Chicago Events Food Culinary Restaurants Special Dinners Tastings Classes Celebrations Chicago Area Gayot
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Chicago Culinary Events

Hungry? Need to fill your culinary calendar? Here is where you will find all the restaurant and culinary happenings in Chicago. We feature a calendar of special dinners, tasting menus, prix-fixe meals, food festivals and other culinary events, including regularly occurring food events as well as special one-time-only events featuring top chefs. Keep checking back so you can know all that's going on in the world of restaurant and food events in Chicago.

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CULINARY EVENTS

Best Romantic Restaurants

IN THE MOOD FOR LOVE
Best Romantic Restaurants
Top 10 Honeymoon Hotels Worldwide
Top 10 Wines for Romance
Top 10 Romantic Gifts

January 15-March 14
Vermilion will offer a four-course "Coriander & Cilantro" prix-fixe menu for lunch ($24) and dinner ($35). Dishes might include coriander shrimp paella, cilantro chili mussels, coriander crusted halibut, and pumpkin cilantro horchata. The offer is not valid over Valentine's Day weekend. Vermilion, The JAMES, 616 N. Rush St., Chicago, IL 60611, 312-660-6000.
 
February 13
How's this for romance? After enjoying dinner in Chicago Marriott Downtown's Harvest Grill on February 13 at 6:30 p.m., you can make wine with your sweetie (in conjunction with Bev Art at the hotel). Couples make a six-gallon vat of Chardonnay, Riesling, Pinot Noir or Cabernet Sauvignon. Ten weeks later, they return for a bottling session. The cost is $199 per couple for the event, plus the cost of wine juice and supplies. Chicago Marriott Downtown, 540 N. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL 60611, 773-233-7579.
 
February 19-28
Chicago Restaurant Week takes place February 19-28, and upwards of 160 restaurants are participating by offering lunch ($22), dinner ($32) or both for crazy-cheap. For a full list of participating restaurants---from Blackbird to Zealous---visit www.choosechicago.com.
 
February 24
Branch 27 will host a Chimay Brewery beer dinner prepared by John Manion at 7:30 p.m. The cost is $65. Branch 27, 1371 W. Chicago Ave., Chicago, IL 60642, 312-850-2700.
 
March 15
The Publican is hosting a benefit to support traveling sextet eighth blackbird on March 15. The event---which combines the talents of chefs Paul Kahan and Mario Batali---will include dinner, libations and dancing, but it will begin at the Packer Schopf Gallery (942 W. Lake St.) with a performance highlighting tunes from the group's 2009 tour. Glenn Kotche from the band Wilco will do a special guest performance, accompanied by Batali on guitar. Dinner at The Publican starts at 7 p.m.; the menu will be designed on the fly and inspired by the concert. The Publican, 837 W. Fulton Market, Chicago, IL 60607, 312-733-9555.
 

ONGOING EVENTS

Sundays
Carlucci (1801 Butterfield Rd., Downers Grove, 630-512-0990) will offer a family night menu on Sundays with three courses, served family-style, which cost $15.95 per person. A magician will perform between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m., and kids can build their own pizzas for $5. www.carluccirestaurant.com.

Mondays-Fridays
Four Farthings (2060 N. Cleveland Ave., 773-935-2060) serves half-price appetizers Monday-Friday 5 p.m.-7:30 p.m. Score items like wings, Gorgonzola ravioli and fried calamari for a song.

Ongoing
Save money---lots of it---at Joe's Seafood Prime Steak & Stone Crab. For now, some of its classic dinners---including stone crab and Prime steak---also come with sides like creamed spinach and grilled tomatoes as well as dessert (Key lime or banana cream pie)---all for $37.95. Joe's Seafood Prime Steak & Stone Crab, 60 E. Grand Ave., Chicago, IL 60611, 312-379-5637.
 
Ongoing
Eating at Sixteen technically doesn't have to cost your life savings---if you're smart (and flexible on when you dine). The showstopping restaurant is offering a $32, three-course lunch menu that comes with a non-alcoholic drink and dishes like spring pea risotto with Parmigiano-Reggiano and micro basil. Sixteen, Trump International Hotel & Tower Chicago, 401 N. Wabash Ave., Chicago, IL 60611, 312-588-8030.
 
Mondays-Fridays
On weekdays, Blackbird offers a $22 three-course prix fixe lunch menu. Options might include butternut squash bisque with tuna, apples and candied cashews; slow-roasted lamb loin with smoked quinoa, Melrose peppers, heirloom tomatoes and dandelion greens; and warm spice bread with candied carrots, pickled golden raisins and saffron ice cream. Blackbird, 619 W. Randolph St., Chicago, IL 60661, 312-715-0708.
 

Mondays-Saturdays
On Monday-Saturday after 7 p.m., ristorante We (172 W. Adams St., 312-917-5608) offers a $45 five-course dinner that costs an additional $24 with wine pairings Go on Saturdays, and the wine is complimentary.

Mondays-Saturdays
Check out Tizi Melloul (531 N. Wells St., 312-670-4338) Monday-Saturday for its $35 five-course menu.

