Frontier, 1072 N. Milwaukee Ave., will host the eighth installment of the "So You Think You're a Foodie" chef's table Wed., Aug. 28, at 8 p.m. Pioneer Tavern Group Corporate Executive Chef Brian Jupiter will prepare the mystery five-course menu, which will feature llama. The cost is $65 per person; call 773-772-4322.
Ald. Tom Tunney (44th Ward), the owner of Ann Sather Restaurants, plans to close his Andersonville location at the end of the year, leaving him with three restaurants on the city's North Side. "After careful consideration, I decided to consolidate our Andersonville-area restaurants at our newest location at 1147 West Granville," Tunney said in a statement. Tunney has owned Ann Sather, famous for its cinnamon rolls, since he bought the Belmont Avenue restaurant in 1980.
Chipotle is launching its catering service in Chicago Monday, Aug. 26. Chipotle catering allows groups of 20 to 200 to customize their own individual meal the same way they do at Chipotle restaurants. The company will add catering to all of its markets in the coming months.
On Sunday, Aug. 25, Tavernita and Executive Chef/Partner Ryan Poli welcome guest hosts Melissa Forman and Jeanne Sparrow, hosts of WCIU's You and Me this Morning, for a special "Bacon and H.A.M" brunch supporting Bright Pink. Guests are invited to don their pink apparel and enjoy a four-course sharing menu along with one cocktail for $18.50 per person from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Call 312-274-1111.
D.O.C. Wine Bar, 2602 N. Clark St., will host a dinner featuring wines from Italy's Piedmont region Tuesday, Sept. 10, at 7 p.m. The event will feature Elisa Scavino of Paolo Scavino, a renowned Italian vineyard established in 1921. Tickets are $70; call 773-883-5101 to reserve.
Schaumburg's Tokio Pub will host an "Iron Chef" challenge Sept. 30 as Challenger Executive Chef Peter Balodimas will take on "Iron Chef" Naoki Nakashima. The victor of this epic competition will move on to battle a new challenger at Tokio Pub's October beer dinner. Check-in begins at 6:30 p.m. and the first round of food will be served at 7 p.m. The cost is $30 per person (excluding tax and tip). Reservations are recommended; call 847-278-5181.
The restaurant 437 Rush, 437 N. Rush St., will host an evening of live opera on Friday, Aug. 23, featuring a performance of Frank SinOpera (80 percent Frank Sinatra and 20 percent classic opera) paired with a wine dinner from Executive Chef Christian Fantoni. The cost is $125 per person (includes wine, music, tax and tip); call 312-222-0101.
Fulton's on the River, 315 N. LaSalle St., is dedicating a four-course prix fixe menu to cornavailable for $50/personFridays through Sundays in August. Items will include corn and avocado salad; Catalina spot prawn with corn anglaise, spiced popcorn and fresh popcorn shoots; Berkshire pork loin with crisp polenta, orange blossom honey demi-glace and freeze dried sweet corn; and buttermilk panna cotta with housemade caramel corn. Visit www.fultonsontheriver.com .
The 1st Annual Chicago HogFight will take place at Mahoney's Pub & Grille, 551 N. Ogden Ave., on Sunday, Sept. 1, 2-8 p.m. Chef AJ from Chef AJ's Carry Out and Catering, Chef Brian Jupiter from Frontier, Chef Vinny from Fireplace Inn and two others (TBA), will battle it out for the title of "Hog-Father"and $1,000 in prize money. Tickets are $25; see www.hogfight.com .
Celebrity chef David Burke has opened Burke's Bacon Bar (610 N. Rush St.), an innovative sandwich shop at The James Chicago. For exampletogether with David Burke's Primehouse Executive Chef Rick GreshBurke has conceived the "handwich," a delicious bite that fits in the palm of your hand. There will also be items such as bacon peanut brittle and bacon chocolate chip cookies. Visit www.burkesbaconbar.com .
At that same location, JIMMY has opened as well. According to a press release, "The art of the cocktail is the centerpiece of the JIMMY experience and the menu is inspired by iconic cinema, which presented cocktail culture in a sleek and accessible manner." Sample cocktail items include the Bondsman (apple brandy, vodka, lime, cranberry juice, agave and seltzer) and the Mexican Julep (tequila, watermelon, lime, agave and cilantro muddled in a silver cup with crushed ice). See www.jimmyatjames.com .
The team from Chicago-based Mercadito Hospitality has announced a new concept joining the group's notable portfolio: Tippling Hall. Located in Chicago's River North neighborhood, Tippling Hall will spotlight beverage innovations by consultants and Mercadito Hospitality partners Paul Tanguay and Tad Carducci, also known as the Tippling Bros. This new project, slated to open in the fall, will offer globally inspired comfort food with a focus on late-night dining.
