Oak Brook spot Perry's Steakhouse & Grille, 5 Oakbrook Center, is celebrating 40 years by giving customers four choices for four courses, all for $44, throughout July. Appetizers, entrees and desserts include fried asparagus, kale salad, pork-chop bites, grilled salmon, Perry's Famous Pork Chop, creme brulee and much more. See PerrysSteakhouse.com .
The 13th Annual Roscoe Village Burger Fest will take place July 13-14 at 2000 W. Belmont Ave., 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Beyond burgers and sides, visitors will also be treated to two stages of eclectic music, a fun-filled Kids' Zone and artists/merchants ( including a dozen eco-friendly artists ). New this year will be a stage programmed by Chicago's Culinary Fight Club and presented by Sam Adams; among its on-stage activities will be food-and-beer pairing sessions, homebrew demonstrations and cooking competitions each day ( 3:30-5 p.m. on Saturday, and 5:30-7 p.m. on Sunday ). Vendors include Billy Goat Tavern, BopNGrill, D.S. Tequila Company, Timothy O'Tooles and Carol's Pub, among others. See RoscoeVillageBurgerFest.com .
Stan's Donuts & Coffee has launched Stan's Cookies in its 12 Chicago-area stores. There are five core flavors of Stan's Cookies, baked daily in each store: Chi Town Chunk ( Chocolate Chunk ), Raisin The Bar On Oatmeal ( Oatmeal Raisin ), Espress Yourself ( Chocolate Espresso ), Toffee Talk ( Toffee Pecan Coconut ) and Snickerdoodle. To celebrate the debut of Stan's Cookies, Stan's will hold a community-wide cookies and milk tasting on Thursday, July 18, 12:30-1:30 p.m.; more info is at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/milk-meet-your-match-tickets-64823833832.
On July 1, Fry the Coop opened its first Chicago location at Wells Street Market, 205 W. Wacker Dr. The Wells Street Market menu will feature Fry the Coop's signature Nashville Fried Chicken Sandwich ( $10.49 ), Chicken & Cheese Sandwich ( $10.99 ), Spicy Butter Fried Chicken Sandwich ( $9.99 ) and Donut Fried Chicken Sandwich ( $9.99 ). Sides include house fries, seasoned fries, cheese fries and cole slaw. The restaurant will be open 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday through Friday.
Black Dog Gelato's second location, at 1012 W. Lake St., opened July 5. The hours will be noon-11 p.m. daily. The West Loop shop will feature the same signature flavors menu as the Damen Avenue shop: Goat Cheese Cashew Caramel, Malted Vanilla, Chocolate, Strawberry Balsamic, Chocolate Sorbet, Mint Cookie, Vanilla Sea Salt Caramel, Pistachio and Espresso Chip. The original Black Dog Gelato is at 859 N. Damen Ave.
Green Curtain Events has announced the 4th Annual Tacos y Tamales Festival on July 19-21 at 16th and Peoria streets. The Tacos y Tamales Festival aims to give back to the community in which it is hosted, as a portion of the proceeds will benefit the local Frida Kahlo Community Group and Opportunities for All. Food vendors will include Yvolina's Tamales, Taqueria Los Comales, Spicy Mexican Grill, Juanitas Mexican Food, Taqueria La Ciudad, Super Pollo Mexican Food, La Cebollita Grill, Don Pedro Carnitas and more. See chicagotacofest.com .
Surrounding the traditional Running of the Bulls that occurs every July in Pamplona, Spain, Mercat a la Planxa, 638 S. Michigan Ave., will donate $1 of every tasting menu sold through Sept. 12 to the Chicago French Bulldog Rescue. (Mercat a la Planxa's eight-course tasting menu is available at $55 per person with a two-guest minimum, and features a selection of signature Spanish tapas as well as a paella and dessert.) In culmination of the the promotion, Mercat a la Planxa will host a "Meat and Greet" dog-friendly event on Sept. 14.
In honor of Bastille Day and the historic year of 1789, Bistronomic ( 840 N. Wabash St. ) will offer a $39 three-course dinner menu as well as a $17.89 burger special. From Friday, July 12, through Sunday, July 14, Bistronomic will offer a $39 three-course dinner menu featuring the ahi tuna nicoise salad with avocado wedges, hard boiled eggs, fennel shavings, Nicoise olives, fingerling potatoes and a lemon vinaigrette; the Le French Burger with Angus beef, housemade country pate, swiss cheese and cognac sauce; and steak frites with flat iron steak, roasted garlic purée and hand cut pomme frites.
On July 16, JoJo's Milk Bar, 23 W. Hubbard St., will launch its "Sweet 16" food challenge. Contestants will be required to complete a 16-ounce Three's Company Milkshake, a 16-ounce double Smash Burger, a 16-ounce light or dark draft beer, and a 16-ounce portion of JoJo's Fries in 16 minutes. Those who complete the challenge will receive the meal completely comped in addition to being rewarded with a $20 JoJo's gift card, a JoJo's hat and his/her picture on the wallwith a milk mustache; those who fail will pay for the cost ( $50 ).
