Thursday, June 30, 2016

Hormel's Red, White and Blue Burger

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Unless you're a baker or have one that owes you a huge favor it's a little too late to pull the red, white and blue burger off for the Fourth of July, but for you Cubs fans it's one to keep in mind, hopefully for those post season parties. Am I jumping too far into the near future? Maybe.

So, serve them up any time during the season. The recipe blue buns, which can be order by a local bakery, your favorite burger recipe, white cheddar or any white cheese of your choice and Hormel chili. Courtesy of Hormel.

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Wednesday, June 29, 2016

Early Bird Tix For "Cooking Up a Cure Chicago" on Sale July 8

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Early bird tickets for "Cooking up a Cure Chicago" are available now through July 8. The event, benefiting the Scleroderma Foundation, features an array of area chefs chaired by Cleetus Friedman of Caffe Baci, takes place 5:30 p.m. September 15, Galleria Marchetti, 825 W. Erie. Purchase tickets.

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Tuesday, June 28, 2016

DMK Burger's "Honey I Shrunk the Kids" Salute

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DMK Burger Bar Lakeview, 2954 N. Sheffield, salutes the 27th anniversary of the release of the 1989 Disney film, "Honey, I Shrunk the Kids," 11:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. June 28-30 with mini-sized food items including burgers, shakes, and beer. The restaurant will also screen the original move and its sequels, which starred Rick Moranis as the inept scientist who shrunk his kids. 

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Monday, June 27, 2016

Shaw's Lobster Festival Gets Underway July 1

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Shaw's Crab House's, 21 E. Hubbard, annual Lobster Festival, featuring a variety of delectable dishes such as lobster salad; lobster maki, lobster fettuccini, broiled lobster tails, lobster au gratin, lobster mac and cheese as well has a whole lobster with boiled potatoes and corn entree, takes place July 1-31.

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Sunday, June 26, 2016

Cactus Bar Complimentary Bus Service to Guns N' Roses Concert

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Cactus Bar and Grill, 404 S. Wells, will offer continuous, complimentary shuttle bus service to and from the Guns N' Roses concert 8 p.m. July 1, Soldier Field. Runs will be every 30 minutes beginning 6:30 p.m.  The last run from Soldier Field will be 30 minutes after the concert ends.

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Saturday, June 25, 2016

Kick's Back to the 1980s Session

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Kick, 1943 W. Byron, hosts "Back to the 1980s," 8 p.m. to midnight June 30. The event feature retro cocktails including: Blue Hawaiian; Hurrricane; Tequila Sunrise and Sex on the Beach ($8 each). DJ Todd will be in the house spinning '80s tunes.

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Friday, June 24, 2016

David Burke's Primehouse Pop-up Ice Cream Specialties

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Executive Pastry Chef Amanda Warren and the pastry team of David Burke's Primehouse serves up ice cream novelties food-cart style, plain or with toppings 4-6 p.m. Fridays through July on the patio at the James Hotel, 616 N. Rush. Servings are $5; $3, children's size (cash only).

Up next, chocolate marshmallow: chocolate marshmallow ice cream, butterscotch caramel sauce, marshmallow fluff, brandied cherry compote, candied cocoa nibs (June 24).

Future offerings scheduled are strawberry shortcake: strawberry ice cream, shortcake pieces, lemon gelee, strawberry sauce (July 1) and mint chocolate: mint chocolate ice cream, mint chocolate crumble, mint meringues, chocolate sauce (July 8).


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Thursday, June 23, 2016

Firecakes Gay Pride Salute

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Firecackes Donuts, 68 W. Hubbard; 2453 N. Clark,  is featuring a special gay pride doughnut through June 26. The limited edition, Tahitian Vanilla Bean Iced Pride Donut ($2.89), will be available through June 26, with $1 from each sold benefiting Center on Halsted.

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Wednesday, June 22, 2016

Canceled: Dog Dayz of Summer

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Due to slow sales the Doug Sohn and Goose Island Beer Dog Dayz of Summer event, June 24-25 has been canceled. Refunds are currently being processed and will be issued in a timely fashion.

