—Dining Out for Life will take place Thursday, April 30, in dozens of cities across the nation—including New York City, one of the newest locations to help in the fight against HIV/AIDS. Chicago will also be among the 60 sites involved, and local restaurants participating include Acre, Bistronomic, Crew Bar & Grill, SpritzBurger, South Water Kitchen, Longman & Eagle, and Magnolia Cafe, among others. Visit www.DiningOutForLife.com .
—Joe Fish, 445 N. Dearborn St., is now open for lunch every Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Created by Chef Joe Farina, the fresh and locally sourced lunch menu features a variety of egg entrees as well as house-cured salmon, New England lobster roll, Sicilian tuna-salad sandwich and the Not-So-Classic Waldorf Salad. Additionally, Joe Fish will offer guests a daily Fish Counter Special which includes three courses for $25, available during lunch only.
—Celebrity chef Graham Elliot will be the culinary curator for the 2015 NFL draft, which will take place in Chicago this year. Elliot will team with the NFL and C3 Productions to highlight local Chicago chefs, food vendors and Windy City cuisine at the Draft, in Draft Town and in Draft VIP hospitality areas. Perry Hendrix ( executive chef of Avec restaurant in Chicago ) and Tony Mantuano ( chef and partner of Spiaggia, Bar Toma, River Roast and Terzo Piano ) will also be featured in the VIP hospitality area. Chicago-based food vendors who will be featured in Draft Town include Billy Goat Tavern & Grill, Black Dog Gelato, County Barbecue, Dia De Los Tamales, FEAST and Wow Bao, among others. For more information on Draft Town attractions and events, visit NFL.com/DraftTown.
—Three local chefs—Chris Pandel, Sarah Gureneberg and Harold Jurado—will compete in the 7th Annual Food Fight for Scleroderma on Sunday, April 26, at the James Hotel in Chicago, 55 E. Ontario St., 5-8 p.m. ( the VIP reception is 4-5 p.m. ) Amanda Puck, director of strategic brand development for Mariano's, will return as the event's emcee. All proceeds from the event will benefit the Scleroderma Foundation of Greater Chicago. Tickets are $95-$145; visit www.ChicagoFoodFight.com .
—Chicago chef Homaro Cantu, 38, was found dead on the Northwest Side, in the 4400 block of West Montrose Avenue, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. Cantu grew up in Portland, Oregon, and worked in kitchens on the West Coast before knocking on the back door of Charlie Trotter's eponymous restaurant in Lincoln Park a few years ago. Then he opened Moto, where he wowed patrons with edible paper and molecular gastronomy. Last month, Cantu was sued by an investor in Moto and iNG ( another Cantu eatery that closed ) claiming, among other things, that Cantu was using Moto's business bank account for personal expenses.
—Mayor Rahm Emanuel of Chicago; Susan Ungaro, president of the James Beard Foundation ( JBF ); Don Welsh, president/CEO of Choose Chicago; and Sam Toia, president/CEO of the Illinois Restaurant Association, announced that the James Beard Foundation Awards ceremony and gala reception will return to Chicago in 2016 and 2017. The first-ever James Beard Awards to be held outside of New York City will take place on May 4 at the Lyric Opera of Chicago.
—Health-conscious eatery Freshii has now opened a spot in Evanston, at 1596 Sherman Ave. Freshii has a customizable menu of breakfast, soups, salads, wraps, bowls, burritos, Lifeway frozen kefir, juices and smoothies. Also, through a partnership with Chicago-based Metropolis Coffee, Freshii will offer organic coffee. See www.Freshii.com .
—Glazed and Infused, the artisan doughnut shop from Scott Harris' Francesca's Restaurant Group, has opened its sixth location within the lobby of the 222 N. LaSalle Street building. Guests can share their doughnut experience with a friend on Wed., April 29, with Pay It Forward Day. Any visitors to Glazed and Infused's 222 N. LaSalle location on the 29th will receive a free doughnut with purchase to share with a colleague or co-worker.
