Jack's Place Leap Day Deal

Follow all Panache blogs: #books; #entertainment; #grilling; #nationalentertainment; #romance; #videogames

Jack's Place, in the lobby of Hampton Inn in the historic Chicago Motor Club Building, 68 E. Wacker, is the destination for great Leap Day deals. The lounge is offering 29% off all food and beverage purchases. Hours are 5-10 p.m. 

Visit our Facebook page

Follow @panachepubverve

Chef Bannos Cajun Cooking Class/Dinner

Follow all Panache blogs: #books; #entertainment; #grilling; #nationalentertainment; #romance; #videogames

Chef/owner Jimmy Bannos of Heaven on Seven, 111 N. Wabash, hosts a Cajun cooking class featuring demonstrations and a five-course dinner, 7-9:30 p.m. March 2: $75, includes all-you-can drink beer, wine and Jimmy's famous hurricanes. Reservations required. Click here for tickets.

Visit our Facebook Page

Follow @panachepubverve

Benny's Chop House Leap Day Deal

Follow all Panache blogs: #books; #entertainment; #grilling; #nationalentertainment; #romance; #videogames

Benny's Chop House, 444 N. Michigan, is treating guests born on Leap Day (Feb. 29) to its 8-oz filet mignon. The offer (dine-in on Feb. 29 only) is for parties of two or more. The birthday visitor must have valid proof of their birth date.

Visit our Facebook Page

Follow @panachepubverve

Oscar Night at Commonwealth Tavern

Follow all Panache blogs: #books; #entertainment; #grilling; #nationalentertainment; #romance; #videogames

Commonwealth Tavern, 2000 W. Roscoe, hosts an Oscar Night viewing party beginning 7 p.m. Feb. 28. The star of the evening will be Oscar-inspired drinks that include the Red Carpet martini (Patron, Patron Citronage, raspberry, cranberry) and Golden Statue cocktail (Ciroc Peach, peach puree, Champagne) along with Right Bee cider. Specialty theme-drinks are $5.

Visit our Facebook page

Follow @panachepubverve

Cider Summit Festival @Navy Pier

Follow all Panache blogs: #books; #entertainment; #grilling; #nationalentertainment; #romance; #videogames

Cider Summit Festival, the largest event of its kind in the region, returns Feb. 27 to Navy Pier’s Grand Ballroom, 600 E. Grand. Two session for the summit, featuring more than 140 ciders both regional and international samples from as far away as Spain, are available: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 4 -8 p.m. 

Owners and cider masters will be on hand to guide guests through the samplings (four-ounce portions) along with supplying information on the crafting process. New to the event is the Cider Cocktail Lounge featuring food and cider pairings. Also new this year is the Fruit Cider Challenge, where guests can vote on their favorite pilot batch created specifically for the event. Admission is $35 (each session requires a separate ticket), and includes a souvenir tasting glass, eight tasting tickets, and a one dollar donation to Heartland Alliance. VIP tickets, that include all the above plus two additional tasting tickets, are $40. Ages 21 and over. Designated driver tickets aew $5. Click here for tickets (until 11:59 p.m. Feb. 26) and more information. 

Visit our Facebook page

Follow @panachepubverve

Chef Roby's PRIMO Officially Opens

Follow all Panache blogs: #books; #entertainment; #grilling; #nationalentertainment; #romance; #videogames

Award -winning certified master chef of pastry and sugar artistry Chef Alain Roby, owner of All Chocolate Kitchen officially opens his new concept PRIMO, 33 S. Third Street, Geneva today (Feb. 24).

The restaurant features shared plates, artisanal cheese and desserts. The restaurant also boasts a fine wine list. Menu items include short ribs in a red wine sauce; seared lamb shank and Portobello mushrooms and green spice lentil; crostini au fromage (pictured) and Grandmother Louise's eggplant confit. 

