—In honor of Earth Day ( April 22 ), I/O Godfrey Executive Chef Nathaniel Cayer will share his mixology techniques with guests. On Wed., April 25, at 7 p.m., Chef Cayer will lead a Conscious Cocktailing Class, teaching attendees how to use leftover ingredients such as herb stems and citrus peels to create craft cocktails. Tickets are $75/person or $125/pair; visit iogodfrey.com/events.
—To celebrate Earth Day, LH Rooftop will offer a limited-time four-course tasting menu showcasing these sustainable seafood dishes. Available April 20-28, the menu ( $45/person ) will include a bay scallop chip with lime, red onion, and cilantro; cured Arctic char with fermented red beets, buttermilk yogurt and fennel pollen; grilled barramundi with spring pea nage, fava beans, red pepper and chive flowers; and a goat yogurt semifreddo. All of the proceeds from this special Earth Day menu will benefit the Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch program.
—Just Salad, 20 E. Jackson Blvd., is introducing the Unlimited Salad Bowl for May. For $99, guests will receive a green reusable bowl to order one free salad every day throughout May—which breaks down to $3.19 per salad if used every day. ( Only 100 bowls are available. ) To order a $99 Unlimited Salad Bowl, visit https://justsalad.com/unlimited.
—The Palm Chicago has reopened in the Swissotel at 323 E. Wacker Dr., following an all-encompassing restaurant remodeling. Along with updating the look and feel of The Palm Chicago ( open for lunch and dinner seven days a week ), new dishes have been added to the roster of steakhouse favorites. Among the offerings, the restaurant reintroduces the Power Lunch, a three-course menu for $26 that includes new items such as Atlantic salmon filet with a toasted orzo salad, Chairman's Reserve New York strip and filet mignon medallions with roasted garlic whipped potatoes, classic bordelaise and haricot verts. Visit ThePalm.com/restaurants/chicago.
—Veggie Grill's newest menu item is the Wunderbrat, which features the Beyond Sausage, a plant-based sausage that reportedly delivers the satisfaction of pork sausage. Veggie Grill is only one of two places in Chicago where customers can get a taste of the new product, which will be available in Whole Foods stores nationwide later this spring. See www.veggiegrill.com .
—KINGS Dining & Entertainment, with locations in Lincoln Park and Rosemont, is introducing its new summer menu. Some of the new items include crab rangoon dip, teri-dactyl impossible ( plant-based ) meatballs, Baja grilled chicken wrap, brats & bites, spicy jambalaya pasta and strawberry shortcake sundae. Visit kings-de.com .
—Shore Club, 1603 N. Lake Shore Dr., will return to the Chicago dining scene on Saturday, May 11. Described as an "upscale dining option and event space," it is set to feature a newly developed set of programming and activities this year ( including morning workout classes on the beach to a cold towel service in the cabanas ). The Patio at Shore Club, which features lunch and dinner service on a first-come-first-serve basis, will add an additional bar and a new set of lighting for evening dining. There will also be The Oasis at Shore Club and The Restaurant at Shore Club. See ShoreClubChi.com .
—Mother's Day is Sunday, May 13—and practically every restaurant will have some sort of special. For example, Cochon Volant Brasserie, 100 W. Monroe St., will a special roasted crab Benedict ( $24.95; asparagus, espelette hollandaise ) alongside brunch favorites like the super green Benedict ( $15.95; avocado, spinach, crispy artichoke ) and the blueberry quinoa pancakes ( $13.95; warm berries, agave syrup ). Call 312-754-6560 to RSVP for brunch, which is 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
—For Mother's Day, Bernie's Lunch & Supper, 660 N. Orleans St., will offer brunch at 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Noteworthy items include Lox & Pita ( $16; caper schmear, red onion, cucumber, parsley-sumac salad ), Croque Madame ( $14; Coppa ham, Gruyere, sSunny-side egg on sourdough ), brioche French toast ( $10; caramelized brioche, seasonal jam, maple Syrup ) and doughnuts ( $5 ). Call 312-624-9892.
—Tarralyn Jones, cancer survivor and the mother of Chicago Bear Christian Jones, and NBC-5's Zoraida Sambolin, also a cancer survivor, are hosting Mother's Day High Tea Brunch on Sunday, May 13, 1-3 p.m., at The Drake, 140 E. Walton Pl. Admission is $100-$150; visit mothersdayteachicago.eventbrite.com . The dress code is upscale, and hats are encouraged.
—Signature '18 at the National Restaurant Association Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show—a modern take on the traditional keynote—welcomes 66th Secretary of State Dr. Condoleezza Rice for a discussion with National Restaurant Association President/CEO Dawn Sweeney. The National Restaurant Association Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show runs May 19-22 at McCormick Place. For more information about this year's Show, visit https://show.restaurant.org/Home.
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