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Tuesday, June 21, 2016

UPDATE: Taste of Chicago Preview New Date

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City of Chicago presents as Taste of Chicago Preview, featuring select vendors participating in the 36th Annual Taste of Chicago, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. June 28, Daley Plaza 50 W. Washington. Participant include: Abundance Bakery (new); Chicago’s Dog House; Demera Ethiopian Restaurant (new)Dia De Los Tamales; Dinky Donuts (new as a 5-Day Restaurant); Doom Street Eats (new); Harold’s Chicken; Iyanze; Pork & Mindy’s (new); Porkchop and Robinson’s No. 1 Ribs

Rock band The Giving Moon performs live at noon. The Taste runs July 6-10 in Grant Park.

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Monday, June 20, 2016

Forbidden Root Launches Lunch Program

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Forbidden Root, a botanic brewing company and brewpub, 1746 W. Chicago Ave., launches lunch 11 a.m. June 20. The menu, created by executive chef Dan Weiland, features lighter variations of his dinner items including: the Forbidden Root Burger (giardiniere mayo, Weiss aged cheddar, B&B pickle on a brioche bun) and the Mushroom Grilled Cheese on Texas toast. Dessert selections include the Forbidden Root Float.

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Sunday, June 19, 2016

Dive Bar Shark Week Offering

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Dive Bar, a nautical-theme neighborhood gathering, 3445 N. Halsted, saluting Discovery Channel's annual shark-centric week, will offer $6 "Whale'n Whillie" cocktail (Bacardi rum, Licor 43, demerara syrup, guava nectar, orange juice and pineapple juice in a kitschy, served in an open-mouthed fish glass) for $6 June 27-July 1. The 16 ounce glass is available for purchase for an additional $10. 

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Saturday, June 18, 2016

Rick Bayless Demo/Meet & Greet

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Rick Bayless of  Topolobampo, Frontera Grill, Xoco and member of Macy's Culinary Council hosts a cooking demonstration and meet and greet session noon June 29, Culinary Kitchen at Macy's, 111 N. State, 7th floor. Space is limited. RSVP at 1-800.329.8667

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Friday, June 17, 2016

Wild Monk Hosts a Boulevard Brewing Event

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Wild Monk, 88 S. LaGrange, hosts a craft beer dinner featuring selections from Kansas City- based Boulevard Brewing, 6 p.m. June 28; $50. The evening begins with a welcome reception followed by Chef Mario Arroyo's seated, multi-course dinner paired with beer selections. 

Chef Arroyo's menu includes beer-battered buffalo shrimp, barbecue pulled pork summer salad, smoked salmon bruschetta, glazed rosemary and garlic barbecue. Dessert is chocolate mint cake. Beer selections include; Ginger Lemon Radler, The Calling IPA, KC Pils, Tank 7 Farmhouse Ale, Triple Julep and Chocolate Ale with Raspberry.  Purchase tickets. Or, call 708-255-2337.

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Thursday, June 16, 2016

Aire's "Orange is the New Black" Salute

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Aire, the new rooftop venue located on the 24th floor of the Hyatt Centric The Loop, 100 W. Monroe, is featuring its "Orange is the New Wacker" cocktail (Cruzan aged rum, Cointreau, orange and lime juice mix) for $4, in conjunction with the  premiere of "Orange is the New Black" Season 4 airing June 17.  The cocktail was named for the show's scenes filmed on Wacker Drive.

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Wednesday, June 15, 2016

Sunday Dinner Club Outing

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Sunday Dinner Club, the private community dining experience from chefs Christine Cikowski and Josh Kulp, heads south to Prairie Fruits Farm in Champaign for a Mexican-inspired dinner 5 p.m. June 18; $100, plus tax.

