The first tip is to open up the pocket book and splurge on the extra $.75 for the Buttercrust™. Second, the pizza generally takes at least 20 to 30 minutes to bake so call ahead and pre-order. Lastly, forget the extra ingredients and the fancy toppings. Stick with the "Malnati Chicago Classic" ($7 to $20.75). This monster is made with a blend of lean sausage patties, extra cheese and plenty of garlicky tomato sauce. That’s right, sausage patties. Not crumbled up pieces but large patties to ensure a little bit of meat with each bite.
If you need something to snack on while waiting, share the Malnati Salad ($6.95 & $10.25). It’s a combination of romaine lettuce, diced tomatoes, black olives, sliced mushrooms, Volpi salami and gorgonzola all dusted with a touch of Romano cheese. Additionally, quench your thirst with a local Goose Island Brewery 312 Urban Wheat Ale. This light, golden, citrusy brew is nothing fancy, but like Lou Malnati’s itself, it’s perfect to recharge the batteries.
A few minutes directly north of the airport, straight up Milwaukee Avenue, is Bob Chinn's Crab House. Look up the phrase “Chicago Culinary Institution” and the first hit should be Bob Chinn’s. “Institution” does not do Bob or his restaurant justice. At more than 700 seats and operating seven days a week, Bob Chinn’s consistently made Restaurants & Institutions magazine annual ranking of the Top Ten Highest Grossing Independent Restaurants in America.
Bob’s immense menu contains everything from dry-aged steaks, pasta, flown-in fresh seafood and shellfish to sushi and sashimi. A myriad of fish, from King salmon and Asian basa to Hawaiian Mahi Mahi and Mediterranean sea bass, can be served in any of Bob’s “Seven Ways”. More importantly, Bob Chinn’s lives up to its name. Crab at a crab house is a must and this place has some of the best. Bob’s crabs are available steamed, caked, chilled or fried. All come to Wheeling, Illinois – Massachusetts Johan, black tip Florida Stone, Hawaii Kona, Alaskan King, West Coast Dungeness and the occasional Chesapeake Blue – so pick your favorite.
Don’t forget to indulge in a Mai Tai. The Polynesian classic is a little sweet, a little sour and will make you feel like Elvis Presley in Blue Hawaii. This place is constantly busy, always hopping and well worth the price. A Hawaiian shirt, Bermuda shorts or leather aviator jacket fit in perfectly. Great seafood in the Midwest is possible and has been served-up by Bob for over 30 years.
Not full yet? Take a factory tour of the Long Grove Confectionery Company ($2.00) for one last indulgence before heading home. Long Grove concentrates on both the macro and micro scale. Enter the factory and you’ll gaze on a chocolate Statue of Liberty, a 500-pound chocolate Santa Claus and chocolate reproductions of Monet and Seurat paintings. Unfortunately, that won’t satisfy your sweet tooth. What will satisfy are the salted caramels right out of the cooper kettles, the English toffees benched on marble tables and the hand-colored chocolate bon bons. Heavenly and decadent.
Chicago Executive Airport offers everything one needs in a GA airport. It has several extremely helpful FBOs, easy access to Chicago’s north shore and wonderful views. There are several airstrips scattered throughout the region but Chicago Executive should be the go-to hub.
Chicago Executive Airport (KPWK)
Elevation: 647 ft. (surveyed)
Sectional chart: CHICAGO
ARTCC: CHICAGO CENTER
FSS: KANKAKEE FLIGHT SERVICE STATION
Wind indicator: lighted
Lights: DUSK-DAWN
Traffic Pattern altitude: Piston aircraft 1,000 ft. AGL, Jets 1,500 ft. AGL
Runways: 16/34 5,000 x 150 ft., 12/30 4,415 x 75 ft. (right trfc rwy 30), 6/24 3,660 x 50 ft. (right trfc rwy 24)
Airport Communications
CTAF: 119.9
UNICOM: 122.95
ATIS: 124.2
WX ASOS: PHONE 847-465-0291
EXECUTIVE GROUND: 121.7
EXECUTIVE TOWER: 119.9
www.chiexec.com
Signature Flight Support
1100 South Milwaukee Avenue
Wheeling, Illinois 60090
Phone: (847) 537-1200
www.signatureflight.com
Arlington Park Racetrack
2200 Euclid Avenue
Arlington Heights, IL 60006
Phone: (847) 385-7500
www.arlingtonpark.com
Chevy Chase Country Club
1000 N. Milwaukee Avenue
Wheeling, Illinois 60090
Golf Shop: (847) 465-2300
www.chevychasecountryclub.com
Rob Roy Golf Course
505 E. Camp McDonald Road
Prospect Heights, Illinois 60070
Phone: (847) 253-4544
http://robroygolfclub.com/
Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria
85 South Buffalo Grove Road
Buffalo Grove, Illinois 60089
Phone: (847) 215-7100
www.loumalnatis.com
Bob Chinn’s Crab House
393 S. Milwaukee Avenue
Wheeling, Illinois 60090
Phone: (847) 520-3633
www.bobchinns.com
Long Grove Confectionery Company
Factory Store
333 Lexington Drive
Buffalo Grove, IL 60089
www.longgrove.com
Factory tours available by reservation: (888) 459-3100
The above airport information is not for navigational purposes. Please obtain up-to-date airport information from the FAA before flight.
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