Every time someone takes a photo in a restaurant, dining app GiftAMeal provides a meal to someone in need in the local community. Users may also recommend the restaurant to friends and share their photos to social media to provide additional meals. GiftAMeal ( formerly FoodShare ) has partnered with more than 20 Chicagoland restaurants, and has provided more than 6,500 meals. See giftameal.com .
The 75th-anniversary celebration is in full swing at Chicago dining legend Gene & Georgetti, 500 N. Franklin St., with the announcement of a new general manager and a special donation to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. Proprietors Tony and Marion Durpetti, along with Managing Partners Michelle Durpetti and Rich Ciota, announced the appointment of Adam Solomon as the new general manager at the downtown location. Also, the restaurant announced a $10,000 donation to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation courtesy of a special 75th-anniversary menu that was available for three days in July in both the Chicago and Rosemont locations.
Del Frisco's Double Eagle Steak House has a new general manager, Chicago hospitality veteran Rich Keefer, and executive chef, Javier Fuentes. For nearly 13 years, Keefer owned and operated the Keefer's steakhouse in Chicago's River North neighborhood. Fuentes played a crucial role on the opening team as sous chef for Del Frisco's in 2012.
La Grange restaurant fourteensixteen, 14 W. Calendar Ave., is now open. Diners can expect urban flavors and decor matched with the suburb's only wine cave and a rooftop dining space. fourteensixteen is the sister restaurant to Oak Park's Marion Street Market.
Get ready for the first TV series inspired by an app. The All Recipes Dinner Spinner app is going to become Dinner Spinner, a half-hour Saturday morning show, starting Oct. 1 on the CW, AdWeek reported. Chef Gabe Kennedy will host Dinner Spinner, which will be a head-to-head competition featuring two contestants. The show will focus on healthy food choices.
The 7th annual Hoosier Hops & Harvest microbrew festival will take place Saturday, Sept. 10, at the Story Inn in Nashville, Indiana, 1-7 p.m. Tickets are $30 each and attendees much be 21 years old; see HoosierHopsAndHarvest.com or call 812-988-2273.
On Saturday, Sept. 10, at 7 p.m., Chef Cory Morris will host the 2016 Tomahawk edition of Chef's Course Dinner, a refined three-hour culinary experience co-featuring chefs Evan Behmer of Mercat la Plancha, Jonathan Meyer of Broken Shaker, and Greg Laketek of West Loop Salumi. The event will take place at Rural Society by Jose Garces, 455 N. Park Dr. Tickets to the dinners are available online at $90 per person and will benefit Piggy Bank, a farm-in-the-making benefiting heritage breed pigs; visit Piggy-bank.org/dinners.
On Sunday, Sept. 11, at 4 p.m., Cochon555 returns to Chicago for the city's 3rd Annual Heritage BBQ. The festivities will be held at Loews Hotel Chicago, the official host for the weekend. Visit cochon555.com/2016-tour/chicago-bbq/ .
Texas de Brazil Churrascaria, 210 E. Illinois St., will celebrate National Caipirinha Day on Tuesday, Sept. 13, with happy-hour pricing all night long. Made with cachaca, the Brazilian distilled spirit made from sugar cane, caipirinhas will be available 4:30-10 p.m. for half-price at $5 per drink that night only.
Epic Burger has announced that with every late-night burger purchase, diners will receive a FREE hangover kit ( while supplies last. ) Kits include a packet of antacid, two types of pain-relief tablets and a moist towelette. The Epic Hangover Kits will be available beginning Sept. 8 during Epic Burger's late-night service, which runs Thursday-Saturday at 12-4 a.m. at the River North and South Loop locations.
Nonnina, 340 N. Clark St., will host an exclusive wine dinner Tuesday, Sept. 13, celebrating varietals of Italy's Luce della Vita vineyard. Beginning at 6 p.m., for $90 per person, attendees savor a four-course Italian experience curated by Chef Chris Macchia. Food items are slated to include grilled calamari, maccheroni, beef tenderloin rossini and assorted Italian cheeses. Seating is limited and tickets are available by contacting parties@nonninachicago.com or calling 312-822-0077.
Jake's Cider Bash will take place Thursday, Sept. 15, 6-8:30 p.m., at Jake Melnick's Corner Tap, 41 E. Superior St. Among the featured items will be smoked apple BBQ wings; local hot links with cider-braised onions; applewood-smoked pork-loin sliders with bacon-honey mustard slaw; BBQ chips; and house-baked apple pie. Admission is $40; visit CiderBash.eventbrite.com .
