CSO Performs Music to Hitchcock's "Vertigo"

Conductor Richard Kaufman and the CSO takes on the haunting themes from Alfred Hitchcock thriller "Vertigo" during "CSO at the Movies, 8 p.m. Jan. 24 at Symphony Center, 220 S. Michigan. The drama, which starred Jimmy Stewart and Kim Novak, is one of the master of suspense's finest. cso

Chicago Restaurant Week

Paul Kahan of Blackbird kicks off Chicago Restaurant Week with First Bites Bash 5:30 p.m. Jan. 23 at Great Hall, Union Station, 500 W. Jackson; $125. Proceeds benefit Gilda's Club Chicago and Pilot House. Look for great deals at some of the city's finest eateries during Chicago Restaurant Week Jan. 24-Feb. 6. Prix fixe meals are priced from $22-$44. choosechicago

Rack House Sport's Giveaway

Guest visiting Rack House Kitchen & Tavern, 222 E. Algonquin, Arlington Heights, wearing Blackhawk's attire during January will have the opportunity to win a signed Jonathan Toews' jersey and catering for a Super Bowl party for up to 15 people. Guests sporting Hawks gear at Rack while a Hawks game is on receives one complimentary raffle ticket. Another reason to drop in-- the bar features 22 drafts on tap and 45 bottles. rackhouse

Barbakoa's New Brunch Menu

Dudley Nieto of newly-opened modern Latin restaurant Barbakoa, 1341 Butterfield, Downers Grove, is offering a brunch program 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday through 2014. Dishes are inspired by South American countries: Argentina, Peru and Mexico as well as authentic Spanish cuisine. Celebrity mixologist Adam Seger formerly of Nacional 27 and creator of Hum liqueur, whips up creative cocktails. barbakoa

Nando Milano Trattoria Dinner Series

Chef Alessio Vullo of Nando Milano Trattoria, 2114 W. Division, has created the Regioni d'Italia dinner series. The menu, which started Jan.8, will spotlight a dish paired with wine from a different Italian region every Wednesday through March 26. Regions listed below. nandomilanotrattoria

The regional schedule is as follows:

January 8: Tuscany

January 15: Piedmont

January 22: Sicily

January 29: Liguria

February 5: Campania

February 12: Sardinia 

February 19: Lombardy

February 26: Emilia-Romagna

March 5: Lazio

March 12: Umbria

March 19: Veneto

March 26: Valle d'Aosta 

DMK Burger Bar

Chef Kornick and and David Morton of DMK, 2954 N. Sheffield and 2370 Fountain Square, Lombard, launch their 2014 lineup. See below. dmkburgers

Aged cheddar, smoked bacon, charred balsamic red onions, 

Rufus Teague's BBQ Sauce

Chili rubbed onion strings, Amish Blue spicy chipotle ketchup

NY pastrami, French Gruyere, sauerkraut, Leroy's remoulade

 Roasted hatch green chile, fried farm egg, Sonoma Jack, smoked bacon

 Bison burger - fresh goat cheese, pickled red onions, blueberry BBQ Sauce

Chorizo, guacamole, Sonoma Jack, chipotle aioli, cilantro, onions

 The Big DMK - triple decker, special sauce

Iceberg lettuce, tomato, raw onion, bread & butter pickles, mayo,choice of cheese

The Patty melt - smoked bacon, burnt onions, Leroy's remoulade, smoked Swiss, grilled rye

Turkey, smoked Swiss, tomato, arugula, Dijonnaise

Grass-fed lamb, sheep's milk feta, olive tapenade, Greek salad, tzatziki

House veggie & grain, aged cheddar,eggplant ,tomato, pesto mayo

Crispy portobello, fontina cheese, arugula, marinated tomatoes, horseradish sauce

