Gather around for Summer Grill Night, a weekly outdoor dinner that celebrates the best of the season, grilled to order over a charcoal fire. Each Thursday features a new, delicious menu—sometimes rustic, sometimes refined, always lively and full of flavor. It’s backyard BBQ meets open-air supper club. Expect vibrant sides, good company, and beautiful sunsets over the farm.
For every ticket sold, we’ll donate a serving of fresh garden produce to families supported by North Chicago Community Partners.
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Join us for a summer evening on the farm, where the grill is at the center of it all and the menu reflects the height of the season. We’ll begin with a crisp Little Gem salad—radish, cucumber, and a bright red wine vinaigrette—fresh, simple, and pulled straight from the fields. It’s a clean, refreshing start that sets the tone for a night of thoughtful, ingredient-driven cooking.
The main event is our reverse-seared, charcoal-grilled tri-tip, served with vibrant chimichurri, Cahokia rice pilaf, and a selection of seasonal vegetables. Tri-tip, a triangular cut from the bottom sirloin, has deep roots in California’s Central Coast barbecue tradition—particularly in Santa Maria–style cooking. Popularized in the mid-20th century, it was traditionally seasoned simply with salt, pepper, and garlic, then grilled over red oak and sliced thin against the grain. Long considered a butcher’s cut, tri-tip became a regional staple for its rich flavor, affordability, and perfect suitability for open-fire cooking.
For this dinner, we honor that tradition while adding our own touch—starting the beef gently before finishing it over high heat on the grill to develop a deeply caramelized crust while keeping the interior tender and juicy. Paired with herbaceous chimichurri and farm-grown accompaniments, it’s a dish that feels bot
Beverages:
Rotating Beers, wine, and a variety of non-alcoholic options
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Farm Partners: Kilgus farm, Nichols farm, Mick Klug Farm, Tulip Tree, Down at the Farm, Green Acres, Rocky Road Dairy
More information
EVENT - Community Dinners: Summer Grill Night on June 25th at Elawa Farm is sold out.