Mondays & Wednesdays
Marché (833 W. Randolph St., 312-226-8388) is wheeling and dealing on Mondays and Wednesdays by offering a three-course, prix-fixe dinner for $29. Diners can choose any appetizer or salad, any entrée and any dessert.

Third Mondays
Bank Lane Bistro is offering small, hands-on cooking classes with executive chef John des Rosiers and sous chef Marco Hernandez on the third Monday of every month. Class size is kept small (there is an eight person limit) to guarantee individual attention. Guests will work alongside the chefs in preparing a multi-course dinner served family style. Participants will actually be able eat what they have created and the intimate setting and hands-on experience is a fun and educational way to spend time with friends and loved ones. The cost is $100 per person and includes a glass of wine, a 5-6 course dinner and an autographed apron and menu. Classes begin at 6:30 p.m. and a credit card reservation is required. Bank Lane Bistro, 670 N. Bank Ln., Lake Forest, 847-234-8802.

Tuesdays
Drake Bros.’ steakhouse is offering diners a second of its Prime steaks on Tuesdays for a penny. Drake Bros’, Drake Hotel, 140 E. Walton St., 312-932-4626.

Tuesdays
On Tuesdays, Adobo Grill’s Wicker Park location offers a two-course meal for $20. Diners can choose any two items from the dinner menu’s appetizers, entrées or desserts for the price. Adobo Grill, 2005 W. Division St., Chicago, 773-252-9990.

Tuesdays
Each Tuesday, contemporary Indian restaurant Marigold is serving a three-course culinary tour of India menu for $25 (think paneer tikka salad, smoked Denver lamb ribs tikka and grilled Punjabi fish tikka). Marigold, 4832 N. Broadway, 773-293-4653, www.marigoldrestaurant.com.

Sundays & Tuesdays
Opera RestaurantVisit Opera (1301 S. Wabash Ave., 312-461-0161) on Sundays and Tuesdays when a three-course, prix-fixe dinner is offered for $29. Diners can choose any appetizer or salad, any entrée and any dessert from the menu.



Wednesdays-Sundays
Wave has launched an out-of-the-ordinary afternoon tea event called “Uni-Tea,” available Wed.-Sun. 2:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m. The cost is $30 per person ($10 per person extra for things like tea-infused martinis and $8 extra for champagne-topped tea). The Teatotaler menu includes a selection of five savory small bites (guests choose either the “Gals” or “Guys” menu—think blue cheese and red grape cannoli and beef tartare toasts with white truffle drizzle, respectively); sweets accompanied by Devonshire cream, lemon curd and jam; an individual pot of hot tea (13 varieties are offered, including green oolong and herbal blends) or an iced tea of the day. Wave, W Chicago–Lakeshore, 644 N. Lake Shore Dr., 312-255-4460.

Thursdays
Devon Seafood Grill (39 E. Chicago Ave., 312-440-8660) will dish up lobsters for about $10 each when you purchase a cocktail. www.devonseafood.com.

Ongoing
Le Bouchon is offering a daily Lyonnaise menu that features a choice of French onion soup or Lyonnaise salad, steak frites or roasted garlic chicken and an apple tart or chocolate marquise for $20. Le Bouchon, 1958 N. Damen Ave., Chicago, 773-862-6600.

Ongoing
For a mere $13, Hershey’s Chicago (822 N. Michigan Ave., 312-337-7711) offers four-course chocolate tastings after 1 p.m.

Ongoing
Kinzie Chophouse (400 N. Wells St., 312-822-0191) dishes up a $3 bar menu daily between 3 p.m.-6 p.m. Look for bites to include French onion soup, tacos and burgers with fries.

Ongoing
On Friday and Saturday from 10 p.m.-midnight and nightly from 4 p.m.-6 p.m., Café Ba-Ba-Reeba! (2024 N. Halsted St., 773-935-5000) attracts a crowd with $3 tapas–think chicken empanadas and spicy potatoes with tomato aïoli–and $2 Bud and Bud Light bottles. Offered in the bar only.

Ongoing
Daily between 5:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m., NoMI (800 N. Michigan Ave., 312-239-4030) attracts theater-goers by allowing them to choose any appetizer, entrée and dessert from an array of à la carte dishes for $45.

Ongoing
The Signature Room at the 95th (875 N. Michigan Ave., 312-787-9596) has a pre-theater menu for $40 with seatings at 5 p.m., 5:30 p.m. and 6 p.m. Expect to choose between lobster bisque and a baby romaine salad as well as from one of four entrée selections, including grilled petit filet of beef, and cavatappi and sautéed shrimp. Dessert is included, too.

Wine dinners & tastings at NovusVinum.com

 
RESTAURANT AWARDS

Just published! Our annual restaurant issue features the Best Cheap Eats and our Top 40 U.S. selections, including including Corton in New York and more!

A SEASON OF LOVE

Set the mood for love by reserving a table at one of the Best Romantic Restaurants near you, or view our list of Valentines Restaurants in your area that will show you where to find restaurants offering unique menus just for February 14. Also, see who sets the standard for seductive dining across the country with our Top 10 Romantic Restaurants in the U.S. list.