—Devon Seafood Grill, 39 E. Chicago Ave., is celebrating Halloween with an exclusive four-course Chateau Montelena wine dinner on Thursday, Oct. 27, at 6 p.m. ( Guests are invited to dress in costume for their chance to win the "best dressed" prize. ) Culinary items slated to be served include lobster ravioli, herb-roasted game hen, char-crusted pork tenderloin and pumpkin-pie cheesecake. Admission is $80 each; call 312-440-8660 to RSVP.
—Garrett Popcorn Shops kicks off its new limited time Buffalo Ranch Mix just in time for ultimate football season snacking, available online through Tuesday, Nov. 22. The mix features a match-up of two limited-time recipes: Buffalo CheeseCorn, featuring freshly-melted, sharp cheddar cheese, buffalo sauce, a hint of cayenne pepper and a pinch of salt; and Buttery Ranch, featuring the classic Garrett® Buttery recipe enhanced with buttermilk ranch. See GarrettPopcorn.com .
—To mark Breast Cancer Month, The Living Room, a new small-plates lounge at Hyatt Regency Chicago, has created Support The Girls—made with gin, mint liqueur, raspberries, thyme, simple syrup and lime for $12, with $1 of each cocktail donated to Bright Pink. BIG Bar, also located in Hyatt Regency Chicago, is offering The Pink October, made with Ketel One Citroen, triple sec, orange juice, and strawberry puree, for $14, with $1 of each cocktail donated to Bright Pink.
—Parts and Labor, 2700 N. Milwaukee Ave., now features new fall menu items. Items include burgers such as The Jala-popper, The Parts Melt and The Encrustacedo ( vegan option with panko-almond encrusted avocados, roasted poblano veganaise, red onion, and vegan slaw with vegan black bean patties on a vegan multi oat bun ) as well as fall seasonal salad, pumpkin pie and various signature cocktails.
—Stella Barra Pizzeria, 1954 N. Halsted St., is offering a new brunch buffet in addition to the full menu a la carte. The weekend brunch ( 10 a.m.-2 p.m. ) will feature roasted corn & poblano egg enchiladas, warm brioche cinnamon rolls with vanilla bean glaze and cream cheese frosting, caramelized French toast, charred tomatoes & cheddar cheese stratta, yogurt parfaits with granola and fresh berries and more—unlimited for $19.95. Reservations accepted; call 773-634-4101.
—Gilt Bar will be coming to The Kitchen Bistro, 316 N. Clark St., for a brunch pop-up service on Sunday, Oct. 23, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Guests will be able to order off an a la carte menu that Johnny Anderes of The Kitchen Bistro and Maxwell Robbins of Gilt Bar are creating. Among the items are New England-Style crab roll with drawn butter, Old Bay and cabbage slaw; and andouille sausage, hummus, fall vegetable harissa, soft boiled egg, housemade sourdough baguette. Reservations are encouraged, as space is limited; call 312-836-1300. A portion of the brunch service proceeds will be going to Heshima Kenya.
— Stan's Donuts & Coffee has announced its first-ever food truck, the Stan's Van. The food truck will make its official debut at 7 a.m. on Wed., Oct. 26, at the LaSalle/Adams Food Truck stand. Stan's Van will serve a rotating selection of its most popular donuts, including Glazed, Lemon Pistachio Old Fashioned and Nutella Pocket. Donut lovers can follow Stan's Donuts on Twitter or follow #StansVan to see where the bright pink donut van will be located in Chicago.
—The newly renovated Oak Brook Hills Resort, 3500 Midwest Rd., Oak Brook, is reprising the Annual Pumpkins & Pancakes event on Sunday, Oct. 30, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Executive Chef Sean Patrick Curry, of the new B. farm-to-table restaurant, will host a seasonal brunch, while the Halloween happenings spill outside onto the resort's grounds. Open to the general public, the event costs $10 for children 12 and under; $20 for adults; and is free for children under 2. Reservations are available on Open Table.
