Cantina Laredo salutes National Queso Day with a complimentary offer

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Cantina Laredo, 508 N. State, celebrates National Queso Day with a complimentary offering of its Queso Laredo dip (warm queso seasoned with sirloin and pico de gallo, regularly $9.99), to patrons visiting 11:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. February 10. Guests must purchase two brunch, lunch or dinner entrees to receive the offer.

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Refuge Live offering $7 top-shelf drinks for limited time

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Refuge Live, 416 S. Clark is featuring $7 top shelf drinks January 30-February 3. Among the drinks available during that period is the Loud cocktail, a rum-based drink, Tuesday (January 30) and Thursday (February 1) . which was created for club's reggae event. 

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Stephanie Izard's Girl and the Chicken sandwich

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Last chance to pickup Stephanie Izard of Girl and the Goat, Little Goat and Duck, Duck Goat's special Girl and the chicken sandwich ( This Little Goat Went to Korea bottled sauce mixed in the chicken fat yogurt atop Honey Butter’s fried chicken strips with pickled fresno chilies and pickled red onion; $11) at Honey Butter Fried Chicken, 3361 N. Elston. 

Honey Butter Fried Chicken owners Christine Cikowski and Joshua Kulp will donate a $1 from each sandwich to Izard's charity Pilot Light, a non-profit organization dedicated to help educate Chicago youth about nutrition, ingredients, and healthy eating.  The restaurant closes at 9 p.m. 

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Naperville Ale Fest, winter edition

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Naperville Ale Fest Winter Edition takes place noon to 4 p.m. February 24, Frontier Park, 3380 Cedar Glade Drive, Naperville.

Participating brewers include: m breweries such as Solemn Oath Brewery, Soundgrowler Brewery, Half Acre Beer Co., and Founders Brewing Co.

Local cider vendors such as 2 Fools Cider, Right Bee Cider and Virtue Cider will be on hand as well.

General admission is $49, plusee fee. Designated driver tickets are $19, plus fee. Purchase tickets.

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Chicago Hall of Fame Chef inductees ceremony and FLOC fundraiser

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Mayor Rahm Emanuel has declared a day for each soon-to-be Chicago Chefs Hall of Fame inductees Fred Hoffman, Industry Leader (February 15); Mindy Segal, HotChocolate: Pastry Chef of the Year (February 16) and John Hogan. River Roast: Chef of the Year (February 17). The chefs will be inducted into the Chicago Culinary Museum and Chefs Hall of Fame, in a ceremony open to the public, 6 p.m. February 17 at the Palmer House Hilton, 17 E. Monroe.

Tickets are 175, and includes entry to the For the Love of Chocolate Foundation's annual fundraiser "Whimsy: A Dessert Dream Brought to Life," immediately following the induction ceremony, 7 p.m. to 12 a.m. 


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Sunda debuts Restaurant Week menu

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Sunda, 110 W. Illinois, is among the more than 300 area restaurants participating in Chicago Restaurant Week January 26 through February 11. The restaurant is offering a sampling of items (including the beet salad, pictured) during lunch (11:30 a.m. weekdays) and brunch Saturday-Sunday (10:30 a.m.); $22. View completer menu. Book reservations here. 

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Chicago Sinfonietta tap takeover at Lagunitas

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The Chicago Sinfonietta tap takeover at Lagunitas Brewing Company, 2607 W. 17th Street takes place 5:30-8:30p.m. January30. The beer and music event is a fundraiser for the Sinfonietta. Tickets are $20, advance sales; $25, at the door. All proceeds benefit the orchestra's education programs, which are dedicated to  dedicated to promoting diversity and inclusion in classical music. Purchase.

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Angel's Palace is holding preview hours

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Angel's Palace, 6319 W. Roosevelt, Berwyn, a new night spot, is holding preview hours. The venue, a bar, restaurant and club is currently open 9 p.m. to 3 a.m. Fridays-Saturdays; 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Sundays. A grand opening will be held in February.

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Long Grove Cocoa Crawl

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Long Grove  hosts its inaugural Cocoa Crawl noon to 4 p.m. February 3 in the villages historic district. The event kicks off at noon at the Visitor Center, 308 Old McHenry Road, where guest check in. 

More than 15 vendors will participate in the family-friendly event offering an array of  hot cocoa and other cocoa-related products, including Signature Popcorn's hot chocolate popcorn; How Impressive serves up hot cocoa krispy treats. Of course, it wouldn't be a cocoa event with Covered Bridge Creamery's hot cocoa supreme. View vendor list.  The family event is free and open to the public. 