The farm-to-table dining experience takes place on the farm where the team sourced a majority of the ingredients for the 4-course dinner. For this special dinner the chefs fuse Mexican flavors with locally sourced ingredients. Highlights include sopes with peas, duck confit, and salsa verde as well as roasted pork loin with ed mole, fried peanut and lime rice, and radish. The full menu is below. Purchase tickets 
here.
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Saturday Dinner

Sopes with peas, duck confit, and salsa verde

Sopa de calabaza with Prairie Fruit Farms yogurt cilantro crema and tortilla strips

Roasted pork loin, ed mole, fried peanut and lime rice, and radish

Coriander sugared churros with Prairie Fruit Farms strawberry gelato

Tuesday, June 14, 2016

CH Distillery's Guest Bartender Night

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Eric Trousdale of Arabella, 112 W. Grand, is the guest bartender for CH Distillery's June Bar & Table "Guest Bartender Night," 6 p.m. June 14 at CH Distillery, 564 W. Randolph. Trousdale's featured creations are Hanky Panky (CH London dry gin, sweet vermouth, CH Fernet) and Air Mail (CH Barrel Aged Rum, honey syrup, lime juice, Prosecco topper).

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Monday, June 13, 2016

U.S. Pizza Acrobat Trials

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Galbani Cheese sponsors the U.S. Pizza Acrobatic Competition's  Midwest Culinary and Acrobat trials 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. June 13 at Panino's Pizza, 1968 Dempster, Evanston. Events include dough stretch, fastest pizza making, pizza dough acrobats and more. The event is free and open to the public.

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Sunday, June 12, 2016

Bella Bacinos Hosts Soter North Wine Event

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Bella Bacinos, 36 S. La Grange Rd., La Grange continues its series of popular wine events 6:30 p.m. June 14 featuring Soter North Valley Vineyards

Winemaker and partner James Cahill, will be on hand to lead guests through the selections. The cost, $55, includes small plates and artisanal cheeses. RSVP to Dan Bacin at (708) 420-9600 or by email at www.bacinos.com.

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Saturday, June 11, 2016

Ribfest Chicago 2016

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The 18th Annual Ribfest Chicago takes place June 11-12 at the junction of Lincoln/Damen/Irving Park with last year's BBQ champs Q-BBQ back to defend their title for the Ribfest Chicago People's Choice trophy. Click here for food vendors. 

Other activities include amateur cooking competition; Ribmania VII eating contest and the Culinary Food Fight (bacon throw down); Artist showcase and Kids Square. Click here for food vendors.

Saturday (June 11) Bud Light Stage: In Threes (noon); The Black Tape (2:45 p.m.); Hemmingbirds (5:15 p.m.); Coins (7:45 p.m.). Chicago Reader Stage: Kevin Presbrey (1:30 p.m.); Jonas Fiddle and the Majority (4 p.m.); Hey Monea (6:30 p.m.); Kevin Devin And the Goodman Band (9 p.m.). Sunday (June 12) Bud Light Stage: Hiber (1:30 p.m.); Man Called Noon (4 p.m.); The Kickback (6:30 p.m.) Jukebox the Ghost (9 p.m.). Chicago Reader Stage: The Social Animals (2:45 p.m.); 4onthefloor (5:15 p.m.); Freakwater (7:45 p.m.). 

 Hours are 5-10 p.m. June 10; noon to 10 p.m. June 11-12. Purchase VIP passes.

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Thursday, June 9, 2016

Caffe Umbria's New Summer Drinks

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Caffè Umbria, 346 N. Clark, unveiled new summer drinks including:  Espresso Shakerato, (double shot espresso, simple syrup, and ice combined in a cocktail shaker, shaken for about 15 seconds, then strained it into a sugar-rimmed martini glass. Choice of espresso flavor or fruit flavor varies; $3.50); Cold Brew Coffee, (brewed with a Caffè Umbria signature blend coffee and water; $3.50, medium; $3.75 large); Espresso Granita (ristretto, sugar and milk, served semi-frozen; $4.25 medium; $4.75 large); Grapefruit Granita, (fresh grapefruit juice, water and sugar, served semi-frozen; $4.25, medium; $4.75, large).