—Stan's Donuts & Coffee is teaming with Cardel Reid, executive chef of The Signature Room at the 95th, for a donut collaboration for April. The fourth installment of Stan's monthly guest donut series features Reid's Cinnamon Coffee Cake Old Fashioned with Brown Sugar-Bourbon Glaze from through Friday, May 1 for $3.25 each at both Stan's locations ( 1560 N. Damen Ave. & 259 E. Erie St., Suite 100 ).
—The Lincoln Square Ravenswood spring wine stroll will take place Thursday, April 30, 6:30-9:30 p.m. Dozens of businesses will be among the shopping/noshing stops, including Bistro Campagne, DANK Haus, The Chopping Block, Flirty Cupcakes, Hazel Apparel and Steve Quick Jeweler. Tickets are $40 in advance for one route, and $60 for all routes; visit www.LincolnSquare.org .
—Green City Market, 1817 N. Clark St., will host top chefs from around the country when it opens its 17th season Saturday, May 2. In honor of the 2015 James Beard Foundation Awards, visiting chefs will gather and be joined by Chicago's chef community at Green City Market beginning at 9:30 a.m. Green City Market board members and fellow past James Beard Award winners Sarah Stegner ( Prairie Grass Cafe and co-president of Green City Market board ), Carrie Nahabedian ( Naha and Brindille ) and Bruce Sherman ( North Pond ) are the hosting chefs.
—Chef Art Smith will host "Bring Your Beard Brunch: A salute to LGBT Culinary America" at Table 52, 52 W. Elm St., at 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Smith, a James Beard Award two-time award winner and 2015 presenter, will celebrate equality and same-sex marriage/adoption. Smith and his husband Jesus Salgueiro will match all brunch sales with a donation to the The James Beard Foundation. Call 312-573-4000.
—Downers Grove restaurant Barbakoa will will host a weeklong celebration ( May 1-5 ) for Cinco de Mayo featuring a pig roast, dining and drinking specials, live music from the Sones de Mexico ensemble and other live entertainment. With Mexican and French influences meshed into his dishes, Executive Chef Dudley Nieto has created a prix fixe menu available for $33 per person. Visit ww.Barbakoa.com .
—Rioja Wine & Tapas Festival will take place Saturday, May 2, at Union Station, 500 W. Jackson Blvd. ( The VIP tasting is 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., with general admission 1-5 p.m. ) There will be flagship wines from more than 50 wineries, and 30 U.S. chefs will prepare Rioja-inspired tapas. There will also be live music, a jamon bar, a cheese cave and more. Visit www.RiojaFest.com .
—Tavern on Rush, 1031 N. Rush St., will host its fourth annual Kentucky Derby Party on Saturday, May 2. Guests are encouraged to dress in honor of the Derby, as the best hat will be awarded a bottle of Dom Perignon awarded immediately after the race. The restaurant will celebrate all day with special $5 mint juleps.
—In celebration of the 141st running of the Kentucky Derby, Chicagoans are invited to Millionaire's Row at Chicago q, 1160 N. Dearborn St., on May 2. For $60 ( not including tax or gratuity ), guests can cheer on their favorite horse while indulging in Derby-themed specials. Chicago q favorites like bacon cheddar hush puppies, smoked deviled eggs, Benedictine sandwiches, hot browns and pulled pork sliders will be served. Call 312-642-1160.
—Howells & Hood, 435 N. Michigan Ave., announces the First Annual Kentucky Derby Party, benefiting the Greater Chicago Food Depository, on May 2 at 2-6 p.m. Executive Chef Brett Neubauer will create a Southern-inspired gourmet buffet station with dishes including blackstrap ham, bourbon-glazed baby back ribs, hush puppies, nine-layer salad, cheese ball, derby pie and more. Tickets are $25-$30; visit https://www.hastickets.com/howellsderby2015.