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Mercadito January events

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Mercadito, 108 W. Kinzie, holds first 2018 Experimential Dinner, featuring five courses and five cocktails plus four Clase Azul pours, 6-9 p.m. January 29; $95. Tickets.

In addition to the dinner the restaurant will hold a Mixology Academy session with Paul Tanquay, featuring Clase Azul tequila,  3-5 p.m. January 27; $55. Tickets.

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The Albert's new happy hour specials

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The Albert, 228 E. Ontario,  is featuring a lunch special ($22, does not include tax and gratuity) during  Chicago Restaurant Week, January 26-February 8.

The meal is a choice of starter: Heirloom pumpkin soup with apple, hibiscus and pepitas or carrot and farro salad with lemon and tarragon. Choice of entree: black pepper garganelli with broccoli rabe pesto, Calabrian chili and cranberry or duck confit salad glazed in honey with apples, mustard and sunflower seeds. Dessert selections are choice of citrus meringue with Meyer lemon sorbet or German chocolate cake with toasted coconut ice cream. 

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Bar Roma launches bubbly brunch deal

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Bar Roma, 5101 N. Clark, has initiated a bottomless bubbly brunch 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sundays. The bubbly deal includes choice of any entree paired with bottomless bellinis, mimosas or and sparkling wine for $24.

Dishes found on Chef Freddy Ramos menu include: Bar Roma BLT (applewood smoked bacon, arugula, tomato, basil pesto mayo, provolone cheese on Greek toast served with chips, $12); Mascarpone French Toast with banana, almond, mascarpone, apple wood smoked bacon; $12; and Frittata an Italian-style open face omelette, breakfast potatoes, toast; $11.

Bubbly selections include: 

Mimosa

orange juice, bubbly $5 

Bellini 

peach puree, bubbly $5 

Seasonal Mimosa 

ask your server for today’s selection $5 

THE SPICE

Roman Bloody Mary
Italian style bloody mary, pomodoro, vodka $8
add a Peroni back $2 

Italian Michelada
Peroni beer, lime, balsamic-tomato elixir, salted rim $7

THE FAVORITES

Bar Roma Spritz 
Arancia Rosso Amaro, Aperol, Terre Gaie Prosecco $11

Pomegranate Basil Smash 
London dry gin, pomegranate juice, lemon, basil $11

Hemingway 1919 
Dennizen Rum, lime, apricot luxardo, grapefruit $10 

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Arun's new beverage director's creative winter cocktails

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Arun's Thai Restaurant, 4156 N. Kedzie, has a new beverage director and new round of winter cocktails. Michael Dziedzic (formerly of Karyn's on Green Street and Jerry's Sandwiches). Dziedzic worked closely with the James Beard-winning chef/owner Arun Sampanthavivat to create the specialty drinks.

The new seasonal selections include: Winter in Thailand (dried Mulato pepper and cinnamon stick infused vodka, Thai iced tea, condensed milk, and Bittermens Xocolatl Molé Bitters, garnished with vanilla chai tea whipped cream, smoked sea salt, Fee Brothers Aztec Chocolate Bitters; $14); Franny Smith (Frangelico ice cube, Tanduay Gold Rum, Averna Amaro, cinnamon syrup, Eric Bordelet Tendre Sidre, Bittermens Orange Cream Bitters, and Bar Keep Swedish Herb Bitters, garnished with a dried granny smith apple wheel and cinnamon stick: $15), pictured; Snow Day (vanilla bean and clove syrup, Arette Reposado Tequila, Hines H V.S.O.P. Cognac, egg white, and yuzu juice, garnished with Bittermens Elemakule Tiki Bitters; $15); Tea-ter Toddy (jasmine tea, Ransom Old Tom Gin, ginger honey syrup, cream, orange blossom water, Bittermens Orange Cream Bitters, Grand Marnier rinse; $14) and Hibernation (St. George Terroir Gin, St. George Absinthe, bay leaf syrup, Martini & Rossi Extra Dry Vermouth, Fee Brothers Grapefruit Bitters, and Bittercube Bolivar Bitters, garnished with an Amarena cherry; $17)

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Baconfest 2018 tickets are available

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Tickets for foodie favorite, Baconfest Chicago 2018, April 6-7 UIC Forum, 725 W. Roosevelt, are now available. 