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Wednesday, June 8, 2016

Spring BBQ @Cafe des Architectes

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

Executive Chef Greg Biggers with the French-American Chamber of Commerce hosts a spring barbecue 6 p.m. June 16 on the terrace of Cafe des Architectes at Sofitel Chicago Water Tower, 20 E. Chestnut; $55; $45 for FACC members.

The menu includes: grilled prawn salad with baby spinach, lemon truffle vinaigrette, toasted almondsgrilled pork loin, whipped potatoes, grilled baby carrots and dessert: adult ice cream sundae with Bailey's, chocolate, marshmallow. First come, first served basis. Register here.

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Tuesday, June 7, 2016

Dovetail Brewery Opens June 11


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Dovetail Brewery, Ravenswood's new craft beer hub officially opens June 11, 1800 W. Belle Plaine. 

The 22,000 square foot facility, owned by certified master brewers Hagen Dost and Bill Wesselink, produces traditional German-style Lager, a Bavarian-style Hefeweizen, and a Franconian-style Rauchbier. Crafted seasonal beers will also be featured.

The brewery will feature Lambic-style sour beer, batches, currently being brewed, but will be available until spring 2016. 

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Monday, June 6, 2016

AlphaBeer event

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The 15th installment of AlphaBeer XV takes place 6-9 p.m. June 25 at A.J. Hudson's Public House, 3801 N. Halsted. The event features 26 beers, one for each letter of the alphabet. Tickets are $50.

Selections for this even includes: Arc Welder Dunkel Rye from Metropolitan Brewery in Chicago, Cherry Tree Amaro from Forbidden Root in Chicago, Dog Days of Summer from Two Brothers in Warrenville, Face Melter from Burnt City Brewing in Chicago, Lava Lake Wit from Crazy Mountain in Colorado, Rosetta from Ommegang in New York, Rosa from Revolution in Chicago (pictured), Summer Ale from Brooklyn Brewery in New York, Cashmere Hammer from 3 (Three) Sheeps Brewing, Vallejo from Half Acre Beer Company. Must be 21 and over. Purchase tickets.

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Sunday, June 5, 2016

Doug Sohn's 2nd Annual Dog Dayz of Summer

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Doug Sohn, affectionately known as Sausage King of Chicago, returns June 24-25 for the Second Annual Dog Dayz of Summer at Goose Island Barrel Warehouse, 605 N Sacramento, Chicago. 

The event, a one-of-a-kind showcase of  encased meat festival, pays homage to the rich sausage history of Chicago. Visitors will enjoy an exclusive tasting of the “best hits from Hot Doug’s” along with Goose Island beers. Festivities also includes live music that includes: Clasp Your Hands, Soft Speaker (Friday); the Waco Brothers, the Claudettes (Saturday afternoon) and the Tossers and Get Up With the Get Downs (Saturday evening).

Sohn will be curating the following selection of his famous sausage sandwiches (along with iconic duck fat fries) and introducing a brand new mystery sausage made especially for D Tickets. See sausage menu below. Hours are 6-9 p.m. June 24; noon to 3 p.m. and 5-9 p.m. June 25. Purchase tickets.  

The Sausages:
Spicy Thai Chicken
Jamaican Jerk Pork
"The Teuben" - Swiss Cheese-stuffed Corned Beef
Argentinian Pork
Cheddar-stuffed Bratwurst
Ribeye Steak
Bacon “BLT”
Beef & Lamb Gyros
Smoked Alligator and Pork
Veggie Dog

*Plus the Mystery Dog! (it’s a secret!)

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Saturday, June 4, 2016

Raised Starts Brunch Service

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Raised, An Urban Rooftop Bar, 1 W. Wacker, will start a brunch service beginning June 5. Chef Daniel Perez created a distinctive brunch menu complemented by innovative brunch beverage by William Nykaza for the rooftop eatery's new service, available 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sundays. 

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