National Root Beer Day

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Cactus Bar and Grill, 404 S. Wells, toasts National Root Beer Day (August 8) with an adult version of the root beer float (Small Town Brewery's Not Your Father's Root Beer, vanilla ice cream; $7). Available 11 a.m. to midnight Aug. 6 only.

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The Dawson's Summer Punches

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Beverage Director Clint Rogers of The Dawson, 730 W. Grand, launches communal-style punches that includes the retro Saturday Night Fever (Absolut Elyx, Carano Bianco, Chareau Aloe liqueur, Prosecco, watermelon, lemon, basil) 0 cocktail, severed in disco ball-styled container $120) 4-8  people.
See all punch-style offerings below. PHOTO: Nicole Ess

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• Canteen No. 3 (Bols Genever, Smith & Cross Navy Strength Rum, Carpano Antica, Coconut Green Tea, Honey, Lime) – Serves 2-4 people -  $45
• Botija Nueva No. 2 (Pisco Porton, Rhine Hall Apple Brandy, Byrrh Quinquina, Grand Marnier, Lemon, Pomegranate, Berries, Mint) – Serves 3-5 people -  $48
• Champagne Whiskey Punch (Knob Creek Bourbon Dawson Barrel, Raspberry, Lemon, Bitters, Piper Heidsieck Champagne) – Serves 4-8 people -  $120
• Octopus's Garden (Bacardi 8 Aged Rum, Hennessy Vs. Vanilla, Strawberry, Lime, Grapefruit, Oleo-Saccharum, Herbs, Sugarcane) – Serves 6-12 people - $200

Kit Kat's Dirty Dancing Brunch

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The Kit Kat Lounge and Supper Club, 3700 N. Halsted, in conjunction with the Broadway in Chicago stage production at Cadillac Palace Theatre (opening Aug. 18), hosts a Dirty Dancing themed brunch, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Aug. 2. The cocktail of the day..., Nobody Sits Baby in the Corner (Stoli Oranji, fresh squeezed orange juice, Champagne float). All cocktails are half priced. In addition a build-your-own beverage package is available for $14.95. During the event five guests will have the opportunity to win a pair of tickets to the production.

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mk Heirloom Tomato Salad

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mk, 868 N. Franklin, re-opens Aug 6, but until then here's the restaurant's five-step Heirloom tomato salad to try at home. Enjoy!








Ingredients:
1 Heirloom tomato
handful kale
1 radish, thinly sliced
4 tbs fresh burrata
1 jalapeno pepper
1/2 cup olive oil
1/8 cup lemon juice
coarse sea salt
freshly ground black pepper

Preparation:
1. Slice tomatoes into wedges and sprinkle with sea salt and pepper 10 minutes before serving.
2. Place jalapeno and olive oil into a blender. Strain mixture through mesh strainer to make oil.
3. In bowl, whisk oil with lemon juice, salt pepper.
4. Arrange sliced tomatoes on a plate. Dress kale and radish with vinaigrette, add to plate.
5. Distribute cheese on plate and serve.

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Luella's Milk Chocolate Bread Pudding

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Chef/owner Darnell Reed of Luella's Southern Kitchen, 4609 N. Lincoln, serves up his hand-crafted milk chocolate bread pudding (normally only offered during brunch) as a special treat for National Milk Chocolate Day (July 28). The pudding comes dressed with strawberry jam anglaise and homemade praline ice cream ($6). Available all day Tuesday only. PHOTO: Cindy Kurman

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Grilling and Hot Dog Month Specials Go Away Soon

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Grilling and Hot Dog Month comes to a close July 31 and with it all the month-long specials including the Goose Island 312 beer-soaked Johnsonville Big brat topped with sauteed onions ($9) at LandShark Beer Garden at Navy Pier, 600 E. Grand. Live music featured Wednesday through Sunday.

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Cafe Spiaggia Reopens with a Fresh New Look

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Tony Mantuano's Italian eatery is sporting a new contemporary look, thanks to Karen Herold of Studio K who just completed a renovation of the mag mile restaurant. Along with its new look Cafe Spiaggia, 980 N. Michigan, second level, also features a new menu that includes desserts from new pastry chef Melanie Diamond-Manlusoc.

