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Delicious sample of food served at Ballo's Third Annual Meatball Contest.
Paper: Skyline, possible cover
Slug: meatballs_sky918
Details:
A Handsome Prize for Ballo's Third Annual Meatball Contest - "Just Roll With
It!"
Chicago (July 15, 2008) - Ballo restaurant will attempt to aide aspiring
chefs who are strapped for cash. The restaurant will award $1,000 to the
winner of Ballo's Third Annual Meatball Contest."Just Roll With It." In
previous years, the restaurant presented contest winners with lavish trips
to Las Vegas and Napa Valley including airfare and hotel accommodations.
Yet, the current economy has swayed Alex Dana of Rosebud Restaurants to
re-evaluate what would be most meaningful to the meatball challengers.
Rather than arrange for a frivolous vacation, Ballo will provide the grand
prize winner a generous check to do with it as he or she sees fit.
Ballo's contest challenges anyone who feels their meatballs can compete with
Ballo's beloved dish "Mama's Meatballs" to send in a recipe. The annual
battle draws contestants from all levels of culinary knowledge including
homemakers, self-proclaimed foodies and food service veterans. Recipe
submissions will be accepted July 15th through August 15th. A team of
Rosebud chefs will test each recipe to select a group of eight finalists.
These lucky contestants will receive the opportunity to prepare their
meatballs in Ballo's kitchen and compete for the grand prize. All supplies
including official chef jackets will be provided by the restaurant.
The official cook-off will begin at 11:00 am on Sunday, September 14th and
continue with a tasting, judged by a panel of local celebrities and chefs
from several Rosebud Restaurants. At 2:00 pm, Ballo will open its doors to
the public for the official tasting and festivities. Friends, family and
spectators are invited to cheer on their favorite meatball contestants while
enjoying complimentary "Mama's Meatballs," Roman style pizzas and other
surprises.
Date: 2PM ., 9/14/2008 (Sunday)
Where: Ballo restaurant 445 N. Dearborn
Contact: Me, 847-308-4666
Date due: Monday, Sept. 15
Writer: yet-unnamed intern (see Helen)
No. of Photos: 2-3
Photo by: Mukti Broner
File name: Sep18_08Skylinemeatballs_sky918

I can remember a time when a meal similar to the one you see here was available on transcontinental flights in coach for free (minus the wine, which was available for a couple of bucks). I remember lunch on a TWA Boeing 707 from Washington Dulles to LAX that came with a carnation in a small vase as a decoration to the meal tray. At that time, in 1976, roundtrip economy airfare was about $250, compared with about $400. Of course, $250 in 1976 dollars would be about $1,500 today, so I guess I don't mind giving up the free lunch.

This lunch and the glass of wine cost 15,000 United Mileage Plus miles.
UAL090908-X0721-UA100SFO-IAD-FirstClassLunch