—Sophie's at Saks Fifth Avenue, 700 N. Michigan Ave., has launched a weekend brunch menu, complete with a partnership with Veuve Clicquot. Sophie's new weekend brunch features fried chicken and waffles ( served with orange supremes, fresno pepper jam and local maple syrup ) suggested with a glass of Veuve Clicquot Yellow Label; brioche French toast ( seasonal berries and creme Chantilly ); and the open-faced Croque Madame ( French ham, gruyere, cheese fondue, Dijon mustard, sunny-side egg, marble rye and roasted potatoes ). See Sophies.com .
—More than a dozen local restaurants will fire up their grills when Roscoe Village Burger Fest returns for its sixth year on Saturday-Sunday, July 11-12, 11 a.m.-10 p.m., on Belmont and Damen avenues. Judges will include Doug Sohn of Hot Doug's fame, ABC-7's Janet Davies and another to be announced. The music line-up includes New Jersey alt-rockers The Smithereens and Chicago electronic pop-rockers I Fight Dragons, among others. Visit RoscoeVillageBurgerFest.com .
—Sunda, 110 W. Illinois St., will honor the rich culinary history of the Philippines with a traditional Kamayan feast on Sunday, July 12, 6-8 p.m. Items will include whole crispy fish, longaniza, crispy soft-shell crab and halo halo dessert, among other items. Tickets are $50; visit https://nightout.com/events/kamaya-feast/tickets#.VYl3VVVhHx.
—On June 25, the Latin-focused Carnivale, 702 W. Fulton Market, held "Dessert, Drag and Cabaret." The evening, hosted by Aly Bockler of You & Me This Morning and Angi Taylor of 103.5 KISS-FM, featured the talents of Natasha Douglas, Tila Von Twirl, Ray Ray Sunshine, Switch Boi Wonder, Siren Jinx, and DJ AJ Dubbz & Carla Starla.
—Glazed and Infused, the artisan doughnut shop from Francesca's Restaurant Group, announces the "Tour de Doughnut," a month-long ultimate feat for doughnut fans. Through Friday, July 26, Glazed and Infused invites guests to take on the challenge of visiting and enjoying doughnuts from all six Chicago locations. The first 100 customers to fill out their Tour de Doughnut punch cards receive a commemorative Tour de Doughnut T-shirt, and will be entered to win the grand prize: a one-of-a-kind Glazed and Infused-themed bicycle.
—Table8 will host a benefit dinner and silent auction to assist The Trotter Project, a nonprofit dedicated to continuing Chef Charlie Trotter's legacy of mentoring future generations of culinary talent. The multi-course dinner will be prepared by Chef Michael Taus of Taus Authentic, along with Executive Chef Chris Anderson of Michelin-starred Moto Restaurant and Executive Chef Jimmy Papadopolous of Bohemian House. A $135 ticket to July 13 event ( a seated dinner ), 7-9 p.m., includes food, tax, and gratuity. ( Alcohol to be purchased separately. ) Visit www.table8.com/v/the-trotter-project/ .
—Bistronomic, 840 N. Wabash Ave., will offer a three-course gluten-free Bastille Day menu from Monday, July 13, to Sunday, July 19, during dinner for $39 per person. ( Bastille Day is July 14. ) The gluten-free menu is a remembrance to the period when flour was scarce and the French had to make do without bread because of high grain prices. Items include country pate and chicken-liver mousse, or oven-roasted summer carrot salad ( appetizers ); a duo of New York steak and steak tartare, or Faroe Island salmon ( entrees ); and Floating Island and Baked Alaska ( dessert ). Visit Bistronomic.net .
—Twenty-two new restaurants will join Green City Market's 15th annual Chef BBQ Benefit 5:30-8 p.m. on Thursday, July 16, in Lincoln Park. Some of the restaurants that will be featured include Taus Authentic, Acanto, The Kitchen, Lillie's Q, Bottlefork and River Roast. Advance tickets are available through Brown Paper Tickets and at the Green City Market on Wednesdays and Saturdays; visit www.brownpapertickets.com/event/1382133. General admission tickets are $125; individual VIP tickets are $250.
—On Saturday, July 18, Chicago's Shaw's Crab House will host the pop-up dinner "Ricochet!," 5-10 p.m., with chefs Naoki Nakashima and Justin Moses. Some of the slated items include ahi tuna tartar, crispy ramen shrimp, lemongrass pork wonton and yuzu creamsicle. Reservations are required and can be made by calling 312-527-2722.
