By Trent Modglin
Publisher
The Real Park Ridge

Note: The Real Park Ridge magazine and Cooney Funeral Home are teaming up to sponsor the latest monthly charity wine dinner at Harp & Fiddle on Wednesday, Dec. 18 at 7 p.m. All four courses (think chorizo and shrimp-stuffed calamari and prime New York braciole, etc.) will be paired with a wine selection from Justin Vineyards & Winery. Proceeds benefit The Harbour, whose mission is to provide emergency housing and services to youth and young mothers experiencing homelessness. Call (847)-720-4466 to reserve your seats.

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Bringing a community together. That’s what it’s all about.

If you’ve ever spoken to someone who’s attended one of Harp & Fiddle’s monthly wine dinners, all they do is rave about the evening. The creative four-course meal, the presentation, the wine, the people, the good vibes all around. In a society that loves to nitpick, these wine dinners are about as close to a 5-star review as you’ll find.

And the best part is, proceeds from each one benefit a specific charitable cause that’s chosen by a sponsor host from the Park Ridge business community.

Just a few of the charities and noble causes the wine dinners have donated to include Have Dreams (Autism), Compass to Care (childhood cancer), The Center of Concern (housing and support for older adults and those with disabilities), St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, Cancer Wellness Center, Good Food Pantry, Breast Cancer Awareness, Kiwanis Club of Park Ridge, Rotary Club of Park Ridge and Special Spaces (dream bedroom makeovers for children with cancer).

Pretty impressive list, wouldn’t you say?

Harp & Fiddle generał manager Jerry Kowalczyk came up with the idea with his chef, Edgar, about four years ago. The dinners have created a bit of a cult following and, depending on the charity and the menu, they tend to bring in a variety of people. The first three events had about 15. Now, attendance generally averages between 70-100, which, when you consider the timing involved in serving four courses and wine pairings, is a major undertaking.

The creative four-course meal, the presentation, the wine, the people, the good vibes all around. In a society that loves to nitpick, these charity wine dinners are about as close to a 5-star review as you’ll find.

But Jerry says they’ve got it down to a science now. He and Edgar formulate the food menu about 3-4 months out and start prepping the morning of. The setup usually takes up half of Harp & Fiddle’s sizable kitchen, as well as close to half of the restaurant’s seating capacity.

The themed dinners generally consist of four beautifully prepared courses (citrus fennel salad, lamb meatballs, N.Y. strip, watermelon sushi, baby back pork ribs, strawberry mint créme brulée, prosciutto-wrapped salmon, lemon sorbet, etc.), and the wine pairings can be from a specific winery or a distributor. The sponsor often hosts a raffle, too, in order to raise additional funds for the cause. And don’t forget the live entertainment, ranging from jazz to an acoustic guitarist.

What I love is it reaches far beyond the night of the dinner and to many families in need, and it leaves your heart and stomach completely satisfied. The evening itself is an exceptional combination of a fine-dining experience and bringing a community together.” — Eddie Hamzic

“I think it keeps our guests aware of what we’re capable of in terms of large-scale events and what we’re all about as far as community outreach is concerned,” Jerry tells me. “And it’s always a plus to be able to benefit a charity that might not be recognized enough.”

“A lot of the fun stems from creating all these items we haven’t really done before, and that’s the exciting and challenging part as a kitchen,” says Jerry, who has seen some of the dishes they’ve created over the years stick around as a special at Harp & Fiddle.

These days, they regularly have sponsors and charities booked at least 4-5 months out. Holly Santelli, owner of Ash & Willow Eco Salon in town, told us she schedules the dinners as a regular date night with her husband and friends. Turns out, it’s difficult not to get hooked.

“What I love is it reaches far beyond the night of the dinner and to many families in need, and it leaves your heart and stomach completely satisfied,” says Eddie Hamzic, whose Farmers Insurance office sponsored the Oct. 30 event with Atlas Auto, benefiting breast cancer awareness. “The evening itself is an exceptional combination of a fine-dining experience and bringing a community together.”

At the end of the night, Jerry is finally able to leave the kitchen and come mingle with everyone. Maybe some day down the road, he’ll actually be able to attend one of his own wine dinners, and be able to sit, sip a cabernet, relax even. But he and Edgar are in a groove right now, and there’s a crab bisque to make sure is just right and money to be raised for a worthy cause.

And a community to bring together. Because that’s what it’s all about.

The next wine dinner is Wednesday, Dec. 18. Call (847)-720-4466 to reserve your seats.