Visit our Facebook page

Follow @panachepubverve

Cantina Laredo Milagro Tequila Dinner

Follow all Panache blogs: #books; #entertainment; #grilling; #nationalentertainment; #romance; #videogames

Cantina Laredo, 508 N. State, hosts a Milagro Tequila dinner 7:30 p.m. Feb. 27. For the occasion Chef Hector Rivera prepares a four-course menu featuring sope de brisket; sundried tomato chipotle soup; a choice of pork tenderloin with chile de arbol sauce or redfish with langostino corn sauce and a dessert of Key lime pie. Each course will be paired with tequila-based cocktail. Guests will also be feted to sampling various Milagro pours. The dinner kicks off  with a cocktail reception at 7 p.m.

Visit our Facebook page

Follow @panachepubverve

Flagship's Leap Day Deal: 29-cent Drafts

Follow all Panache blogs: #books; #entertainment; #grilling; #nationalentertainment; #romance; #videogames

Flagship Bar & Grill, 1622 W. Belmont, salutes Leap Day (Feb. 29) with 29-cent Miller Lite and Coors Light drafts (only) until supplies run out.

Separately the bar now offers daily specials that include:  $6 salads and wrap, $5 glasses of select wines; $20 Coors Light or Miller Lite buckets (Monday); $7 burgers, $4 drafts, $4 Jameson (Tuesday); $3 select Mexican beers, $4 Avion Silver tequila, $2 tacos (Wednesday); $3 Blue Moon drafts, $4 Fireball shots (Thursday, trivia night begins at 7 p.m.); Happy Hour deals 6-9 p.m. (Friday) and $3 Busch Light and PBR Tallboys, half-off Sky bombs (Sunday).

Visit our Facebook Page

Follow @panachepubverve

Lottie's 8th Annual Dive Bar Crawl

Follow all Panache blogs: #books; #entertainment; #grilling; #nationalentertainment; #romance; #videogames

Lottie's, 1925 W. Cortland, hosts its Eighth Annual Old School Bar Pub Crawl beginning 2 p.m. Feb. 28. The includes school bus transportation, with refreshments, to four neighborhood bars and a buffet at Lottie's after the crawl (7 p.m.). Bus boarding registration begins at 1 p.m. The bus leaves at 2 p.m. Click here for tickets ($15).

Visit our Facebook Page

Follow @panachepubverve

Geja's Winemaker's Dinner

Follow all Panache blogs: #books; #entertainment; #grilling; #nationalentertainment; #romance; #videogames

Geja’s Café's, 340 W. Armitage, Winemaker's Dinner series continues with a four-course M. Chapoutier Winemaker Dinner, 6:30 p.m. March 7. 

The menu for this highly-anticipated culinary event includes Geja's house salad, cheese fondue, beef tenderloin, chicken & jumbo shrimp entree, and flaming chocolate fondue for dessert with each course paired with a perfectly selected wine. The cost is $60 per person, all inclusive (wines, dinner, tax, and gratuity).

Visit our Facebook Page


Follow @panachepubverve

Dollop Bake Shop Opens Today

Follow all Panache blogs: #books; #entertainment; #grilling; #nationalentertainment; #romance; #videogames

Dollop Bake Shop, an offshoot of Dan Weiss' Dollop Coffee Company concept, opens in Ukrainian Village, 1000 N. Damen, Feb. 19. Chef Axel Erkenswick will preside over the bakery/cafe. The bakery's specialty among the fresh-baked pastries will be sweet and savory croissants. 

On the cafe side the operation will feature a casual rotating lunch menu that includes soups, salads and sandwiches made from seasonal ingredients. 

Three additional locations are scheduled to open later in the year. In addition Dollop will partner with Hoosier Mama Pie Company to provide its six coffee shop locations with pastries.

Visit our Facebook Page

Follow @panachepubverve

CH Distillery's Mixed Emotions

Follow all Panache blogs: #books; #entertainment; #grilling; #nationalentertainment; #romance; #videogames

CH Distillery, 564 W. Randolph, initiates "Cocktails Have Feeling, Too," a limited-run cocktail program beginning 5 p.m. March 2. The program, created by beverage director Azrhiel Frost, plays on the long-time theory that guest often pour out their feelings to the sympathetic bar attendant's  ear.

As such, Frost will design cocktails for guests sitting at the bar based upon their feelings by asking several key questions about their day, without knowing their spirit and flavor preferences. Cocktails are $12 each. The program runs 5-7 p.m. through March.