—The inaugural Strange Foods Chicago Festival will take place Sunday, Nov. 6, 1-4 p.m., at Moonlight Studios, 1446 W. Kinzie St. More than 15 local restaurants will offer tastes of their authentically made cuisines; among the places slated to take part are HoneyDoe ( Syria ), Tropicuba ( Cuba ), Aha Crepes ( China ), Serai ( Malaysia ) and El Carrito Mexican Street Food. Early bird tickets are $40 per person through Oct. 12 and $45 through Oct.16; thereafter, tickets are $55. Visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1st-annual-strange-foods-chicago-festival-tickets-26454628506.
—South African-Portuguese restaurant Nando's PERi-PERi will open three new Chicagoland locations this fall and winter. New restaurants will open Sunday, Nov. 13, in Westfield Old Orchard mall in Skokie; Sunday, Nov. 20, in Oakbrook Center; and January 2017 at 1447 E. 53rd St., Chicago.
—Gemini Bistro, 2075 N. Lincoln Ave., will undergo a rejuvenation after seven years in the neighborhood. Reopening as Gemini in 2017, the American bistro will feature a business partnership between Gemini Bistro Owner Ryan O'Donnell and current Head Bartender and longtime friend Pauly Graves. This rejuvenation will also give Executive Chef Jon Keeley the opportunity to explore a new menu for the restaurant.
—Latin-Local restaurant La Sirena Clandestina, 954 W. Fulton Market, has restarted Sunday brunch service, at 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Former brunch favorites make the menu including the grilled hanger steak with creamed yucca, fried egg and chimichurri as well as the dende poached lobster tail Benedict served with avocado mash, malagueta hollandaise and a poached egg. Chef de Cuisine Eric Michael adds a sweet spin with bolinhos de chuva, buttermilk doughnuts served with cinnamon-sugar. See LaSirenaChicago.com .
—Jake Melnick's Corner Tap, 41 E. Superior St., will celebrate Halloween with specials. Included are the Halloween Horror Burger ( nine-ounce habanero-and-cheddar beef patty topped with pepper jack cheese, guacamole, fried poblano and candied jalapenos ); smoked apple bourbon BBQ wings; and meatloaf mac. See JakeMelnicks.com .
—Doc B's Fresh Kitchen, 55 E. Grand Ave., has introduced its first brunch menu on Sundays 10:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Dish highlights include "The Classics," such as Tennessee hot chicken & waffles, and "The Basics," like avocado toast. An assortment of egg sandwiches will also be available, like The Red White and Blue, with Danish blue cheese, bacon and roasted red pepper; and Mom's Kitchen, made with Swiss cheese, spicy sausage and Doc B's secret sauce. See DocBsFreshKitchen.com .
—Lawry's The Prime Rib, 100 E. Ontario St., has launched a prime rib and lobster special, offering diners the chance to try a variety of the restaurant's dishes. The prix fixe menu includes The Original Spinning Bowl Salad, a six-ounce California-cut prime rib and four-ounce lobster tail entree, sides of mashed potatoes and gravy and Yorkshire pudding, choice of creamed corn or creamed spinach, and warm apple cobbler served with vanilla ice cream for dessert. Customers also gain complimentary access to the Lawry's VIP Rewards Program ( a $25 value ). The promotional package is offered through Monday, Oct. 31, for $49.95 per person.
—Trenchermen, 2039 W. North Ave., offers a $10 burger-and-beer special in the bar area. The burger changes weekly ( with a recent one being the Octoberfest burger ), and a different craft brewery is featured each month. See Trenchermen.com or @TrenchermenChicago.
—Gene & Georgetti ( 500 N. Franklin St., downtown; and 9241 W. Higgins Rd., in Rosemont ) supports National Adoption Month in November by donating a portion of proceeds from dessert sales to Oak Park-based Hephzibah Children's Association. Guests to both Chicago and Rosemont locations can enjoy signature favorites like Tiramisu, Spumoni, Chocolate Tuxedo Mousse Cake and Gene & Georgetti's famous Italian Lemon Creme Layer Cake.