Geja's Cafe, 340 W. Armitage Ave., will offer guests the wines of the Old World during the fondue restaurant's "Out with the New and in with the Old" Wine Festival. The cafe will feature an extended selection of Old World wines available both by the glass and the bottle at low promotional prices through Sept. 30. There will also be a South American Superstars Winemaker Dinner Monday, Sept. 9., at 6:30 p.m.; the cost for each dinner is $55 per person, including wines, dinner, tax and gratuity. Call 773-281-9101.
Deleece Restaurant, 3747 N. Southport Ave., is offering a three-course vegetarian option on Mondays and Tuesdays for $25. Items include Provencal vegetable tian, grilled eggplant roulade and summer vegetable risotto. See www.deleece.com or call 773-325-1710.
The Guinness Oyster Fest returns for its 15th year on Saturday, Sept. 7, at the 2000 block of West Roscoe Street (at Damen Avenue). Besides Guinness and oysters, there will be a music line-up (with acts such as Rusted Root), arts and crafts, and a kids' area. Fest hours are 11 a.m.-10 p.m. A gate donation of $7 benefits the Roscoe Village Chamber of Commerce; visit www.chicagoevents.com or call 773-868-3010.
Hofbrauhaus Chicagothe only German microbrewery, beer hall and restaurant in the Chicago areawill celebrate its first Oktoberfest Sept. 13Oct. 31 in MB Financial Park at Rosemont. Festivities include authentic Bavarian entertainment, celebrity keg tapping ceremonies and freshly brewed "Oktoberfestbier" inspired by the original Hofbrauhaus in Munich, Germany. Visit www.hofbrauhauschicago.com .
The Andersonville Development Corporation will present the inaugural Andersonville City Made Festthe first-ever all-local street festival that highlights Chicago-made beer, music and products in that neighborhoodSept. 21-22, 12-9 p.m., at 5000-5100 N. Clark St. There is a $5 suggested gate donation. See www.andersonville.org .
LM Gastro Bistro, 111 W. Huron St., now has brunch on Saturdays and Sundays from 7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. The menu features two special sections: 1) a cheval, a selection of fork-and-knife, breadless sandwiches, and 2) les tartines, open-faced sandwiches. In addition, there will be pancakes, crepes, omelets and more. See www.lmrestaurant.com .
Taste of Greektown (formerly Taste of Greece) returns for its 24th year on Saturday-Sunday, Aug. 24-25, to the 400 block of South Halsted Street. Hours are 12-11 p.m. both days. Admission is free but accepted donations will benefit the Chicago Greektown Chamber of Commerce. Among the participating restaurants are The Parthenon, Greek Islands and Zeus Gyros.
The 6th Annual Rib-a-Que Smoke-Out will take place Saturday, Sept. 21, in the Moonshine parking lot, 1824 W. Division St. Among other things, pro BBQ chefs will compete with amateurs for the rights to the coveted Gilded Grill trophy and cash prizes. (Applications for this year's Rib-a-Que are still being accepted at moonshinechicago@gmail.com .) Tickets are $25 in advance through Ticketweb.com or at Moonshine, or $35 at the door.
Pippin's Tavern, 806 N. Rush St., will celebrate 40 years of serving alcohol in the business at that location on Aug. 8, during which Pippin's will offer customers 40 percent off all draft beer all day. However, a week before (Aug. 1), there will be Maker's Mark wax-dipping event 8-10 p.m.; Pippin's will offer $6 Maker's Mark shots in keepsake Pippin's branded shot glasses that may be dipped in the signature Maker's Mark red wax on site.
Porkchop, 941 W. Randolph St., is celebrating National Waffle Day Saturday, Aug. 24. Featured items include Chicken & Waffles (Southern fried chicken served atop a Belgian waffle with ancho chile-infused maple syrup; $12), The Fat Elvis (bacon waffle with peanut butter, maple syrup and whipped butter; $12) and the Chicken and Waffle Sandwich (buttermilk-battered, fried chicken breast served between a Belgian Waffle; $9). Visit chicagoporkchop.com .
La Grange restaurant Wild Monk, 88 S. La Grange Rd., has unveiled a new menu. Chef Francisco Vazquez said of his craft food-inspired menu, "We are trying to offer a different idea of gastropub to the town of La Grange by offering new eclectic dishes that are not found in many other locations." Those items include chickpea fries, monk balls (gnocchi stuffed with cheese curds paired with sundried tomato) and eggplant bacon. Other dishes range from flatbreads to salads to tacos to burgers. See www.WildMonkBar.com .
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