—Rockit Burger Bar, 3700 N. Clark St., and Abita Brewing Company will host a crawfish boil on Sunday, July 19, 1-7 p.m. There will be all-you-can-eat crawfish, red beans and rice along with fresh beers from New Orleans-based Abita Brewing ( $4 ) and signature Rockit Punch ( $7 ). Tickets are $45 each; visit rockitburgerbar.com/boil.
—Available through Aug. 31, Hard Rock Cafe's ( 63 W. Ontario St. ) limited-time Goose Island Tropical Bacon Burger will be paired with Goose Island IPA. The burger is a half-pound Angus beef patty brushed with Goose Island IPA glaze and topped with chili spiced bacon, grilled pineapple, mango salsa, chipotle puree, arugula and cheddar cheese. Visit HardRock.com/Chicago.
—Chicago's Best Summer WingFest—advertised as "a bigger and better version" of Chicago's Best WingFest—will be held Saturday, Sept. 5, 1-7 p.m., at the Bailey Auditorium, 1340 W. Washington St. Chicago's Best Summer WingFest will feature double the wing-slinging restaurants, live music, carnival games, a vendor market, craft beer and a full bar. Tickets for Chicago's Best Summer WingFest ( $40 ) will go on sale Wed., June 24, at 12 p.m; visit www.WingFest.net .
—The Andersonville Development Corporation ( ADC ) is presenting the 3rd Annual Andersonville City Made Fest, the only all-local street festival that highlights Chicago-made beer, music and products in the historic Andersonville neighborhood. It will be Sept. 12 ( 12-9 p.m. ) and 13 ( 12-7 p.m. ) at 5000-5100 N. Clark St. There is a suggested gate donation of $5. See Andersonville.org .
—Barcocina, 2901 N. Sheffield Ave., now has weekend brunch at 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Executive Chef Matt William's menu includes steak and eggs, maple sausage pancake sliders, chorizo Benedicts, ancho cinnamon French toast and champagne margaritas. Visit BarcocinaChicago.com .
—A new fast-casual Freshii is opening at Navy Pier later this summer. The Freshii unit is 500 square feet and is located in the brand-new food court. Sporting floor-to-ceiling windows, the new Freshii will feature waterfront views.
—The steakhouse Gene & Georgetti announced design details that will be featured at its second restaurant location as well as its adjacent event and wedding venue, The Estate by Gene & Georgetti, both located at 9421 W. Higgins Rd, Rosemont. The Estate features a 5,000-square-foot Grand Ballroom, which can seat 300 ( with a dance floor ) or 600 for standing receptions. This marks the first expansion for the family owned and operated business since opening in Chicago at 500 N. Franklin St. in 1941.
—Mercato by Fabio, the fast-casual Italian dining destination from Chef Fabio Viviani, has unveiled its latest summer menu items and new customization options. The Mercato concept launched lighter fare seasonal for the summer months, including chicken Milanese Panino and goat-cheese ravioli. These items are only be available at the Rustle+Roux location in The Franklin, 227 W. Monroe St. Visit mercatobyfabio.com .
—Umami Burger plans to open its second Chicago location next year in the Fulton Market district of the West Loop, at 945 W. Randolph St., according to Crain's Chicago Business. Umami made its Chicago debut with a Wicker Park shop that opened in September. ( A Windy City Times review of the first Umami is at www.windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/DISH-SAVOR-Umami-Burger-Acanto/49362.html . ) Nearby burger competitors will include Brendan Sodikoff's Au Cheval diner at 800 W. Randolph St. and Grange Hall Burger Bar at 844 W. Randolph St.
—Evanston's Hewn Bakery, 810 Dempster St., collaborating with a famed crop scientist, seed collectors and a local sixth-generation farmer to launch the "Midwestern Bread Experiment." Going back into history with a three-year project, Hewn's Midwestern Bread Experiment aims to revive the unalloyed bread recipes common to America's Heartland in the early 1900s by returning to the grains that have since been replaced by the genetically modified varieties most bread eaters use today.
—Black Iron Hospitality announced the impending opening of its flagship restaurant, Black Iron Tavern, in Chicago's River West neighborhood in late summer. The space, which is in a historic 1846 building at 401 N. Milwaukee Ave., will feature a 70-seat outdoor patio built for the community, with an intimate, backyard BBQ vibe. Chef Michael Taus will lead a kitchen team to create a neighborhood feel to the menu with a spin on classic American fare.
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