Mid-Autumn Festival, also referred to as Moon Festival, is a traditional Chinese holiday, will take place Thursday, Sept. 15. In celebration, The Peninsula Chicago's Shanghai Terrace, 108 E. Superior St., will be selling mooncakes, round pastries filled with egg custard, which are made individually by Chef de Cuisine Elmo Han. Orders can be placed starting this week and can be picked up from Shanghai Terrace Aug. 15-Sept. 15. ( They are $40 for a four-piece box and $78 for an eight-piece box, and they're on the menu at Shanghai Terrace for $8 apiece. )
Chicago Loop Alliance ( CLA ) launches its fifth ACTIVATE event of the year, TASTE, on Thursday, Sept. 15, 5-10 p.m., in Cow Path Alley, 100 W. Monroe St. Attendees will get a TASTE of ACTIVATE as they experience art installations by local artists, a fashion show, DJs and plenty of sweet surprises in the transformed Cow Path Alley. Next, guests will venture from alley to rooftops AIRE Rooftop Bar/Hyatt Centric The Loop and Boleo at The Grey Hotel as the journey continues with more art, food, live shows and specialty bites and sips. Guests who RSVP in advance at LoopChicago.com/activate receive a complimentary drink ticket for beer or wine.
The Chicago Athletic Association hotel announced Shake Shack in-room dining service, becoming the first hotel worldwide to offer Shake Shack room service for hotel guests. Now available for daily delivery to all 241 guestrooms, the burger stand features all menu items available from its location within the hotel's first-floor lobby, including a selection of ingredients from local purveyors such as Publican Quality Meats, Bang Bang Pie Shop, Glazed & Infused and more.
Hofbrauhaus Chicagothe German microbrewery, beer hall and restaurant directly affiliated with the original Hofbrauhaus in Munichwill celebrate its fourth annual Oktoberfest Sept. 16-Oct. 23. Festivities include a variety of authentic Bavarian entertainment, freshly brewed "Oktoberfestbier" inspired by the original Hofbräuhaus in Munich, daily food specials and celebrity keg-tapping ceremonies. See HBChicago.com .
Drink Locala one-day showcase of domestic, U.S. distilleries, breweries and wineries with a special focus on Chicago's popular bar and restaurant scenewill take place Saturday, Sept. 17, at 1:30 and 7:30 p.m. at the Chicago Marriott at Medical District/UIC, 625 S. Ashland Ave. ( Food will be available for purchase ) Tickets are $60 ( general ) and $80 ( VIP ); visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/drink-local-chicago-presented-by-social-power-hour-tickets-26494827743.
The Signature Room, 875 N. Michigan Ave., and Veuve Clicquot join forces to host an exclusive brunch reception on Sunday, Sept. 18. From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., guests can enjoy a brunch buffet along with champagne pairings, including Veuve Clicquot Rose, Veuve Clicquot Rose Yellow Label, and The Signature Room at the 95th Sparkling Brut. Tickets are all inclusive and are available for $75 per person. Guests will also take home a signature gift bag. Seats may be reserved by calling 312-280-0465.
Bon Appétit presents Chicago Gourmet will take place in Millennium Park on Sept. 23-25. This year's celebration welcomes its first-ever host chef, Rick Bayless, who will be joined by celebrity chefs such as Todd English, Stephanie Izard, Jose Garces, Art Smith, Amanda Cohen, Lorena Garcia, Jeff Mauro, Takashi Yagihashi, Tony Mantuano, Jimmy Bannos Jr., Sarah Grueneberg, Edward Lee and Richard Sandoval, among others. The complete line-up is at ChicagoGourmet.org .
Smack Shack, 326 N. Morgan St., is unveiling new cocktails for fall. They include the Mule Stable, Rose Today, Gin It to Win It ( all $12 each ) and Hurricane ( $15 ). Those who are looking for other ways to enjoy Smack Shack's new cocktails should check out their Moscow Mule Tasting on Thursday, Sept. 29, at 6:30 p.m. Tasting tickets are $30 and include trips to Five Unique Moscow Mule tasting stations ( each with different recipes, liquor vendors and types of ginger beer ), passed apps and a complimentary Smack Shack Mule mug. See https://nightout.com/events/smack-shack-chicagos-moscow-mule-tasting/tickets?a=pr-6#.V8WBryMrL1w.
The 28th Annual Oyster Fest Presented by Shaw's Crab House returns to Chicago on Friday, Sept. 30, 3-10 p.m., at the corner of Hubbard and Rush streets in River North. Oyster Fest will feature six varieties of oystersboth East Coast and West Coaston the half shell as well as other festival favorites like king crab bites, lobster rolls, clam chowder, fish tacos and more; there will also be local blues bands including headliner Bumpus. Admission is $20-$50; visit OysterFestChicago.com .
Identita Golose returns to the United States for the third annual Identita Chicago on Oct. 1-2. Eataly Chicago, 43 E. Ohio St., will host the event, which features some of Italy's most revered chefs along with esteemed U.S. chefs, all from prominent Michelin-starred restaurants. Admission is $75 for the Oct. 1 master classes, and $150 for the Oct. 2 lunch; see IdentitaGolose.com .
French restaurant Bistronomic, 848 N. Wabash Ave., will offer a celebratory three-course Rosh Hashanah menu from Sunday, Oct. 2, through Tuesday, Oct. 4, beginning at 5 p.m. nightly. Rosh Hashanah menu highlights include Bistronomic's signature chioggia and golden beet salad, prime beef short ribs and the apple challah bread pudding; vegetarian options are offered for each course. The price for the three-course meal is $39. A two-course meal is available at 5-6 p.m. on Oct. 2-9 for $32. Call 312-944-8400.
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