Takito, 2013 W. Division St., has announced new fall and late-night menus. Among the autumn items are roasted winter squash with black beans, smoked belly, corn kimchi, pepitas and cilantro; sofrito shrimp ( broiled shrimp with roasted yams, sofrito, toasted seeds, etc. ); and Alaskan king crab taco. Late-night offerings ( until 2 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays ) include drowned pork-belly torta, beef barbacoa tostada and smoked tomato rice. See www.takitokitchen.com .
The popular suburban restaurant Q BBQ is headed to Chicago, according to Patch Lakeview. Already in La Grange and Naperville, Q BBQ will replace the former Barrio Urban Taqueria at 714 W. Diversey Pkwy. The restaurant has earned a Bib Gourdman, one of only 12 restaurants in Chicago's suburbs to receive the honor. A review of Q BBQ in Naperville is at www.windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/Zealous-Q-BBQ/40058.html .
"Taste," an exclusive wine event to benefit Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, will take place Monday, Nov. 4, at Everest, 440 S. LaSalle St., 6-8:30 p.m. Tickets are $275 each; visit www.hubbardstreetdance.com/taste.
Jellyfish, 1009 N. Rush St., will mark National Sushi Day ( Nov. 1 ) by offering its Jellyfish signature rolls ( regularly $13-$18 ) for $5. The rolls include El Sol, Kiss of Fire, Fire & Snow, Torched Salmon Atlantic, Pink Flower Roll, Summer Rush, Spicy Tuna Tempura and Lobster Mango Roll. Visit www.jellyfishchicago.com .
Sola, 3868 N. Lincoln Ave., has announced its fall menu. Among the offerings are a squash salad, with mustard greens, shaved butternut squash, shallots, water chestnuts, and goat cheese with pumpkin-seed vinaigrette; and barramundi with black rice, napa cabbage, apple-fig compote, squash slaw and port wine syrup. See www.sola-restaurant.com .
Jake Melnick's Corner Tap, 41 E. Superior St., is offering October specials such as the Helloween 4 burger ( habanero and cheddar patty topped with ghost pepper mayo, guacamole, cayenne spiced crispy onions and pepper jack ) along with the Mac 'n Poutine, pumpkin pesto wings and the brew the Victory Festbier. Visit www.jakemelnicks.com .
Casting for season five of MasterChef will take place at the Le Cordon Bleu, 361 W. Chestnut St., 10 a.m.-6 p.m on Saturday, Oct. 19. More details are available at www.masterchefcasting.com . MasterChef judge Graham Elliot will be at the Chicago casting event.
French eatery Troquet, 1834 W. Montrose Ave., has announced its new fall menu. Featured dishes include coq au vin, pork loin, steak Lyonnaise, braised pork shoulder and a fish of the day. Highlights from the newly conceived menu include poutine with shredded duck confit; La Epinard salad with baby spinach, roasted butternut squash, candied walnuts, parmesan cheese and a balsamic vinaigrette; and Bauernwurst, a pork and beef sausage with onions and mushrooms. See www.Troquetchicago.com .
Dinkel's Bakery and Cafe, 3329 N. Lincoln Ave., is celebrating its 92nd year by offering a schnitzel sandwich cafe special as well as complimentary pumpkin pie slices with sandwich purchases during October. The sandwich is made with breaded pork schnitzel, sharp cheddar cheese, Granny Smith apples, fresh Roma tomatoes, crisp romaine lettuce and Bavarian mustard on a Dinkel's pretzel roll ( $7.95 ). See www.dinkels.com .
The Boarding House, 720 N. Wells St., will host an All Hallow's Eve affair to help benefit Imerman Angelswhich provides personalized connections that enable 1-on-1 support among cancer fighters, survivors and caregiverson Saturday, Nov. 2, 6:30-10 p.m. There will be appetizers, decked-out decor and a costume contest judged by Imerman Angels founder Jonny Imerman. Tickets are $85 each; visit www.TicketLeap.com .
The Andersonville Dessert Crawl will take place Sunday, Oct. 27, 2-5 p.m. More than 20 restaurants will be involved, and attendees can choose the Caramel Apple or Candy Corn Route. Headquarters will be pH Comedy Productions, 1515 W. Berwyn St. Tickets are $20/advance, $25/day of event; see www.Andersonville.org .