—French bistro Bistronomic, 840 N. Wabash Ave., will offer a Thanksgiving prix fixe menu. This year, Executive Chef/Owner Martial Noguier will offer a three-course Thanksgiving prix fixe menu on Thursday, Nov. 24, 11 a.m.-9 p.m., for $57 per adult and $20 for children 12 and younger ( excluding tax and gratuity ). Some of the planned menu items include house-cured duck confit, Belgium endive salad, roasted farm turkey breast and stuffed leg, jumbo walleye pike and chocolate "Kit Kat" bars.
—A Church 4 Me MCC, 7366 N. Clark St., will hold its second annual Thanksgiving Community Meal on Thursday, Nov. 24, at noon. To reserve a place at the meal, contact Mike Schuppe at 847-529-8440 or mike123ptr@gmail.com .
—Hard Rock Cafe Chicago, 63 W. Ontario St., is kicking off the holiday season with a traditional Thanksgiving Day prix fixe menu available at 10 a.m.-9 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 24. The menu costs $27 ( plus tax and gratuity ) and features roasted farm-raised turkey, garlic smashed potatoes, harvest stuffing, assorted fall vegetables and New England cranberry jam and your choice of coffee, tea or soft drink along with cinnamon pumpkin pie topped with a root beer caramel sugar crisp. Also, children of all ages are invited to pose for photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus at the free Meet n' Greet at 1-3 p.m. ( Attendees should bring their own cameras. ) Reservations are recommended; visit HardRock.com/Chicago.
—Thanksgiving pies will return to the French-inspired patisserie Vanille. This is the only time of the year pies come out of the Vanille kitchen and, this year, three seasonal favorites will be offered: Pumpkin with Cinnamon Whipped Cream, Apple Streusel and Traditional Pecan. Along with the pies, Vanille will be hosting its first-ever Cereal Drive. Throughout November, Vanille will collect cereal at all three of its Chicago locations to be donated to Lakeview Pantry. Guests who bring a box in will enjoy 10 percent off an order ( up to $100 ), including pie orders. See VanillePatisserie.com .
—Devon Seafood Gril, 39 E. Chicago Ave., is offering a traditional Thanksgiving prix fixe menu at 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Some of the culinary items include Maine lobster bisque, butternut squash soup, roasted turkey, cranberry orange relish, pumpkin pie and mixed berries. The menu is $40 for adults and $20 for children 4-12, excluding tax and gratuity. ( Children under 4 eat free. ) Reservations are recommended; call Tim Sherlock at 312-440-8660 or visit DevonSeafood.com/chicago.
—Fairmont Chicago, 200 N. Columbus Dr., is bringing back its Thanksgiving at Home Dinner, which provides people with a Thanksgiving feast to take home to their own tables. The gourmet dinner, featuring a roast turkey with brioche stuffing, feeds eight to 10 people and can be ordered any time before 12 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 21, for $260. Dinners can be picked up on Thanksgiving Day between 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at Fairmont. Call 312-565-7973 to order between 9 a.m.-5 p.m., or email kristina.kline@fairmont.com .
—Also, Fairmont Chicago, 200 N. Columbus Dr., is kicking off the 2016 holiday season with its third annual Cookies and Cheer Luxury Cookie Exchange on Thursday, Dec. 1, 5:30-7:30 p.m. During the event, guests will have the opportunity to sample unlimited cookies from the wide variety of unique seasonal offerings including chai snickerdoodles, double-fudge oatmeal stout cookies and orange walnut spice logs. Tickets for the Cookies and Cheer event are $60 per person and on sale now; space is limited and reservations are required by visiting Eventbrite.com, event name "Cookies & Cheer."
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