 Fresh salmon, ginger & scallion, Asian slaw, red Thai curry sauce

And, new rotating monthly specials 

Jake Melnick's January Specials

Hot and hearty is the call for January dishes and Jake Melnick's Corner Tap, 41 E. Superior, delivers with a round of January specials that include the patty melt of the month (9-oz hand-packed Angus patty with Swiss and American cheese, grilled onions, mushrooms, bacons with Russian Dressing, $12.95); mac and cheese of the month: super hot nacho mac and cheese selection for the month (creamy cheese sauce mixed with super hot wing sauce, topped with crumbled chorizo sausage, cheddar cheese, diced tomatoes, green onions and tortilla chips with sour cream; $8.95) and wings of the month bacon and cheddar (crispy wings topped with Carr Valley applewood smoked cheddar, chopped bacon served with Ranch dressing; $12.95). Wash those hefty dishes down with the beer of the month: Saugatuck Brewing Company's Singapore IPA. jakemelnicks

Mercadito Guests Chef Tacos for SOS

Mercadito, 108 W. Kinzie, kicks off a year of month-long charity tacos benefiting Share Our Strength with the January black bean-braised oxtail (with bourbon jalapenos, chopped kim-chi, fish sauce mayo and crunchy ramen), selection from Chef Eddie Lee of 610 Magnolia, Louisville, KY. Tacos are three for $12.50 during lunch or as a dinner for $16.95. mercadito

Elvis is Back in the House

The Original Mother's, 26 W. Division, hosts its 14th Annual Elvis Fest 7-11 p.m. January 8, on what would be the rock 'n roll idol's 79th birthday. The bash includes a look-alike contest (winner gets a trip to Vegas), Happy Birthday sing-a-long, cake with legendary DJ Dick Biondi lighting the candles and plenty of "Elvis" songs. A $5 donation benefits the Chicago Red Cross. originalmothers

Mercadito Counter to Open Soon

Here's a sneak peek at Mercadito Hospitality's Mercadito Counter, a Mexican deli slated to open soon at 738 N. Clark. New York-based Celano Design Studio created the blended contemporary Mexican and traditional deli look. mercadito

Oceanique's 25th Anniversary Dinner

Oceanique, 505 N. Main, Evanston, in conjunction with the Shedd Aquarium's Right Bite Program, hosts a sustainable seafood wine dinner in celebration of its 25th anniversary Jan. 16; $85. See menu below. oceanique

Right Bite Sustainable Seafood & 25th Anniversary Dinner

Tarte Flambé

Japanese Breakfast
Lightly Smoked Organic Arctic Char

2011 Dourthe "La Grande Cuvée" Sauvignon Blanc - Bordeaux, France

Roasted Maine Pemaquid Oysters
Mutsu Apple Sorbet
 Spinach Pernod Parmesan

2007 Brooks Winery Riesling - Willamette Valley, Oregon

Wild Florida Cobia

Turnip Chanterelles Port-Pinot Noir Sauce

2011 Domaine Benoit Raclet - Moulin-Á-Vent - Beaujolais, France


 Warm Raspberry-Blackberry Tarte

 Canela Ice Cream

2009 Château les Rouques - Loupiac - Bordeaux, France

Bakersfield Cooking Series

Chef Patrick Cassata of Bakersfield, 350 E. Ogden, Westmont, kicks off a 2014 cooking series 2 p.m. Jan. 11 with “Gluten Free Comfort Foods,” gluten free Teff pancakes with cinnamon and pecan syrup with banana –strawberry smoothie; southern fried knife and fork chicken, habanero grilled yellow pepper sauce with cheddar cornbread and chipotle honey butters paired with Champagne and gluten free carrot cake with a cinnamonbun cocktail. bakersfield

Vanille Patisserie Opens a New Location

Vanille Patisserie has a new location, 2108 N. Clark, which is the largest of the three current spots. Josh Johnson, 2011 National Pastry Chef winner and Pastry Chef Instructor at The French Pastry School  has been appointed executive chef. The other locations are 2229 N Clybourn and at the Chicago French Market, 131 N. Clinton. vanillepatisserie