The updated look includes marble cafe tables, black chairs; white leather banquettes and brass fixtures. Diamond-Manlusoc's creations include a Pizelle panino (ice cream sandwich made with thin Italian wafer cookies) and gelato scoops that includes
flavors such as honey cashew and an Earl Grey tea. Photos: Jeff Kauck

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Glazed and Infused Doughnut Sundaes

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Glazed and Infused (30 E. Hubbard; 222 N. LaSalle) gets creative with its doughnuts designing summer treats such as the doughnut and coffee sundae (chocolate4 doughnut, coffee gelato, chocolate sauce, pretzel streusel); raspberry old fashioned sundae (lemon cream gelato, raspberry compote, almond streusel) and a build-your-own doughnut sundae (choose your doughnut, gelato and toppings).

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Autre Monde Tiki Sundays

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Chefs Dan Pancake and Beth Partridge of Autre Monde Cafe & Spirits, 6727 W. Roosevelt, hosts a Tiki sangria brunch 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sundays through Sept. 6.

Highlights include chicken and pancakes (crispy fried chicken and buttermilk pancakes, $11), olive oil poached tuna and white bean salad and the Am burger (on homemade brioche, Red Rock cheddar, dijonnaise, frites, $10).

In addition to the Tiki sangria ($5) mixologist Becci Visconti West serves of Rosemary sours and Harissa Bloody Marys.

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Found's Wednesday Social Meetings

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Found, 1631 Chicago, Evanston, launches a summer "Meet Me at Found" series Wednesdays in August kicking off with "Where Is This Found?" salon talk with Evanston History Museum's executive director and local expert Eden Juron Pearlman, 5:30 p.m. Aug. 5. An installation/visual tour of Evanston will be set up throughout the restarant.

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Umami Celebrates the Return of Happy Hour

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Chicago's Happy Hour ban has been lifted and Umami Burger Chicago, 1480 N. Milwaukee, has designed a "social" hour menu, available 3-6 p.m. Monday-Friday, for the occasion. Items include: sliders for $4 (trio; $9); truffle fries ($3); drafts ($5) wine ($6) and cocktails ($7).

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Arami-Yusho Noodle Night Collaborative

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Guest chef  (Harold Jurado, Yusho; pictured) joins host chefs de cuisine Ajay Popli and Nelson Vinansaca for Arami-Yusho Noodle Night at Arami, 1829 W. Chicago, 5 p.m. July 27. Chef Jurado prepares two dishes for the event: hamachi poke with chilled somen (squash noodles, summer vegetables, $12) and spicy chicken 'n beer ramen (chicken dumpling, bok choy, pickled ginger, pickled onion, shiso, scallion, $16).

Popli and Vinansaca serve up braised short rib tonkotsu (poached egg, naruto, grilled bamboo shoots, Tokyo negi, pickled Fresno pepper, $16).

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Maple & Ash

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Maple & Ash, 8 W. Maple, partners with Sportsman's Club, 948 N. Western, for a special edition of of its pre-opening weekly Sunday BBQ Series, 6-9 p.m. (Monday) July 27.

For the "Bonus Weeknight BBQ," Executive Chef David Ochs and beverage director Cristiana De Lucca design a meal reminiscent of classic cruise ship fare (surf 'n turf and potato: beef tenderloin, crab legs, twice baked potato, sauce Americaine) for the nautical themed barbecue being held on the Sportsman's Club patio. Tickets are $20, includes an Allagash beer and classic Maple & Ash martini. Maple & Ash opens this summer.

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Timothy O'Toole's Chicken Wing Day Special

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Timothy O'Toole's Pub, 622 N. Fairbank, is offering a variety of chicken wings, including: mild, volcanic, chipotle barbecue, traditional Buffalo, barbecue and  garlic ginger (10 pieces, $8) with celery, carrot sticks and choice of ranch or bleu cheese dressing, for National Chicken Wing Day (July 29). Larger orders available.

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Side Door 3 Floyds Beer Dinner

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Chef Brian Kwak hosts a six-course, gastropub-inspired prix-fixe dinner partnered with new releases from the Indian-based craft brewer that complements selected menu item during Side Door's, 100 E. Ontario, 3 Floyds Beer dinner, 7 p.m. Aug. 12; $100. Be warned there are only a few spots left. Reservations required.

