Shaw's Chicago Launches Saturday Brunch Program

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

Beginning Jan. 30 Shaw's Crab House, 21 E. Hubbard, adds Saturday brunch to its menu lineup.

Brunch, available 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., will feature a shellfish and seafood station, traditional breakfast options and a sweets table and other brunch-related items; $55; ages 12 and under are free (limit of two children per adult).

Visit our Facebook Page

Follow @panachepubverve

Lagunitas Tap Takeover @Cactus Bar and Grill

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

Cactus Bar and Grill, 404 S. Wells, hosts a Lagunitas Tap takeover 5-6:30 p.m. Jan. 21.

John Luecht of Lagunitas will be on board to discuss Chicago's craft beer making scene while guests sip on samples of his brand. Featured brews include: Hop Stoopid Double IPA; Suck American Pale Ale; Undercover Investigation Shut Down American Strong Ale and India Pale Ale. Guests will receive a complimentary Mason jar keepsake.

Visit our Facebook Page


Follow @panachepubverve

Goose Island Takeover @Franklin Tap

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

Franklin Tap, 325 S. Franklin, hosts a Goose Island takeover and tap release party for the 2015 Rare
Bourbon County Brand Stout 4-9 p.m. Jan. 23. Tickets are $25. Guest purchasing early tickets (Jan. 11 at Franklin Tap will receive a free four-ounce pour of 2015 Rare Bourbon County Brand Stout).

Other featured items, also available for purchase, include: Bourbon County Stout; Bourbon County Coffee Stout; Bourbon County Barleywine; Proprietor's Bourbon County Stout; Bourbon County Stout Regal Rye.

Featured drafts include: 2014 Bourbon County Stout; 2015 bourbon County Stout; A real Nice Surprise; Winter Ale and 4 Star Pils. Ticket sales end Jan. 12. Click here to purchase.

Visit us on Facebook

Follow @panachepubverve

Frontier's CRW Menu

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

Chef Brian Jupiter of Frontier, 1072 N. Milwaukee, creates a hardy winter menu for Chicago Restaurant Week. Jupiter known for his creative Creole/Cajun cuisine offers dinner only ($33).

The menu starts with choice of sweet potato soup (smoked scallops, red curry creme fraiche with garlic chips) or bison carpaccio (Urban Till greens, egg, sherry vinaigrette, chive sticks, L'Amuse Gouda).

The main course is a choice of venison ribs (sweet potato gratin, coffee barbecue, Brussel leaves) or grouper (poached black grouper, pea risotto, pickled watermelon radish mushroom nage).

Dessert is an ice cream sandwich (gingerbread cookie, dulce de leche ice cream, spiked coffee). Click here for more information.

Visit us on Facebook

Follow @panachepubverve

Vive La France Dinner @Bistronomic

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

Chicago Gourmets! and Chef /owner Martial Noguier, Bistronomic, 840 N. Wabash, hosts Vive La France, 6 p.m. Jan. 14, $92.

The three-course menu starts with a choice of Bistronomic fish soup or housemade country pate. The main course is a choice of organic Amish chicken fricassee (Nichols Farm fingerling potatoes, French beans, mushroom truffle puree country mustard sauce) or beef Daube Provencale (hand-cut Parmesan gnocchi, orange zest, nicoise olive, rosemary). Dessert choices are chocolate hazelnut bars or Bistronomic lemon tart. Courses will be paired with wine selections. Must register by Jan. 11. Click here to reserve a spot.

Visit us on Facebook

Follow @panachepubverve

Stan's Donuts' South Loop Opening

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

Stan's Donuts & Coffee is opening its fourth area location Jan. 16 at 28 E. Roosevelt in the South Loop. The opening, celebrated at all four locations, will provide the first 100 customers with a "mystery" envelops, containing prizes ranging from a free coffee drink, gelato or donut.

Gifts and prizes featured at the new location only include giveaways such as Stan's mechanic shirt, T-shirts, coffee mugs and to one person a grand prize of free donuts for life.

Like us on Facebook 

Follow @panachepubverve

Phil Stefani's 437 Rush Chicago Restaurant Week Menus

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

Executive chef Christian Fantoni of  Phil Stefani's 437 Rush at 437 N. Rush, lunch option ($22). features a starter choice of Pollo (shallot poached chicken breast (carpaccio), Belgian endive, grain mustard vinaigrette, onion confit, pomodorini) or Bufala (creamy Bufala mozzarella vellute, tomato, compote, focaccia croutons, basil oil) Main course choice of Garganelli (homemade pasta quills, brown butter emulsion, mortadella, poppy seeds, baby spinach, ricotta salata) or Coregone (crispy cornmeal-crusted whitefish, "poor boy"spicy remoulade, brioche, crouton) and dessert course of gelati e sorbetti (two flavors).

The dinner menu, ($44), features a starter choice of  Capesante (pan-seared diver scallop, avocado compote, peas, tomato, frisee salad, saba) or Bufalina (imported Bufala milk mozzarella, quinoa salad, shallot dressing, cucumbers, sun-dried tomatoes, arugula, pesto). Main course choices are Gnocchetti (homemade sweet potatoes gnocchi, brown butter emulsion, wild mushrooms, bacon, truffle essence, chives) or Maialino (roasted bacon wrapped pork tenderloin, purple potatoes, Swiss chard, fava beans, brandy herb glaze). Dessert is a choice of Semifreddo (passion fruit, semi-frozen mousse, coconut foam, tropical fruit salad) or Panna Cotta (vanilla cream custard, balsamic strawberry tartare, thyme, rice flour tuiles).

