Bernie's Lunch & Supper, 660 N. Orleans St., will host its second Ladies Night on Thursday, Feb. 22, 5:30-8:30 p.m. Bernie's will be offering a special Ladies Night cocktail menu with drinks like Don't Call me a Sushi Roll ( $12; Death's Door Gin, chartreuse, ginger liquor, wasabi simple syrup, jalapeno ginger syrup ), RUM-sicle ( $10; bourbon, ginger liquor, cinnamon syrup, cherry bitter, walnut bitters, angostura bitters ) and Wouldn't it be Nice ( $10; Death's Door ginger-infused vodka, aperol, lemon, pomegranate ). The night will also feature raffles; prizes include a $100 gift card from Re'Luxe Nail Spa and Boutique, one month of unlimited yoga at CorePower and more. RSVP at BerniesLunchAndSupper.com .
avec, 615 W. Randolph St., is teaming with some of Chicago's culinary, beer and cocktail talents for the fifth installment of "Friends of avec Brunch Series." The all-star lineup will feature takeovers from Estereo, Elske, Best Intentions, HaiSous and Maplewood Brewery & Distillery. The "Friends of avec Brunch Series" will take place 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on select Sundays between February and April.
The Park at Wrigley development will become home to a new dining and bar experience envisioned by Chicago Cubs manager Joe Maddon and Chef Tony Mantuano. The concept will be operated by Chicago-based Levy Restaurants. More info on the concept and menu to be released in late spring.
The Chicago Food Policy Action Council ( CFPAC ) will host its "13th Annual Chicago Food Policy Summit: From Survive to Thrive," on Friday, Feb. 23, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., at the South Shore Cultural Center, 7059 S. South Shore Dr. The summit "facilitates the development of responsible policies to improve access for Chicago residents to culturally appropriate, nutritionally sound, affordable and fair food grown through environmentally sustainable practices," according to a press release. A $20 donation is requested, although scholarships are available; visit chicagofoodpolicy.com/summit2018/ .
Room 237: The Shining Pop-Up at The Rookery, 2109 W. Chicago Ave., will open on Fridays and Saturdays until March 10. Among other things, guests can drink with Jack Torrance all night and other actors portraying classic roles from The Shining; and enjoy drinks such as The Caretaker, Apollo 11, The Hedge Maze and Redrum. See more info at www.facebook.com/events/148952462400208/ .
The former owner of downtown riverside spot Bridge House Tavern has taken over the former Trencherman space at 2039 W. North Ave. and plans to open a neighborhood-friendly restaurant and bar, Angry Pig Tavern, according to Eater Chicago. Angry Pig will be a "neighborhood polished tavern" that will serve casual entrees, sandwiches, appetizers, bar food and brunch, owner Mark Hemmer told the website. The new tavern is slated to open in April.
Krispy Kreme Doughnuts and The Hershey Company have created the Hershey's Gold Doughnut, which will be available for a limited time at Chicagoland's Krispy Kreme shops at 17815 S. Halsted St. in Homewood and 9150 S. Western Ave. in Evergreen Park. The Hershey's Gold Doughnut is a pairing of Krispy Kreme's Original Glazed Doughnut and pieces of the new Hershey's Gold bar, along with a salted caramel icing.
Buona, The Original Italian Beef, will open its 22nd location, at 19801 Crawford Ave., in Flossmoor, on Wed., Feb. 28. To celebrate, Buona is giving a free Italian beef sandwich to anyone who is in line at the Crawford Avenue location before 10 a.m. on opening day. In addition, more than 1,500 prizes will be given away from opening day through the weekend, including free Italian beef for a year. Visit Buona.com or Facebook.com/Buona-Flossmoor .
Kizuki Ramen & Izakaya, 1482 N. Milwaukee Ave., will celebrate National Noodle Month this March. Also, on Thursday, March 8, Kizuki will host a noodle and sake tasting class. Additionally, guests who dine at Kizuki throughout the month will have the chance to win free ramen for a year by trying five of Kizuki's signature ramen noodles. See Kizuki.com .
Perry's Steakhouse & Grille ( 5 Oakbrook Ct., Oak Brook; 630-571-1808 ) is introducing a new limited-time-only cocktail that incorporates both a Mexican wine and a Mexican tequila. The Rita Rose Ole, available April 1-May 10 for $15, is a unique wine-based cocktail made with Casa Madero Rosé wine and Codigo 1530 Rosa Tequila.
Punch Bowl Social will open its 30,000-square-foot "eat, drink, play" concept on 310 N. Green St. on Saturday, March 10. Chicagoans will enjoy such popular menu items as the OMFG GF Southern fried chicken, monkey bread French toast and superfood grain bowl. Share plates will include Hugh's pimiento cheese, lobster bacon fries, cocoa-dusted carnitas street tacos and It's Nacho Mama's roasted cauliflower nachos. See PunchBowlSocial.com .
Lowcountry, known for its boil-in-a-bag seafood, has opened its second location, in the South Loop at 1132 S. Wabash Ave. Seafood choices include shrimp ( with head on or off ), snow-crab legs, king-crab legs, mussels and lobster tail; other options include sauce, desserts, sides, cocktails and even heat level of the bag items ( from "weak sauce" to "ridiculously hot" ). See www.lowcountrychicago.com/ .
Michael Jordan's Steak House, 505 N. Michigan Ave., is launching its Ballin' Brunch on weekends at 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Items will include fried chicken and bacon-cheddar waffles; plain waffles with fresh berries; smoked chicken wings; and BBQ shrimp and grits.
