—Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steak House, 58 E. Oak St., is hosting its 2nd annual Bring Your Own Magnum Party to thank patrons. On Friday, Jan. 22, at 6:30 p.m., guests can enjoy a special menu that will be paired with wines from their very own collections; patrons are encouraged to bring wine to share with their friends, family and guests. The price is $125 per person plus tax and gratuity; call 312-888-2499.
—D'Noche, the dinner concept from Cafe Con Leche, will become De Noche Mexicana ( 2710 N. Milwaukee Ave. ) for dinner service as of Tuesday, Jan. 26. De Noche Mexicana will continue to offer a full bar and custom cocktails with an extensive tequila list featuring traditional margaritas and Mexican inspired tequila cocktails. Also, Chef Antonio Del Real—whose previous Chicago chef residences include Chicago Cut Steakhouse, Sixteen, Morton's Steakhouse, Smith & Wollensky and Carlucci, among others—has created a Mexican-focused dinner menu. See DeNocheMexicana.com .
—Staytion Market & Bar—at the newly revamped Renaissance Chicago Downtown Hotel, 1 W. Wacker Dr.—will have Wine Night on Wed., Jan. 20. Guests will discover the perfect pairings as Staytion's beverage experts select wine pours to perfectly complement a variety of local meats and cheeses, including La Quercia Prosciutto, Smoking Goose Salami and Duck Prosciutto, Vermillion River Bleu Cheese and Jersey Havarti.
—Casual BBQ concept County Barbeque has expanded and launched its new catering program. The options include County's wide variety of "American heritage style" smoked meats, including sliced brisket, pulled pork, hot links, rib tips, and more, plus sides like cheddar grits, mac n' cheese, field greens salad bowl with jalapeno ranch, and others. Options start at $9.95/person; see DMKCountyBarbeque.com .
—Stan's Donuts has opened a fourth location, at 28 E. Roosevelt Rd. The South Loop opening was celebrated at all four locations, however, with the first 100 customers receiving mystery envelopes containing prizes ranging from a free coffee drink to the prize of free donuts for life.
—Executive Chef Mike Simmons ( formerly of Lula Cafe and Rootstock ), beverage director Jamie McLennan ( Rootstock, formerly of Webster's Wine Bar ) and general manager Valerie Szafranski ( formerly of Rootstock and Café Matou ) have collaborated for the Parisian-style Cafe Marie-Jean, in East Humboldt Park ( 1001 N. California Ave. ). Patrons can expect to spend $5 to $30 for items on the a la carte menu, or $32 for a three-course dinner prix fixe menu. See www.cafe-marie-jeanne.com or call 773-904-7660.
—Pastoral's Appellation—the new 75-seat wine bar, restaurant and retail store at 5212 N. Clark St—is now offering weekend brunch. Additionally, Pastoral Andersonville is Pastoral's first location to offer morning counter service breakfast—the only one of its four locations to do so. To coincide with its brunch and retail breakfast launch, Pastoral Andersonville will also debut its second seasonal art exhibition within the dining area.
—Items at DMK Burger Bar, 2954 N. Sheffield Ave., are now available through delivery. Delivering via DoorDash, the DMK Burger Bar delivery menu selections such as a wide selection of grass-fed beef burgers, beef-alternative burger options ( turkey, lamb, veggie, and more ), truffle mac, hand-cut fries and shakes.
—Phil Stefani's 437 Rush, 437 N. Rush St., celebrates National Soup Month with a lobster bisque available daily for $9 at lunch or $10 at dinner. Similarly, Navy Pier's Riva will feature a selection of daily soups created by Executive Chef Luigi Garcia like Riva Clam Chowder ( New England style, fresh clam meat; $7 lunch and $8 dinner ) and Lobster Corn Bisque ( sherry, brandy, Maine lobster; $9 lunch and dinner ).
—Jake Melnick's Corner Tap, 41 E. Superior St., kicks off its first beer event of 2016 as it collaborates with North Coast Brewing to celebrate Old Rasputin's birthday by tapping a keg of the limited edition rye barrel aged Old Rasputin on Thursday, Jan. 21, at 6 p.m. Beer buffs can sip and savor the beer for $12.50 for a 10-ounce pour. Guests can eat their way through the evening with specials such as the buffalo chicken burger, orange peel chicken wings and Trip to Spain Daddy Mac. See JakeMelnicks.com .
—For Chicago Restaurant Week ( Jan. 22-Feb 4; restaurants starting lunch for $22 and dinner for $33 ), Le Colonial, 937 N. Rush St., will offer menu items such as pho, hearty oxtail soup with rice noodles, beef tenderloin slices and aromatic herbs; tom xao sate, sautéed jumbo shrimp, asparagus, onions and scallions in a light sauce of sate, spice, chile and garlic; and chocolate mousse cake, layers of chocolate cake and mousse, crème Anglaise and Swiss raspberry sauce.
—At mk, 868 N. Franklin St., Pastry Chef Lisa Bonjour and Wine & Beverage Director Jordyn Sotelo are hosting a cocktail and baking class Sunday, Jan. 31, at 4:30 p.m. Bonjour will teach guests how to make a chocolate tart, while Sotelo will demonstrate how to craft a cocktail made with bubbly Prosecco, Luxardo Aperitivo and citrus. Price for the class is $20 per person, or free to anyone who stays for dinner afterward at mk; email lbecker@dmkrestaurants.com to reserve.