Frontier, 1072 N. Milwaukee Ave., is hosting its first-ever "Chef vs. Amateur Gumbo Cookoff" Sunday, Nov. 17, at 2 p.m. The public will determine the winners; the prizes are $500 ( first ), $200 ( second ) and $100 ( third ). Amateurs who wish to compete should email media@papergirlpr.com with their recipes and a photo of the dishes by Friday, Nov. 1.
In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Roka Akor, 456 N. Clark St., is offering the "Decoding Annie Parker" cocktailmade with Eiko Fuji Sake, Quinta do Tedo, lemon juice, raspberries and strawberriesthroughout October. The cocktail is available for $11 and a portion of the sales will be donated to Editha House Rooms in the Illinois Medican District Guest House, which provides affordable lodging for adult cancer patients and their adult caregivers traveling for medical treatment.
Gibsons Bar & Steakhouse invites guests to celebrate Breast Cancer Awareness month this October and enjoy a classic pink cosmopolitan ( $12 ). The restaurant will donate 100 percent of the proceeds from cosmopolitan sold to the Lynn Sage Foundation in support of finding a cure for Breast Cancer. See www.gibsonssteakhouse.com . ( Other restaurants in the Gibsons Restaurant Group who are donating to the foundation include Luxbar, Quartino, and Hugo's Frog Bar & Fish House. )
Rhine Hall Distillery is slated to open at 2010 W. Fulton on Saturday, Nov. 2. Co-founded by Charlie and Jenny Solberg, a father-daughter team, Rhine Hall will offer patrons distillery tours, a tasting room, and a full Brandy Bar with hand-crafted cocktails made from house brandy distilled from Michigan fruit. Visit www.RhineHall.com .
On Friday, Nov. 1, guests are invited to don their best costumes, dance the night away to a live DJ, and enjoy the festive cocktails and decor at "Terror at Tavernita." Tickets to the event ( at 151 W. Erie St. ) are available for $75, and include an open bar from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m.; spooky late-night snacks served at midnight; and the opportunity to enter to win a $500 Mercadito Hospitality gift card in a best costume contest.
The Grid has announced a new restaurant concept that has opened in the former Baume & Brix space, 351 W. Hubbard St. Chef Dirk Flanigan, formerly of Henri and The Gage, serves as the opening chef. Highlights include spicy green curry mussels; roasted swordfish with olive oil, rosemary, caper and fennel salad; and a build-your-own slider board with pulled pork shoulder, pickles and slaw. See thegridchicago.com .
Throughout October ( Breast Cancer Awareness Month ), Riva ( at Navy Pier ) will highlight several dishes on its menu. Each time a dish designated with a PINK RIBBON is ordered, $1 will be donated to benefit the Lynn Sage Scholars Program at Northwestern University ( www.lynnsagefoundation.org ). Featured dishes include Riva lobster Diavolo ( $42 ) and Atlantic salmon ( $29 ). See www.RivaNavyPier.com .
Geja's Cafe, 340 W. Armitage Ave., will host its 40th Annual Professional/Amateur Wine Tasting Contest Sunday, Nov. 3, at 1 p.m. ( Amateurs are defined as not having worked in the wine industry for the previous three years. ) To enter, contestants pay an entrance fee of $20 and must be 21 years of age or older; to RSVP, call Geja's Cafe at 773-281-9101.
Odyssey is hosting two pasta lunch cruises for Chicago Marathon participants as well as family and friends Saturday, Oct. 12 ( 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.; 3-5 p.m. ). Offerings will include a caprese pasta salad; and a pasta station featuring three-color cheese tortellini and imported rigatoni noodles. The cost starts at $40.44; call 888-957-2320 or visit www.odyssey.com .
Musician Buddy Guy will headline Shaw's Crab House's annual Oyster Fest Block Party on Friday, Oct. 18, in the parking lot on Rush Street between Hubbard and Illinois streets. The celebration will cap the restaurant's 25th annual Oyster Fest extravaganza, which will feature events/specials all week leading up to the block party. Visit www.ticketweb.com and www.shawscrabhouse.com .
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