Lookingglass Theatre, Frontera Grill and Silverguy Entertainment present the return of Rick Bayless in Cascabel: Dinner-Daring-Desire, the production featuring a feast, circus acts, and a love story starring celebrity chef Bayless. Cascabel will return to Chicago next year when it runs at the Goodman Theatre's Owen Bruner Theatre, 170 N. Dearborn St., July 30-Aug. 24.
On Monday, Nov. 18, at 6:30 p.m., mk The Restaurant, 868 N. Franklin St., will host a special "Friends of James Beard" benefit dinner with all-star chefs. Owners Michael and Lisa Kornick, along with Executive Chef Erick Williams and Pastry Chef Lisa Bonjour, will welcome Grant Achatz ( Alinea ), Paul Kahan ( avec, ), Grant MacPherson ( Scotch Myst in Las Vegas ), Lachlan MacKinnon-Patterson ( Frasca Food and Wine in Boulder, Colo. ), Mindy Segal ( Mindy's Hot Chocolate ) and Master Sommelier Ken Fredrickson. Tickets are $400 each; call Megan at 312-482-9179 or email mjeyifo@mkchicago.com .
The Hartman Group is launching the first in a series of one-day learning experiences for food and beverage industry insiders. The one-day course, called "Evolving Culture of Food & Beverage," will be held at the Catalyst Ranch in Chicago on February 5, 2014. For more information and to register, visit www.hartman-group.com/actchicago.
Crazy Pour ( www.crazypour.com ), Villa Park's newest upscale sports bar and grill, has officially launched. Located at 105 E. North Ave. in Villa Park, the 15,000-square-foot sports bar features more than 160 TVs, 50 plus beers on tap, a gourmet food menu and two outdoor patios with fireplaces. Crazy Pour also provides live entertainment & DJs, pool tables and darts, off-track betting, a "Vegas style" video gaming room and multiple rooms for private parties.
"Taste," an exclusive wine event to benefit Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, will take place Monday, Nov. 4, at Everest, 440 S. LaSalle St., 6-8:30 p.m. Tickets are $275 each; visit www.hubbardstreetdance.com/taste.
Burger Boss is expanding into Lakeview, specifically at 3210 N. Southport Ave. Burger Boss ( currently in Elmwood Park ) gives patrons the ability to "Be the Boss" and customize their meal with ingredients to build their own burgers, or they may choose from the restaurant's signature menu.
Jellyfish, 1009 N. Rush St., will mark National Sushi Day ( Nov. 1 ) by offering its Jellyfish signature rolls ( regularly $13-$18 ) for $5. The rolls include El Sol, Kiss of Fire, Fire & Snow, Torched Salmon Atlantic, Pink Flower Roll, Summer Rush, Spicy Tuna Tempura and Lobster Mango Roll. Visit www.jellyfishchicago.com .
Sola, 3868 N. Lincoln Ave., has announced its fall menu. Among the offerings are a squash salad, with mustard greens, shaved butternut squash, shallots, water chestnuts, and goat cheese with pumpkin-seed vinaigrette; and barramundi with black rice, napa cabbage, apple-fig compote, squash slaw and port wine syrup. See www.sola-restaurant.com .
The Boarding House, 720 N. Wells St., will host an All Hallow's Eve affair to help benefit Imerman Angelswhich provides personalized connections that enable 1-on-1 support among cancer fighters, survivors and caregiverson Saturday, Nov. 2, 6:30-10 p.m. There will be appetizers, decked-out decor and a costume contest judged by Imerman Angels founder Jonny Imerman. Tickets are $85 each; visit www.TicketLeap.com .
Frontier, 1072 N. Milwaukee Ave., is hosting its first-ever "Chef vs. Amateur Gumbo Cookoff" Sunday, Nov. 17, at 2 p.m. The public will determine the winners; the prizes are $500 ( first ), $200 ( second ) and $100 ( third ). Amateurs who wish to compete should email media@papergirlpr.com with their recipes and a photo of the dishes by Friday, Nov. 1.
In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Roka Akor, 456 N. Clark St., is offering the "Decoding Annie Parker" cocktailmade with Eiko Fuji Sake, Quinta do Tedo, lemon juice, raspberries and strawberriesthroughout October. The cocktail is available for $11 and a portion of the sales will be donated to Editha House Rooms in the Illinois Medican District Guest House, which provides affordable lodging for adult cancer patients and their adult caregivers traveling for medical treatment.
Gibsons Bar & Steakhouse invites guests to celebrate Breast Cancer Awareness month this October and enjoy a classic pink cosmopolitan ( $12 ). The restaurant will donate 100 percent of the proceeds from cosmopolitan sold to the Lynn Sage Foundation in support of finding a cure for Breast Cancer. See www.gibsonssteakhouse.com . ( Other restaurants in the Gibsons Restaurant Group who are donating to the foundation include Luxbar, Quartino, and Hugo's Frog Bar & Fish House. )
Rhine Hall Distillery is slated to open at 2010 W. Fulton on Saturday, Nov. 2. Co-founded by Charlie and Jenny Solberg, a father-daughter team, Rhine Hall will offer patrons distillery tours, a tasting room, and a full Brandy Bar with hand-crafted cocktails made from house brandy distilled from Michigan fruit. Visit www.RhineHall.com .
On Friday, Nov. 1, guests are invited to don their best costumes, dance the night away to a live DJ, and enjoy the festive cocktails and décor at "Terror at Tavernita." Tickets to the event ( at 151 W. Erie St. ) are available for $75, and include an open bar from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m.; spooky late-night snacks served at midnight; and the opportunity to enter to win a $500 Mercadito Hospitality gift card in a best costume contest.
Geja's Cafe, 340 W. Armitage Ave., will host its 40th Annual Professional/Amateur Wine Tasting Contest Sunday, Nov. 3, at 1 p.m. ( Amateurs are defined as not having worked in the wine industry for the previous three years. ) To enter, contestants pay an entrance fee of $20 and must be 21 years of age or older; to RSVP, call Geja's Cafe at 773-281-9101.
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