Sessions are Friday Dinner, 7-10 p.m. April 6 (VIP early access 6 p.m.); Saturday Lunch, noon to 3 p.m. April 7 (early access 11 a.m.) and Saturday Dinner, 7-10 p.m. (early access 6 p.m.) Purchase.

*Roster of chefs to be announced soon.

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Hofbrauhaus turns 5

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Hofbrauhaus, 5500 Park Place, Rosemont, celebrates its fifth anniversary with a party and keg tapping beginning 6 p.m. January 20. The venue will also highlight it's January beer, Schwarzbier, a deep black lager with roasted malt and sweet chocolate notes. 

A 40-piece German bugle band  joins in the festivities. In addition the first 300 guests will receive a commemorative t-shirt. Reservations accepted.

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Fizz Eatery sock hop, "Grease" inspired menu and Elvis tribute

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Fizz Eatery and Soda Fountain, 7958 W. Belmont, hosts a sock hop featuring a "Grease" inspired menu and Elvis tribute by Hugo, referred to a one-of-a-kind Elvis impersonator. The two-day event takes place January 20-21. Guests are encouraged to don their best 50s threads or come dressed as a greaser or "Pink Lady" from the 1978 movie (pries will be awarded).

A la carte menu items include: T-Birds (eight chicken wings tossed in a sweet chili buffalo sauce, topped with house pickled jalapenos and green onion with ranch; $10; Beauty School Dropout salad (chopped iceberg, corkscrew pasta, tomato, avocado, red onion, hickory smoked bacon, cucumber, celery, carrots and choice of dressing, $9); Hamlessly Devoted to You (griddled Black Forest ham, brick cheese, B&B pickles with whole grain mustard on a brioche bun, $7); The Zuko (two patties, garlic aioli, brick cheese, giardiniera and pepperoni, $11); The Sandy (toasted multigrain bread, pepper jack cheese, avocado, tomato and spinach, $8); The Rizzo (grilled chicken breast on toasted brioche with jalapeño, habanero jack cheese, bacon and ranch dressing, $10); The Frenchy (two patties, homemade French onion dip, beef-braised onions and Swiss cheese on a toasted brioche bun, $11) and Grease Lightning (shaved steak sandwich with BBQ sauce, onion strings and brick cheese on a toasted hoagie roll, $10).

Desserts include:  The Teen Angel: (vanilla ice cream, cinnamon apples, pie crust with whipped cream, $6); Frosty Palace: vanilla ice cream, hot fudge, toasted marshmallow fluff, and candied peanuts, $6) and Pink Ladies Shake (strawberry ice, strawberry pop rocks with whipped cream, $5). 

There will be three seatings (3, 5 and 7 p.m.). Reservations are highly recommended and can be made by calling 773.839.3499.


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Carnivale serves up a murder mystery for dinner

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Carnivale, 702 W. Fulton Market, host a Mardi Gras murder mystery event 7 p.m. January 31. Guests will participate in the interactive whodunit dinner, which kicks off at 6:30 p.m. with a cocktail party.  A three-course meal featuring Carnivale salad, braised short ribs with Hazzard Free Farms grits and pickled vegetables and tres leches dessert. A cash bar is available. Space is limited. Tickets are $65. 

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Marchesa is open for dinner

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River North's newest eatery, Marchesa, 535 N. Wells, is now open for dinner 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday. The restaurant pays the homage to the food and wines from the world's most famous wine regions. The restaurant features a a formal dining room, chef's table, Champagne bar and wine cave. Reservations accepted at opentable.

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3 Forks Sommelier for a Day

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III Forks Prime Steakhouse, 180 N. Field, hosts its next  "Sommelier for a Day" installment 5 p.m. February 7. Sommelier Anton Licko leads participants through a sampling of six different selections from France, paired with hors d'oeuvres prepared by Chef Hans Aeschbacher; $20 per person. To RSVP, call III Forks at 312-938-4303.

Sommelier for a Day Selections

Emile Beyer Riesling 2014 Alsace

Delaunay 'Vignette' 2016 Touraine, Loire Valley

Chateau Lescalle 2014 Bordeaux Superieur, Bordeaux

Coteaux de Travers 'Terra Rosea' 2015 Cairanne, Rhone Valley

Domaine Dozon 'Clos du Saut au Loup' 2015 Chinon, Loire Valley

Domaine Mathieu 2015 Cotes du Rhone, Rhone Valley

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