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Fountainhead's Destihl Tapping

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Fountainhead, 1970 W. Montrose, hosts "Tower of Sour," an annual Destihl tapping, 7-11 p.m. July 23 on the rooftop garden. Beers range from $6-$11.

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Bistro Campagne Salutes French Restaurant Week

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There's still time to sample Chef Adam Dittmer's three-course, prix-fixe ($35.78) Bastille Day (July 14) menu at  Bistro Campagne, 4518 N. Lincoln.

The deal is available for French Restaurant Week (July 13-19). Hours are 5:30-9 p.m. through July 17; 5-10:30 p.m. July 18; 5-9 p.m. July 19. Pictured: (Prince Edward Island mussels in Belgian, ale)

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Ghirardelli Chocolate & Ice Cream Shop

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Ghirardelli's Chocolate and Ice Cream Shop at the Wrigley Building, 400 N. Michigan,
is now open.

The shop is featuring a Chicago-themed sundae (pictured: courtesy of Ghirardelli's) for July only.

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The Windsor Opens July 23

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The Windsor, 60 E. Huron, opens July 23.

A full-service lunch, dinner and brunch menu will be offered, with 4-Star Restaurant Group corporate chef Todd Stein spearheading the venture.

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Lioco Wine Dinner at III Forks

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Executive Chef Billy Caruso of III Forks Prime Steakhouse, 180 N. Field, is hosting a six-course Lioco dinner and wine pairing 6:30 p.m. July 15; $125. Reservations:  312-938-4303.


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May St. Steakhouse's Crosstown Action

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May St. Steakhouse, 1146 W. Cermak, is featuring a patio viewing, on large flat screen televisions, for the Sox/Cub Crosstown game 3 p.m. Sunday (July 12) at Wrigley Field.

The suggested drink of the day is the South Side Sangria ($5).

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Community Tavern Salutes National Tequila Day

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National Tequila Day, any excuse to have a tequila cocktail works for me, is July 24 and what better way to celebrate than sampling some of the creative offerings about town?

Community Tavern, 4038 N. Milwaukee, serves up the Passion Me By (Tequila Ocho, Mandarine Naopleon liqueur; passion fruit, tangy lime, freshly brewed tea; Angostura bitters) cocktail; $10. Available July 24.


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How Do You Roll?'s Second Location

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How Do You Roll? opened its second location at the Palmer House Hilton, 118 S. Wabash. Features handmade sushi rolls, sushi burritos and stuffed avocados (pictured).

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Harry's Velvet Room's "Secret" Service

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Secret menu items (artichoke fritters, Iggy's wings and lemon butter chicken pasta) at Harry's Velvet Room, 1480 W. Webster, are available after 9 p.m. and by request only Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

Also check out the Sunday Jazz brunch available 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. featuring live music.

Billy Dec on NBC Today

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Restaurateur and entertainment developer Billy Dec of Rockit Ranch Productions shared Sunda's chop chop chicken salad recipe on NBC's "Today Show" this morning. The salad will be available today and tomorrow (July 10) at Sunda, 110 W. Illinois. If you can't make it to the restaurant click here for the recipe along with Sunda's white wine summer cocktail recipe.


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Graham Elliot's Lobster Dogs

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Celebrity chef and three-time James Beard Award-nominee Graham Elliot serves up his fancy lobster corn dog for the opening of Taste of Chicago today (July 8) only.


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Izakaya Sake Dinner

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Izakaya Mita, 1906 N. Damen, hosts a summer sake dinner July 22. Owner Helen Mita's seven-course dinner will be paired with a hand-selected sake list, most created from women breweries.

Monica Samuels, national sales manager of Vine Connection, assisted with the selections. Two seatings are available, 6 and 8 p.m. Tickets ($65) are available at 773.799.8677. 


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French Pastry School Recipe

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Download The French Pastry School of Kennedy-King College at City Colleges of Chicago's, 226 W. Jackson, complimentary tomato chutney recipe.


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Windy City Smokeout

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Barbecue, beer and bands. It doesn't get any better in Chicago during the summer with food festivals held just about every weekend.

If you haven't been to Windy City Smokeout it's time to check it out. WCS is July 10-12 at 560 W. Grand.

Barbecue roundup includes: Celebrity chef and champion competitor Pitmaster Myron Nixon along with Dinosaur Bar-B-Que; Pappy's Smokehouse; the Salt Lick; Hogapalooza; Ubons; Smoque; Chicago q; Lillie's Q and Bub City.

