavily promoted with counter cards, flyers, print media in the local newspaper, eBlasts through the Chamber, Downtown Oak Park and the tourism-focused Visit Oak Park.  We are working with local bloggers and social media folks to have a strong online presence throughout the two weeks.

HOW TO PARTICIPATE:
This year, we are asking that participants do three things:

1. Participate in Bite Nite, by donating small tasting portions for 200, pre-packaged shelf-stable give-aways (like cookies or candy) or offering to do a cooking demonstration.  Non-Chamber members, please also provide a $25 gift certificate or prize for raffles.  We’ll also need an employee ambassador (or you!) on hand to mingle and talk up your business – bring menus!  Ideally, the tasting item is tied to your Foodie Fest special – but that’s your call.  If you don’t want to do food, wine and craft beer sampling would be fabulous!
2. Offer the prix fixe Foodie Fest meal deal for the two week period.  Three items for $10 or $20 or $30.  You can be creative and work with your menu to find an appropriate price point and portion size.  We’ll need the menu in advance so we can promote it.
3. Promote Foodie Fest through your own media and in your business.

That’s it.  No extra fees.  But we need you to be part of BOTH Bite Nite and Foodie Fest to ensure success.
Please call Cathy (708.205.4766) or email cyen@oprfchamber.org to say you are interested.  The event is open to all restaurants, caterers and gourmet food shops regardless of Chamber membership.  However, Chamber members will receive twice the amount of online media coverage and preference for cooking demo slots.  (Chamber Membership for restaurants/food is only $200 annually plus some gift certificates that we use throughout the year.  Call Cathy to join the Chamber.)
We are proud of our restaurant community and appreciate all you have done to create a destination spot for great eating!  Thank you!  Now let’s take it to the next level with Foodie Fest 15!!
Happy Holidays!
Cathy Yen
Executive Director
OPRF Chamber of Commerce
708.205.4766