Visit our Facebook Page

Follow @panachepubverve

Mac's Wood Grilled Cider Summit Event Tie-ins

Follow all Panache blogs: #books; #entertainment; #grilling; #nationalentertainment; #romance; #videogames

Mac's Wood Grilled, 1801 W. Division,  hosts a Cider Summit Chicago Pre-Party & Tap Takeover, beginning 4 p.m. Feb. 26. The event will feature eight limited release artisan ciders along with year-round varieties, including locally made Right Bee Cider created by husband and wife Katie Morgan and Charlie Davis.

Participants, featuring pours ranging from $6-8 each, include: Right Bee, Lincolnwood; Bantam Cider, Somerville, MA; Boonville Cider House, Boonville, CA; E.Z. Orchards, Salem, OR; Finnriver Cidery, Chimacum, WA; Citizen Cider, Burlington, VT; Sonoma Cider, Healdsburg, CA and Aspall, Debenham, Suffolk, Great Britain.

Cider Summit Chicago 2016, featuring more than 140 American and International ciders, takes place 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 4-8 p.m. Feb. 27 in the Grand Ballroom at Navy Pier, 600 E. Grand.

Visit our Facebook Page


Follow @panachepubverve

Founthead's "It Might Get Dark" Event

Follow all Panache blogs: #books; #entertainment; #grilling; #nationalentertainment; #romance; #videogames

Fountainhead, 1970 W. Montrose, host "It Might Get Dark," an event featuring dark brews and music, featuring rare and special releases including limited 2015 Goose Island BCS Rare, 6 p.m. Feb. 16. Draft pours will be $5-12. 

Participating breweries include: Founders Brewing Co, Kentucky Breakfast Stout 2014; New Holland Brewery, El Mole Ocho ALe; Solemn Oath, La Grappe Imperial Black Saison; B.O.M. Triporteur, Full Moon 12 Belgian Ale; Evil Twin Brewing, Even More Jesus' Imperial Stout, Anderson Valley Brewing, Huge Arker Imperial Stout 2014; Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales, Bam Noire Black Saison; and Brewery Vivant, Wizard Burial Ground Ba Imperial Stout. 

Visit our Facebook Page

Follow @panachepubverve

Pavarotti Tribute @Glunz Tavern

Follow all Panache blogs: #books; #entertainment; #grilling; #nationalentertainment; #romance; #videogames

The Glunz Tavern, 1202 N. Wells, pays homage to famed operatic tenor Luciano Pavarotti, 6 p.m. March 6. Special guest soprano Christine Steyer joins in the festivities.

The Chicago Gourmets! event, dubbed Pavarotti's Favorite Dinner, will be hosted by Paul Grosso and chef Didier Durand.

Click here to register and view complete menu.

Visit our Facebook Page

Follow @panachepubverve

Frasca Pizzeria Gears Up For St. Paddy's Day

Follow all Panache blogs: #books; #entertainment; #grilling; #nationalentertainment; #romance; #videogames

It's never too soon to map out a plan for St. Patrick's Day. 

Frasca Pizzeria & Wine Bar, 3358 N. Paulina, St. Pat's wood-fire oven Guinness Pizza (Guinness stout crust topped with bechamel sauce, roasted onions, fingerling potatoes, bacon, three cheeses and signature) returns for one day only, 4:30-6 p.m. March 17, so mark your calendar. 

Visit our Facebook Page

Follow @panachepubverve

Shedd Aquarium and Aurelio's Partner for Valentine's Day Treat

Follow all Panache blogs: #books; #entertainment; #grilling; #nationalentertainment; #romance; #videogames

Make it a family affair Valentine's Day with a visit to the Shedd Aquarium, 1200 S. Lake Shore.  Guests purchasing a Total Experience Pass can continue the day with a stop at Aurelio's Pizza (South Loop location), 1212 S. Michigan, for a complimentary deep-dish cookie dessert with your purchase (one per table). Must present pass. Offer valid Feb. 13-14. Too cold to come out order Aurelio's pizza online Valentine's Day.