—On Thursday, May 7, Executive Chef Kevin Cuddihee of TWO and Executive Chef Chris Marchino of Spiaggia Restaurant & Lounge will host a pop-up dinner at Studio Snaidero ( 110 W. Kinzie St., 2nd Floor ) at 6 p.m. The night's seasonal four-course menu offers two dishes from each chef, along with fine-wine pairings provided by Terlato Wines. Tickets are priced at $145 per person; visit http://www.eventbrite.com/e/snaidero-pop-up-two-spiaggia-restaurant-lounge-and-terlato-wines-tickets-16506854446.
—For Mother's Day, Filini Bar & Restaurant, 221 N. Columbus Dr., will offer options that include the brunch buffet, a la carte menu, and a special Mother's Day menu item. The brunch includes a special of salmon risotto with a saffron sauce and heirloom tomato compote, served with exotic mushroom risotto. The buffet option is priced at $27 per person ( exclusive of tax and gratuity ), and includes what a press release calls Mom's favorite breakfast item." Visit www.FiliniChicago.com .
—Glazed and Infused is offering special Flower Doughnuts ( $2.50 ) for Mother's Day on May 9-10. Customers can also pre-order a flower "bouquet" for Mom, available by the half-dozen ( $15 ) or full dozen ( $27 ). Glazed and Infused doughnuts can be purchased at one of the shop's five Chicago-area stores, or can be ordered online at www.goglazed.com .
—The Langham, 330 N. Wabash Ave., invites families to spoil moms this year with a savory and sweet Mother's Day Brunch ( $125 per person ) on May 10, and a special treat from Chuan Spa. Brunch items include brioche French toast, red wine-braised shortribs, Atlantic salmon and a Blood Mary bar. Chuan Spa gift cards are valid May 10-June 30. To make reservations, call 312-923-9988 or visit www.langhamhotels.com .
—For Mother's Day, Sepia, 123 N. Jefferson St., is offering a four-course prix fixe menu. Guests begin the meal with assorted breads and pastries. The main course allows guests to choose between entrees like confit pork shoulder hash, crunchy French toast and chilaquiles. The final family-style course offers buttercrunch cake or a chocolate Bailey's tart. Call 312-441-1920.
—Eduardo's Enoteca, 1212 N. Dearborn St., is offering a Mother's Day brunch at 10 a.m.-2 p.m. There will be breakfast sandwiches such as Rossa ( eggs salsa rossa, fresh mozzarella, tomatoes, pancetta ), omelettes such as Romagna ( potato, gorgonzola, spicy Italian sausage, rosemary ), salmon plate and brioche French toast, among other items. Also, Mom will be treated to a complimentary glass of fresh squeezed Red Ruby Juice.
—The Signature Room of the John Hancock Building is offering a Mother's Day brunch at 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Executive Chef Cardel Reid will have starters such as spinach and strawberry salad, smoked salmon, and yogurt and granola parfaits. Entree items include prime rib, spring vegetable gnocchi and baked French toast. The cost is $25-$70. Reservations require a credit card; call 312-787-9596.
—For Mother's Day, Bistronomic, 840 N. Wabash Ave., is offering a French-inspired brunch menu and bottomless mimosas 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m. on May 10. Among the many items will be asparagus veloute, Bistronomic deviled eggs, eggs Benedict, house-cured duck confit, spring crepes and strawberry Napoleon. The price is $42 for adults and $20 for children under 12 years of age.
—The Roscoe Village Wine Stroll, sponsored by Lush Wine & Spirits in partnership with Roscoe Village Chamber of Commerce, will take place Thursday, May 28. Attendees can try more than 40 different wines of the world, including reds and whites, and check out boutiques and businesses along the way. All wine stops are located on Roscoe Street and Belmont Avenue and a complimentary wine trolley circles around Roscoe Village for convenience. The cost is $45-$60; visit rvccwinestroll.chirrpy.com .
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