—At Analogue, 2523 N. Milwaukee Ave., Chef Alfredo Nogueira will partner with Pork Mafia's Phil Wingo to create a special five-course Cajun menu featuring various cuts of Mangalitsa pork on Wed., Feb. 3, at 7 p.m. Dishes will include beignets, gumbo with smoked pork, and glazed Ham with collard greens and cornbread. The cost will be $55/person; visit http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/2487901.
—Sophie Evanoff, owner of the French-inspired artisanal patisserie Vanille, has announced that Vanille Lake View's ribbon-cutting will take place Thursday, Feb. 4, at 3243 N. Broadway, at 5:30 p.m. On Friday-Sunday, Feb. 5-7, customers will have the chance to help celebrate with some special offers including a free macaron for anyone who stops by. Also, the first 25 customers through the door each of those three mornings will receive a $25 Vanille gift card for their next visit, and everyone can enter to win a $500 Vanille gift card to be given to one lucky customer. See VanillePatisserie.com .
—On Saturday, Feb. 6, the Illinois Restaurant Association Educational Foundation ( IRAEF ) will welcome 12 culinary teams and nine management teams composed of high school ProStart® students from across the state to compete in the 15th Annual Illinois ProStart® Invitational—a full day of culinary and restaurant management competitions. The event will be held at McCormick Place, 2301 S. Lake Shore Dr., 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
—On Super Bowl Sunday ( Feb. 7 ), guests who host their Super Bowl parties at Frontier will enjoy more than half off Executive Chef Brian Jupiter's famous whole smoked animal pig parties ( $225; normally $500 ). Chicagoans can also cater their Super Bowl party at home with Frontier's specialty Super Bowl menu to go; available items will include pulled boar sliders, sausage platter, wings, mac 'n cheese and more.
—On Super Bowl Sunday, guests who order two or more Pi Gallery Bar pizzas on Grubhub or Doordash will receive a complimentary order of Pi's Dipping Sticks ( sausage and mozzarella breadsticks ). As an added incentive to eat pizza, Pi's concept centers around its "A Pi for a Pi" program where for every pizza sold, one is donated to feed Chicago's homeless.
—Devon Seafood Grill, 39 E. Chicago Ave., is offering specials for Valentine's Day weekend. On Friday-Sunday, Feb. 12-14, there's a selection of special entrees such as one-pound lobster Tail, eight-ounce Filet Oscar or a six-ounce filet with an eight-ounce lobster yail with two seasonal sides for $55 per person. Guests are also invited to enjoy Valentine's Day dinner all weekend long at Devon Seafood Grill's more upscale downstairs dining room. See DevonSeafood.com/Chicago.
—The Palmer House, a Hilton Hotel, will host HiBall Events' Valentine's 2016 dinner & show for the second year, on Saturday, Feb. 13 at 6:30 p.m. in the legendary Empire Room within the Palmer House Hilton, 17 E. Monroe St. Diners seated at intimate tables arranged for two or four people enjoy a romance inspired, three course meal and dancing to live entertainment performed by Sam Fazio with his jazz quartet. Couples' packages are $179-$250; see www.palmerhousehiltonhotel.com/promotions/valentines-day-2-2/ or ValentinesInChicago.com .
—At Sable Kitchen & Bar, 505 N. State St., Chef Lawrence Letrero has crafter a five-course Valentine's Day prix fixe for $55/person, with an optional cocktail pairing for $45. ( The regular menu will be offered a la carte as well. ) See SableChicago.com .
—At 312 Chicago, 136 N. LaSalle St., Chef Luca Corazzina has created a romantic Italian prix fixe menu, "Menu di Valentino," with four courses for $60/person + optional wine pairing for $85/person; available Saturday-Sunday, Feb. 13-14. Each course will have three different options so guests can select dishes based on dietary preference. Visit www.312chicago.com .
—Beef & Barley Chicago & Gastropub, 3001 N. Ashland Ave., is doing a Walk of Shame brunch on Sunday, Feb. 14 ( Valentine's Day ). It's for all of those singles out there who were looking for love the night before. There will be some themed punch-bowl specials and a new brunch menu for guests enjoy, as well as an old-school photo booth with some Valentine's Day-themed props. There will also be a single's themed soundtrack during brunch service.
—Chicago's Best WingFest will return for its 17th year on Feb. 21, 2016, 1-5 p.m., at Bailey Auditorium, 1340 W. Washington St. There will be wings from 25 area restaurants, competitive wing-eating and six categories of wing competition, among other things. See Wingfest.net .
—The Northalsted Business Alliance will host the Frost Fest Craft Beer Festival on Feb. 27-28, 2016. Through Dec. 28, 2015, there's a pre-sale offer that includes two tickets for the Frost Fest Craft Beer Festival at $50—and admission is normally regularly $35 apiece. Tickets are available exclusively on www.northalsted.com .
—Snap Kitchen—a healthy takeaway concept that has recently opened seven locations in the Chicagoland area—has released its winter menu. Some winter items include maple-roasted banana oatmeal, beef stroganoff, ginger-glazed salmon and quinoa "fried rice." See SnapKitchen.com .
Send items to Andrew@WindyCityMediaGroup.com or follow on Twitter @Azygous60610.