Visit our Facebook Page

Follow @panachepubverve

Fish Fry Fridays at Dive Bar

Follow all Panache blogs: #books; #entertainment; #grilling; #nationalentertainment; #romance; #videogames

Dive Bar, 3445 N. Halsted, observes the Lenten season with an all-you-can eat Wisconsin-style fish fish Fridays 5-11 p.m. Feb. 12-March 25.

Guests will be feted to all the premium fried fish, house made tartar sauce and curly sea salt fries as they wish ($9.99). Other offerings to choose from include lobster bisque, calamari, crab cake, boom boom shrimp, grilled oysters, seared tuna nachos, shrimp po'boys, lobster roll, seafood boils (clams; mussels; peel and eat shrimp; snow crab; king crab; crawfish), bourbon-infused seared salmon, Asian black bean sea bass and grilled lobster tail. 

Visit our Facebook Page

Follow @panachepubverve

De Noche Mexicana Margarita Day Salute

Follow all Panache blogs: #books; #entertainment; #grilling; #nationalentertainment; #romance; #videogames

De Noche Mexicana, 2714 N. Milwaukee, celebrates National Margarita Day (Feb. 22) with half-priced margaritas including the De Noche Rita (El Charro Silver tequila, orange liqueur, De Noche's fresh mix of citrus juice, regularly $9), $4.50. Available all day. PHOTO SOURCE: YELP

Visit our Facebook Page

Follow @panachepubverve

River Shannon's Cause for PAWS

Follow all Panache blogs: #books; #entertainment; #grilling; #nationalentertainment; #romance; #videogames

The River Shannon, 425 W. Armitage, hosts "Puppy Love," a Valentine's Day eve pet event benefitting PAWS Chicago, 3-5 p.m. Feb. 13. Professional keepsake pictures will be taken of you and your pet ($1 donation suggested goes directly to PAWS animal rescue efforts). 

Guests will be feted to drinks specials that include $3 Mimosas, $4 Goose Island bottles, and $4 Bloody Mary cocktails. Fresh water and doggie treats will be available for pups. 

Visit our Facebook Page

Follow @panachepubverve

Geja's Still #1 Destination For Romance

Follow all Panache blogs: #books; #entertainment; #grilling; #nationalentertainment; #romance; #videogames

Geja's Cafe, 340 W. Armitage, long regaled as Chicago's most romantic dining destination, has made Open Table's 2016 Most Romantic Restaurants in America list. The restaurant was one of only two Chicago restaurants to make the list. The restaurant kicked off a week of romance Feb 7-15. Valentine's eve and Valentine's Day dinner seatings are sold out. 

However, drop in other days during the week to experience a romantic dinner in one of the world's top romantic dining destination as named by The Culture Trip. 

Visit our Facebook Page

Tribes Brewery 7th Annual Oyster Fest

Follow all Panache blogs: #books; #entertainment; #grilling; #nationalentertainment; #romance; #videogames

Tribes Brewery, 11220 W. Lincoln, Mokena, hosts its Seventh Annual Oyster Fest Feb. 11-13. 

Owner Niall Freyne (born in Galway, Ireland) brings the tradition of  the Galway Oyster & Seafood Festival (one of the oldest in the world) to his adopted home, featuring fresh oysters flown in from the east and west coasts daily. Eight selections have been hand-selected by Freyne for the occasion. 

Guests can choose their favorites from a raw bar that will be available throughout the celebration ($2.25 -3.25 a piece). Crew will be on hand to shuck selections on the spot. Homemade mignonette sauce (a traditional, spicy sauce made with shallots and vinegar) will be served with every order. Event hours are 4-9 p.m. Feb. 11; 2-9 p.m. Feb. 12; noon to 9 p.m. Feb. 13.


Visit our Facebook Page



Follow @panachepubverve

Fat Tuesday Headquarters

Follow all Panache blogs: #books; #entertainment; #grilling; #nationalentertainment; #romance; #videogames

There's only one place to celebrate Fat Tuesday (Feb. 9) and that's the original Heaven on Seven, 111 N. Wabash, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For the biggest and best New Orleans style party join in the festivities 5:30-10 p.m. 