Music talent include: Cheyenne Rose; Drew Baldridge; Shawn Lacy; the Railers; Peachy Pyron; Sundy Best; Jukebox Mafia and Courtney Cole.

Check out the video from last year's event.


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New Chef/New Concepts @The Butcher's Tap

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The Butcher's Tap, 3553 N. Southport, is offering a new brunch configuration: "brunch boards & buckets," available Saturday and Sunday only.

New chef Sean Currie, in the process of revamping the menu, started with brunch creating meat, cheese and fruit offerings served on wooden pig-shaped boards.

The buckets in the brunch concept are buckets of Champagne, beer or bloody Marys. Because in chef' Currie's words "What's brunch without booze?"

Chef Currie plans to initiate a monthly burger program as well as sandwich and salad updates.

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Roscoe Village Burger Fest 2015

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The best place in town to get a burger July 11-12 is at the Roscoe Village Burger Fest. Vendors Butcher & Burger; Cortland's Garage; McGee's Tavern & Grille; Rockit Burger Bar. View all participants and music lineup here.

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First Fridays @Organic Roof Top Farm

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Farmer Allison of Organic Roof Top Farm, with her urban agriculture interns, host an open house for First Fridays at the Farm from 5 p.m. to sundown today (July 3) at uncommon ground's, 1401 W. Devon, certified organic rooftop farm. Admission is free. The farm returns the first Friday in August.

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Benny's Chop House's "Dead" Menu

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Dead fans there are no limits to specials in Chicago July 3-5 saluting the band's farewell gig at Soldier Field.

Benny's Chop House, 444 N. Wabash, pays tribute with the "Fare Thee Well" drink and food menu featuring the Ramble on Rose (Benny's Chop House original vodka, Pallini Peachcello, fresh lime, mint sprig, rose water, $12); Good Old Rebel (house-infused jalapeno Chinaco Blanco tequila, pomegranate, Luxardo Maraschino, verjus, fresh lime, red grapes, $13): Paradise Waits (pisco porton, Belle de Brillet pear cognac, citrus espuma, angostura bitters, $14) cocktails.

Food specials are : Franklin's Shellfish Tower (Cape Breton lobster, Alaskan king crab, jumbo prawns, $38); Dover Soul-Shine (Dover sole, lemon-caper Beurre Blanc, $50); Rib Eyes of the World (16-oz USDA prime natural, $48; 16-oz USDA prime dry aged bone-in, $59 and 20-oz USDA prime dry aged bone-in, $73 ) and Crazy Fingers Tart (cherry tart, hempseed tuile, homegrown herbs, $11).


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Palmer House's Day of the "Dead"

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Lockwood Restaurant & Bar and Potter's, both located in the Palmer House Hilton, 17 E. Monroe, hosts a weekend filled with Grateful Dead food and drink specials in honor of the iconic rock group 's farewell concerts July 3-5 at Soldier Field, 1410 S. Museum Campus.

Food specials include the psychedelic pizza (shrooms, lentil, smoked dates, fine herbs, and whipped ricotta, $16); Jerry roll (egg roll wrapped falafel, shaved cabbage and carrots, bean sprouts, cilantro, sweet n' orange sauce, $10) and the brownie (candied kale, smoked caramel, bourbon laced with walnuts, $10).

Drinks are the Dead Head (Sauza tequila, Smirnoff vodka, Beefeater gin, chambord, sour mix); Bertha's Bourbon Treat (Woodford Reserve bourbon, Tuaca liqueur, dulce de leches sauce, Half and Half) and the Sour Hippie (Blue Curaçao, chambord, Cruzan rum, sloe gin, sour mix). Cocktails are $10 each. (Stanley Mouse commemorative poster pictured)

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Rare Tomatin Whisky Tasting

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Special guest Scott Fraser guides visitors through an exclusive tasting of aged Tomatin Highland Single Malt Scotch whisky, created from bubbling pure spring water, during an event 7 p.m. July 9 at Fountainhead, 1970 W. Montrose.

The exclusive selections include: Tomatin 12 year; Tomatin 18 year; Tomatin 30 year and Tomatin Cu Bocan. Tickets are $20, includes a 20 percent discount toward a purchase in the Fountainhead Market.

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