Lincoln Square spot Nick's Pizza & Pub has launched a series of new lunch specials ( 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Mondays through Fridays ). Options include a nine-inch, two-topping pizza of any choice plus a drink for $7.99; or a half-salad, soup and drink for $8.99. See NicksPizzaPub.com .
Every Friday during Lent ( through March 30 ), Frontier, 1072 N. Milwaukee Ave., will offer Chef Jup's seafood menu. There will be the fish fry basket ( $15 ) in addition to raw oysters ( $1 each ), char-grilled oysters ( order of six for $16 ), BBQ shrimp with Johnny cakes ( $14 ), ahi tuna sandwich ( $14 ) and a shrimp po'boy ( $13 ). Reservations can be made by calling 773-772-4322 or visiting thefrontierchicago.com/reservations/ .
For Lent, Benny's Chop House, 444 N. Wabash Ave., has seafood offerings, with dishes such as lobster risotto, sea scallops ( speck prosciutto, baby spinach, sultanas, pine nuts ), and whole Dover sole ( lemon-caper beurre blanc ). In addition, raw bar offerings include oysters and the shellfish tower for two. See BennysChopHouse.com .
Del Frisco's, 58 E. Oak St., offers an array of fresh seafood, including a shellfish platter complete with chilled Alaskan king crab legs, iced jumbo shrimp and chilled crab claws; Bay of Fundy salmon with crab hash and lobster tomato jus; seared Chilean sea bass with crab-fried rice and black-bean garlic sauce; Del's jumbo lump crab cakes with Cajun-lobster cream sauce; and simply prepared fresh fish finished with Himalayan sea salt. Visit delfriscos.com/steakhouse/chicago/ .
Various spots around the city hold trivia nights. A few are Lottie's Pub, 1925 W. Cortland St., which offers $2 tacos, $3 Dos Equis and $4 Dobel Tequila every Monday beginning at 8:30 p.m.; The Kerryman, 661 N. Clark St., which offers cash prizes every Tuesday at 7 p.m. ( with Geeks Who Drink sponsoring the contests ); and State Restaurant, 935 W. Webster Ave., which ( on Tuesdays, starting at 8 p.m. ) offers $1,000 total to the top two teams.
Howells & Hood, 435 N. Michigan Ave., is marking five years on Chicago's Magnificent Mile by treating guests to a carefully curated stash of Goose Island brews. At 4 p.m. on Thursday, March 1, Howells & Hood will tap varying years of five varieties of Goose Island's Bourbon County beers, including Bourbon County Stout, Bourbon County Barleywine, Bourbon County Coffee Stout, Bourbon County Proprietor's Blend and Bourbon County Stout Reserve. See HowellsAndHood.com .
St. Patrick's Day celebrations will soon be taking place. For example, The Kerryman, 661 N. Clark St., will host its annual Parade Day Party on Saturday, March 17 at 8-11 a.m. "Paddy Package" tickets are available for $45, and include all draft beers, well liquors, Bloody Marys and an Irish breakfast roll. See bit.ly/2Eq7Z2n .
Mortons The Steakhouse, 65 E. Wacker Pl., will be offering a special menu 9 a.m.-3 p.m. with items like mini-fileet sandwiches for St. Patrick's Day on March 17. There will also be music from Bear & Jakes Acoustic.
Land & Lake Kitchen ( at LondonHouse, 81 E. Upper Wacker Dr. ) will have St. Patrick's Day specials. On Saturday, March 17, there will be a traditional Reuben with corned beef, Swiss cheese, sauerkraut and Russian dressing on rye bread for $12; corned-beef hash with two sunny-side-up eggs, potatoes, Swiss cheese and corned beef for $14; and 22 oz. Bud Light drafts for $6. Visit landlkitchen.com .
The Pony Inn, 1638 W. Belmont Ave., will celebrate St. Patrick's Day with a brunch buffet and all-day specials on Saturday, March 17. A $30 brunch buffet includes all-you-can-eat eggs, bacon, sausage links, hash browns, doughnuts, Nutella poppers, Texas toast, cheeseburger sliders, chicken tenders and French fries, plus green beer and mimosas at 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Tickets are available at theponychicago.com .
Vanille Patisserie invites all Chicagoans to celebrate National Macaron Day and the first day of spring ( March 20 ), with proceeds supporting Special Olympics Chicago. All four locations will donate 10 percent of all in-store and online sales on National Macaron Day to the organization. See VanillePatisserie.com .
FamilyFarmed's 14th Annual Good Food EXPO will take place March 23-24 at the UIC Forum, 725 W. Roosevelt Rd. Among other things, Sarah Grueneberg of Chicago's Monteverde restaurantfresh off her 2017 James Beard Best Chef Great Lakes Awardwill receive FamilyFarmed's Good Food Chef of the Year Award and do a demo at Saturday's Good Food Festival's popular Chefs At Play stage. ( Other chefs lined up for the Festival include Rick Bayless of the Frontera restaurants; Jason Vincent of Chicago's Giant and City Mouse; and Judson Todd Allen, a Chicago native whose flavorful spice-forward cuisine is well-known to TV audiences. ) See GoodFoodEXPO.org .
The first-ever Halal lifestyle festival in America, "I Heart Halal," will showcase the range of contemporary U.S. halal at Navy Pier, Festival Hall A, Friday, April 13-15. This new three-day festival will provide a welcoming space for anyone interested in Halal living embraced by U.S. Muslim consumers. See IHeartHalal.com .
The Chicago French Market, 131 N. Clinton St., has announced four new vendors opening in February and March. They will include Lito's Empanadas, Firenze Italian Street Food, Tiger Ceviche and Pierogi Crib. Visit FrenchMarket.com .
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