Fast-casual Asian restaurant Wow Bao now has zoodles and lettuce cups as base options for its popular bowl. Also, the company has introduced its first-ever gluten-free bao bun. The iconic steamed buns are filled with a variety of sweet & savory fillingsfrom Hunan spicy steak to whole wheat vegetables to chocolate, but their gluten-free bao is made with tapioca and rice flour that's filled with chicken teriyaki & tamari ( a replacement for soy sauce ). The zoodles and lettuce cups are available at six Chicago locations, including 46 E. Chicago Ave., 200 N. Michigan Ave., 1 W. Division St., 2806 N. Clark St., 1 W. Upper Wacker Dr. and 225 N. Michigan Ave.
On Sunday, July 21, "Camp" Headquarters Beercade, 213 W. Institute Pl., will present Wet Hot American Cider Fest, at 12-5 p.m. With the purchase of a ticket ( $25 each ), guests will receive event admission, a personal five-ounce glass, as well as six activity/drink tickets. To sample more ciders and/or play summer camp games, additional tickets can be purchased on site in quantities of six, 12 and 24. Each cider and game will be worth one ticket each. See https://www.universe.com/events/wet-hot-american-cider-fest-tickets-chicago-RK0XTW.
In recognition of Discovery Channel's "Shark Week" this July, aliveOne, 2683 N. Halsted St., will offer drink specials including Dogfish Head American Beauty for $5 each and a "Jaws" cocktail for $8 with CH Key Gin, demerara syrup, fresh lime juice and grapefruit La Croix. Also, Castaways, 1603 N. Lake Shore Dr., will offer a special "The Hammerhead" cocktail ( Captain Morgan coconut rum, pineapple juice and blue curacao ) for $9 each during July 28-Aug. 4.
The 13th annual Veggie Fest will be in Lisle's Danada South Park on Aug. 10-11. Just a few of the recent additions to the international food court include four styles of vegan omelets, buffalo cauliflower wings ( served with vegan ranch dip ), a Buddha bowl with quinoa and a twist on avocado toast. See VeggieFestChicago.org .
The First Annual Trotter Project Beer Fest, presented by Helios Construction, will debut at The Irish American Heritage Center, 4626 N Knox Ave., from 1:30-5 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 11. The ticketed feast and imbibe event is the official kick-off for Charlie Trotter Days, which returns Aug. 11-18. Tickets are $35 for the Aug. 11 event; visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/trotter-project-beer-fest-tickets-63883105087.
Jeong, 1460 W. Chicago Ave., has a menu that draws inspiration from traditional Korean ingredients from Chef Dave Park's childhood with his grandparents in Korea. However, one of his desserts borrows something from his childhood that is a little less traditional ( and Japanese ): Hi-Chew. Park crafts a sweet stock using Hi-Chews, and incorporates that into making a pillowy mochi, served with a sorbet made with cloudy Korean rice wine Makgeolli as well as grapefruit segments for some added acidity. The whole dessert is topped with a delicate meringue made using omija or "five-flavor" berries that have five distinct tastes ( sour, bitter, sweet, spicy and salty ).
Ace Hotel Chicago's City Mouse, 311 N. Morgan St., has a new executive chef: Matt Danko. Danko now oversees all culinary all culinary operations at the hotel, and is working in very close collaboration with chefs Jason Vincent and Ben Lustbader as well as Josh Perlman ( the team from the award-winning restaurant Giant ), who are the partners for City Mouse.
There is a new Picnic in the Park menu from Fairmont Chicago, Millennium Park, 200 N. Columbus Dr. Created by chefs from its in-house gastropub, Columbus Tap, the Deluxe Park Totes for Two offers the menu for $67 through Sept. 2. Fairmont's Deluxe Park Tote for Two features a variety of dishes, including charcuterie featuring two meats;, two cheeses; a small baguette and assorted olives; Columbus Tap's rotisserie chicken salad with kale; and a choice of dessert such as a slice of flourless chocolate cake, slice of Chicago style cheesecake or the chef's choice. Diners may also choose between a bottle of Robert Mondavi Chardonnay or Cabernet Sauvignon, and enjoy two bottles of Fairmont spring water. They can be reserved 24 hours in advance; visit fairmontchicago.wufoo.com/forms/2019-picnic-in-the-park/ .
Dakota 94, 5304 W. Devon Ave., is now open daily beginning at 8 a.m. A family-friendly breakfast, lunch and dinner restaurant, Dakota 94 is a neighborhood spot offering American cuisine, with everything made in-house from scratch. Owned by the operating partners of Kanela Breakfast Club, husband-and-wife duo Peter and Kayla Lardakis, the name "Dakota 94" is a nod to the Lardakis' roots and relationship. ( Interstate 94 connects Peter's home in Chicago to Kayla's hometown in North Dakota. )
Wake 'n Bacona boozy cafe with an over-the-top food and drink menu which can be completely customized with CBD add-onswill debut this summer at, yes, 420 W. Belmont Ave. The spot will be run by husband-and-wife duo and Chicago industry veterans Gabriel Ayala ( Dragonfly, SafeHouse, Blackfinn ) and Sarah Ayala ( Jalapeno, Dragonfly, NY Lounge ).
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