Kelly the Culinarian: Sneak Peek: First Look for Charity 2018

Wednesday, January 17, 2018

Sneak Peek: First Look for Charity 2018

Ah, my favorite time of the year is almost here again! For the past three years, the Chicago Auto Show's First Look for Charity has been the best event I attend and the greatest reason to buy a nice dress (See 2015, 2016 and 2017).

Every year, #FLFC18 raises money for local charities at a black-tie preview of the auto show. We get dressed up, wine and dine, drool over fancy cars and raise money for charity. In fact, last year was a record-setting year, and this year is on track to do the same. Here's a primer if you're new here:



Last week, I had the pleasure of attending a preview afternoon for the show which included a ton of tasty bites from local restaurants and an overview of how this event makes a difference. It's the largest single-day fundraiser in Chicago, and several of the charities rely upon it to provide services to the community year round. While the price of the tickets is steep ($275), almost all of the ticket price is tax-deductible ($233) and you can specify at the time of purchase which charities your ticket will benefit.

In my opinion, the value is so much more than that. I love the excuse to get dressed up, and it's amazing how many new and interesting food vendors show up every year. Not to mention being able to get up close and personal with a flock of cars I can't afford, such as this $168,000 beauty I oggled at the preview luncheon:


So onto the food. My favorite item is this barbecue-topped macaroni and cheese (very diet friendly).


But if that doesn't suit your fancy, there are plenty of other options.



Every year, the desserts are amazing. Andy's Frozen Yogurt always has this insane make your own sundae bar and the night does not end until I've hit that up. But there's always specialty drinks, chocolatey bites and things like mini key lime pie and bite-sized banana pudding, too.

You should know, I've already bought my dress, which my mother pointed out looked so comfortable that surely I could eat a lot at the show.

So look forward to that.

In the meantime, if you're looking for a unique Valentine's Day gift or a date night you'll remember, plan to join me on Feb. 9 for the First Look for Charity. It's a delicious night for a great cause.

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