If you’re not familiar what Jollof is, you’re about to be! The Promontory’s Executive Chef Carlos Cruz, along with partner Afrofusion, welcome some of Chicago’s best African restaurants for the second annual Jollof Wars — a one-of-a-kind food festival and competition centered around Jollof, a traditional one-pot rice dish popular throughout West Africa made with rice, tomatoes and goat meat or beef.
On September 16th from 2-8 PM, Hyde Park’s hearth-centric restaurant, bar and concert venue, gathers neighborhood favorites including Kenwood’s Goree Cuisine, Uptown’s Mukase and Iyanze, and more, as they each prepare to face-off with an original take on Jollof for the chance to earn bragging rights as the Jollof Wars champion. Set to a lively soundtrack of beats curated by Afrofusion’s collection of the city’s top Afrobeat DJs, this event is a unique opportunity to celebrate African cuisine and music as The Promontory and Chef Cruz continue their commitment to providing Hyde Park’s diverse community with an array of exciting and engaging culinary and cultural offerings.
Diners are invited to partake in a festive day of authentic food and fierce competition as chefs from some of the city’s most prominent African restaurants converge in Hyde Park and go head-to-head in the battle to earn the crown of Jollof king or queen. Following the success of last year’s sold out inaugural event, the second installment of the annual Jollof Wars will feature the fresh sounds of Afrofusion’s talented lineup of DJs along with intriguing interpretations of the flavorful rice dish by chefs from local restaurants including Goree Cuisine, Mukase, Iyanze, Kaffy’s Kitchen, Bolat African Cuisine, Gambian Chebujen and more.
TICKETS: Priced at $25, admission to the event includes three food tickets, each redeemable for one tasting plate. Guests have the option to purchase additional food tickets for $5 each, allowing them to enjoy a sampling of each restaurant’s creation. The participant who sells the most plates of their signature dish will be crowned the Jollof Wars champion! A specialty cocktail pairing crafted by The Promontory’s Beverage Director Lisa Brown will also be available to purchase for $10. Limited tickets can be purchased here for $25.
ABOUT THE PROMONTORY: The Promontory restaurant, bar, and concert venue from partners, Bruce Finkelman (Bite Café, Beauty Bar, Dusek’s, Empty Bottle, Longman & Eagle, Punch House) and Craig Golden (Dusek’s, Longman & Eagle, SPACE, Punch House), opened its doors in Hyde Park in July 2014 as part of the 16” on Center hospitality collective. The first floor restaurant & bar were designed around a brick hearth that imparts a simple, natural and honest approach to cooking. The beverage menu collectively strives to offer a selection that is at once inviting and ambitious. Sitting above the first floor restaurant and bar, The Promontory music venue occupies a nightlife vacancy in Hyde Park by offering high caliber live music in a gorgeous, modern hall with a state-of-the-art sound system. Just as the first floor hearth-based restaurant pays tribute to the neighborhood’s beloved Promontory Point, the upstairs venue honors Hyde Park’s musical legacy. The Promontory is dedicated to celebrating the eras when spacious ballrooms and jumping jazz clubs made Chicago’s South Side the capital of American music. For more information, www.promontorychicago.com or call 312-801-2100 | 5311 South Lake Park Avenue West.
