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



March 20
Ben Pao will hold a Chinese cooking class at 10:30 a.m. Preparations will include good-luck steamed dumplings, Shanghai shrimp noodles and Mongolian beef. The cost is $35. Ben Pao, 52 W. Illinois St., Chicago, IL 60610, 312-222-1888.
 
March 22-28
Chicago Chef Week---a food extravaganza at some of the ciy's top tables---is on from March 22-28, offering countless $20 set-price lunches and $30 prix fixe dinners. For information and to make reservations, visit www.chicagochefweek.com.
 
March 23
Smoke Daddy is having a Vanberg & DeWulf Belgian beer tasting from 7 p.m.-9 p.m. Pulled meat nachos are $6, and there's live music starting at 9 p.m. Smoke Daddy, 1804 W. Division St., Chicago, IL 60622, 773-772-6656.
 
March 11-April 4
Rock Bottom Restaurant & Brewery in River North will take part in the company's nationwide Fire Chief Ale celebration from March 11-April 4. The 14th annual event benefits the Chicago Fire Department and related charities through sales of Rock Bottom's handcrafted Fire Chief Ale. Since its inception in 1997, sales of Fire Chief Ale have raised more than $1 million in donations to fire departments across the country. The tapping party is scheduled for March 11 from 6 p.m.-7 p.m. A firefighter chili cook-off ($5 for a bottomless bowl or $10 with a bottomless cup) will take place March 31 from 6 p.m.-8 p.m. Rock Bottom Restaurant & Brewery, 1 W. Grand Ave., Chicago, IL 60654, 312-755-9339.
 

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
On Mondays beginning in March, Il Poggiolo in Hinsdale will host guest bartending nights (customers are welcome to sign up in advance). There's no cover, and the specialty cocktail created and served will cost $6. Il Poggiolo, 8 E. First St., Hinsdale, IL 60521, 630-734-9400.
 
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.

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

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DINING ON A BUDGET

Splurging at top-rated restaurants is fun for special events, but where can you go for a good quality meal that won't break the bank? Gather the change out of your piggy bank and sofa cushions and take it to one of our selections for the best cheap eats in your area. Also, check out our picks for the Top 40 Cheap Eats in the U.S.