—With Tax Day ( April 15 ) in mind, The Florentine, 151 W. Adams St., is offering 50 percent off all cocktails, beer and wines by the glass and bottle. Also, on April 15, Meatloaf Bakery, 2464 N. Clark St., is giving a complimentary scoop of spuds with the purchase of one meatloaf cupcake. Options include Yukon Smashers, Cheesy Taters and Garlic Spuds.
—The Chicago Humanities Festival ( CHF ) will present Chicago pastry chef Mindy Segal on Wed., April 22, at 7 p.m. at the Bottom Lounge, 1375 W Lake St. The James Beard Foundation Award winner will discuss her upcoming first cookbook, Cookie Love, with WBEZ Chewing the Fat podcasters Louisa Chu and Monica Eng. Tickets are $8-18; visit chicagohumanities.org or call 312-494-9509.
—Freshii is now offering frozen kefir ( a 99-percent lactose-free creation filled with probiotics, calcium, protein and vitamin D ). People can order a Lifeway frozen kefir with two toppings—from mango and blueberries to cinnamon and dried cranberries—for $4.99 at any of Freshii's 18 Chicagoland locations.
—After opening Asian restaurant Embeya, 564 W. Randolph St., in 2012 and guiding it to multiple accolades, chef Thai Dang has left, Eater Chicago noted. The restaurant is closed until April 15, when it will reopen with a "nationally acclaimed chef" that will execute similar cuisine.
—After receiving two Michelin stars in November, Food & Wine magazine gave 42 Grams chef/co-owner Jake Bickelhaupt a major honor by naming him a best new chef, according to Eater Chicago. 42 Grams, 4662 N. Lincoln Ave., has risen from an underground "guestaurant" to a 18-seat BYO restaurant. ( By the way, the 18 seats consist of a chefs' counter for eight as well as a 10-seat communal table. ) Bickelhaupt has worked at Alinea, Charlie Trotter's and Schwa. See www.42gramschicago.com .
—For the fourth consecutive year, Elite Traveler magazine has rated Chicago restaurant Alinea, 1723 N. Halsted St., as the very best in the world, The Chicago Tribune noted. The rankings are based on a private, annual poll conducted by Elite Traveler, a "private jet lifestyle publication." Elite's announcement comes two months ahead of the World's 50 Best Restaurant awards, which will be announced June 1.
—The Waldorf Astoria Chicago announced that Michael Vaughn will lead the culinary team as executive chef. Vaughn, a Chicago native, will oversee all conceptualization and creation of cuisine at Balsan, the hotel's bistro, and at Bernard's Bar. Vaughn will also lead the culinary charge on in-room dining and spa cuisine at the Waldorf Astoria Spa & Health Club.
—Pie Five Pizza Co. has burst onto the local scene by opening the first of 15 Chicagoland restaurants. The new restaurant—marking Pie Five's 41st location—has opened in Skokie, near the Lincolnwood Town Center. A second location opens in Schaumberg on April 10, followed by the third opening in Naperville on April 17. This expansion kicks off the brand's 400 new franchise and company-owned stores anticipated over the next five to six years.
—Fast-casual restaurant GRK Greek Kitchen has opened its fourth location at 400 S. Wells St. ( The 6,600-square-foot building once housed the former Cal's Liquors store. ) The space includes a first-floor/street-level restaurant offering items from the existing GRK menu, including Greek frozen yogurt. The lower level has been converted into a commissary and catering kitchen.
—Expat, a brand-new, 24-seat al fresco eatery, will open in the West Loop in May. This casual and seasonal sidewalk cafe claims temporary warm-weather residence on Randolph and Green streets—just north of RM and Green Street Meats, and directly across from Soho House. Items will include raw vegetables, salads such as crab Louie, small plates ( shrimp cocktail; smoked bluefish dip ) and desserts ( chocolate cremeux; ice-cream sandwich ).
—Luella's Southern Kitchen, 4609 N. Lincoln Ave., has updated some signature items with a spring focus, and is presenting several new dishes to reflect the season. For instance, chef/owner Darnell Reed has created a lighter rendition of his chicken gumbo ( $7 ), made with a dark roux, creole seasoning, andouille sausage and Carolina Gold rice. Alos, the braised shortrib mac 'n' cheese is now a dry-rubbed smoked brisket mac 'n' cheese ( $11 ). Visit www.LuellasSouthernKitchen.com .
—Chef Kymberli DeLost has joined the culinary team at Acanto, The Gage and The Dawson. DeLost is overseeing the dessert menus at all three concepts, bringing a culinary experience from several acclaimed restaurants, including Japonais, Storefront Company and Hot Chocolate. New menu additions include chocolate tartufo ( Acanto ), with black cocoa, candied cherries, meringue and chocolate gelato; and the whipped Corpse Reviver ( The Dawson ), with whipped ganache, lemon coulis, violet meringue and sponge cake.
—Peruvian restaurant Tanta, 118 W. Grand Ave., will host a master pisco sour mixology class on Sunday, April 19, 1-3 p.m. During the hands-on Peruvian cocktail class—located on the second floor in the private dining room—ticket holders can mix and mingle with Pisco Porton National Brand Master Natalia Cardenas and Master Distiller Johnny Schuler. ( There will aso be gift bags filled with bar tools. ) Tickets are $59 each ( exclusive of tax and gratuity ), and only 20 tickets are available; call 312-222-9604 or email events@tantachicago.com .
—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. Visit www.DiningOutForLife.com .
—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.
—The local meal-delivery service Home Chef is offering new low-calorie and low-carb menu items. Each week, subscribers receive a new box of meals containing all the ingredients needed to create a healthy, chef-tested meal at home. As an added bonus, new customers can receive $20 off their first order, using the code HEALTHY20. Visit www.HomeChef.com .
—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 .
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