Northbrook’s Pavilion… tied for fourth place

Despite the heat, about 5,000 people showed up in Highwood on Sunday for the Bloody Mary Fest. About 25 Bloody Mary specialists competed in the Bloody Mary contest that was judged by local media members, including Steve Dolinsky of ABC-TV’s Hungry Hound, dining columnist, Lee Litas, who writes the column, Table Hopping for Sun-Times Media/Pioneer Press, Dining Editor Julie Chernoff of Make It Better Magazine, Aly Bockler from WCIU’s You & Me This Morning and comedienne Beth Stelling. Highwood’s Gabe’s Backstage Lounge took fist place. Another Highwood bar, Silver Dollar Tavern came in second, followed by Deerfild’s D.C. Sarnies. Northbrook’s Pavilion and Chicago’s Smoke Daddy tied for fourth place while Highwood’s Tap Grill house took fith place. The People’s Choice award, where fest goers vote for their favorites, Silver Dollar Tavern took fist, Birdie McKenna’s in Highwood came in second and Gabe’s Backstage Lounge and Wooden Nickel in Highwood tied for third. The entire event was sponsored by Netherlandbased Van Gogh Vodka.