Chef/owner Jimmy Bannos has the perfect ingredients for celebrating the decadent day of feast, fun and foolery New Orleans style. In addition to award-winning dishes the restaurant will feature drink specials (the Hurricane is not to be missed). Boisterous party-goers having fun, great food and a live band jamming Dixie style. It doesn't get any better. 

Food specials include fried oysters and slab bacon with pepper Meuniere sauce ($16.99); chicken and andouille sausage tamales steamed in banana leaves with Jorge's mole sauce ($13.99); whole roasted shank, red beans and rice with ham broth ($15.99); boudin sausage on smothered greens with black eyed peas, honey Creole mustard sauce ($14.99); seared pork tenderloin on dirty rice, pork debris sauce () and pan seared lemon fish on crab cakes with warm remoulade sauce ($17.99). Taking limited reservations.

Visit our Facebook Page

Follow @panachepubverve

LPZ's Wine & Wildlife Series

Follow all Panache blogs: #books; #entertainment; #grilling; #nationalentertainment; #romance; #videogames

Lincoln Park Zoo's  Valentine's Day themed Wine & Wildlife Series is  6-8 p.m. Feb. 10, held in the Regenstein Center for African Apes, focuses on how the zoo's veterinary staff are conferring with  human-heart specialists to better improve animal health. Cash bar includes hors d'oeuvres. Click here for details.

Visit our Facebook Page

Follow @panachepubverve

III Forks Steak and Potato Martini

Follow all Panache blogs: #books; #entertainment; #grilling; #nationalentertainment; #romance; #videogames

III Forks Prime Steakhouse, 180 N., Field, beefs up its cocktail menu with the Steak & Potatoes martini (Chopin vodka, Vya extra dry vermouth and skewered filet mignon and potato garnish; $13), available beginning Feb. 16. Perfect bar menu pairings include the cheese and charcuterie, ahi tuna, lamb meatballs, beef croustades, steak tartare and sliders. 

Visit our Facebook Page

Follow @panachepubverve

Chicago Retro Ski Lodge Bar Crawl

Follow all Panache blogs: #books; #entertainment; #grilling; #nationalentertainment; #romance; #videogames

The Division Street Chicago Retro Ski Lodge Block Party is 11 a.m. Feb. 6. Bar stops include: She-Nannigan's (official check-in); Butch McGuire's (11 a.m. to 1 p.m.); Coconutz, The Lodge, McFacdden's and Mother's Too (1-3 p.m.); Hangge Uppe and Hopsmith (3-5 p.m.). 

The crawl comes to an end with a closing round of cheer 5-6 p.m. at the Original Mothers. Click here for more information.

Visit our Facebook Page

Follow @panachepubverve

Hart Davis Hart Wine Auction at TRU

Follow all Panache blogs: #books; #entertainment; #grilling; #nationalentertainment; #romance; #videogames

Hart Davis Hart wine auction beginning 8:30 a.m. Feb. 19-20 at TRU, 676 N, St, Clair. Spotlighted items include a range of Burgundy and Bordeaux vintages as well as lots of California wines and rare Madeira. See lot numbers and descriptions below. 

Visit our Facebook Page



Follow @panachepubverve










LOT

16 1982 Château Lafite Rothschild (12 bs) $22,000-32,000

96 1990 Brunello di Montalcino Riserva, Case Basse (G. Soldera) (5 bs) $3,800-5,500

137 1997 Opus One (12 bs) $2,200-3,200

500 & 501 1989 Château Pétrus (12 bs) $26,000-38,000

529 & 530 1990 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Assortment (12 bs) $35,000-55,000

719 2000 Musigny, Domaine Leroy (3 bs) $7,500-11,000

1130 1846 Terrantez Madeira, Borges (1 b) $2,000-3,000

1149 & 1150 1860 Bual Madeira, Blandy’s (3 bs) $2,200-3,200

1309 1985 Vosne-Romanée, Cros Parantoux, Henri Jayer (4 bs) $28,000-42,000

1321 1985 Chambertin, Clos de Bèze, Armand Rousseau (5 bs) $10,000-15,000

1327 1985 Clos de la Roche, Domaine Dujac (2 bs) $4.500-6,500