Like us on Facebook 

Follow @panachepubverve

Lula Cafe Hosts Dinner Celebrating Chicago's Women Chefs

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

Lula Cafe, 2537  N. Kedzie, hosts the first-ever "Chicago Women Chefs Dinner," a six-course meal led by Lula's chef de cuisine Sarah Rinkavage and pastry chef Kelly Helgesen, 6 p.m. Jan. 25, $95. The dinner replaces the regular Monday night farm dinner for the evening.

Rounding out the talent are guest chefs Liana Regan (Elizabeth); Beverly Kim (Parachute); Abra Berens (Stock Cafe) and Dana Cree (1871 Dairy). Lula Cafe beverage director Diana Hawkins will select wine pairings.

A portion of the proceeds benefit female farmer Vicki Westerhoff of Genesis Growers, a partner of Lula Cafe. Click here for tickets. PHOTO CREDIT: ANTHONY TAHLIER

Like us on Facebook

Follow @panachepubverve

Chicago Restaurant Week 2016

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

Chicago is many things a sports town, deep-rooted music hub and, for foodies, a dining mecca. Sample what area chefs are cooking up during Chicago Restaurant Week (Jan. 22-Feb. 4).

Not a foodie, but looking to dine at one of the city's finer restaurants, the time has arrived. Prix fixe lunch menus are set at $22; dinner $33 or $44.

Participants, far too many to list all, include: Blackbird, Coco Pazzo Cafe, David Burke's Primehouse, Embeya, Foundation Room at the House of Blues, Gemini Bistro, Hub 51, The Indian Garden, mEAT on Chestnut, Nellcote, Osteria La Madia, Public House, Quartino, Reverie Chicago, Sepia, Table Fifty-Two (pictured: chef/owner Art Smith), Untitled, Vinci, Wood, Yusho/Logan Square and Zed451. Click here for a complete list of participants and to make reservations.

Like us on Facebook

Follow @panachepubverve

First Bites Bash 2016

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

First Bites Bash, the prelude to Chicago Restaurant Week, takes place on the eve of the main event. Chef/partner Tony Priolo, Piccolo Sogno/Piccolo Sogno Due (pictured), hosts this year's event taking place 5:30-8:30 p.m. Jan. 21 in the Great Hall at Union Station, 500 W. Jackson.

More than 60 vendors will be in attendance. Must be 21 and older. A portion of the proceeds from the event benefits the Anthony Rizzo Family Foundation. Tickets are going fast, click here to purchase.

Like us on Facebook


Follow @panachepubverve

Riva Announces Chicago Restaurant Week Menus

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

Riva's, 700 E. Grand at Navy Pier, CRW lunch ($22) offering is a choice of blue crab gumbo (pictured) or baby greens salad with red wine vinaigrette; (entree) choice of roasted chicken with Brussels sprouts, ozette potatoes; pancetta; blackened lake whitefish, mashed potatoes, chile ancho sauce or roasted pear agnolotti with toasted pine nuts, sage brown butter; (dessert) choice of creme brulee or assorted gelato.

The dinner ($44) menu is a starter choice of clam chowder or organic greens; (entree) Maine lobster, Alaskan Bairdi crab, jumbo roasted shrimp, steamed red jacket potatoes; drawn butter. Dessert is a choice of gelato trio or white chocolate creme brulee.

Like us on Facebook

Follow @panachepubverve

Chicago Restaurant Week Menus Rollout

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

Chicago Restaurant Week is Jan. 22-Feb. 4 and restaurants are revealing their menus prix fixe lunch and dinner specials, including Devon Seafood Grill, 39 E. Chicago. The restaurant will offer lunch (saturdays and sundays only), $22; dinner throughout the event priced $33/$44.

Lunch menu consist of: a choice of Devon house salad, Caesar salad, wedge salad or Creole gumbo and Maine lobster bisque; (entree) choice of 8-oz flat iron steak, grilled salmon panzanella, shrimp and white cheddar grits or pretzel-crusted trout; and (dessert) choice of triple chocolate mousse cake, vanilla bean creme brulee, carrot cake or butterscotch tart.

Dinner menus, featuring the above mentioned appetizer and dessert choices, are (choice of jumbo lump crab cakes, seared scallops, Joyce Farms half chicken picatta, Duroc Farm's pork chop or maple plank salmon; $33) or (choice of 8-oz cold water lobster tail, char-crusted ahi tuna; 8-oz center cut filet or seafood mixed grill; $44).

Like us on Facebook

Follow @panachepubverve

Maple & Ash Downstairs Bar

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

Maple & Ash Downstairs bar & bistro, located on the lower (ground) level of Maple & Ash, 8 W. Maple, features an array of bar staples from chef Danny Grant such as baked-in-coals French onion soup (topped with bubbling Gruyere and sourdough croutons, (pictured); $12, crispy deviled eggs (tarragon, mustard barbecue salt); $6; $24 with caviar added; shellfish chowder (Razor clams, King crab, Meyer lemon, bacon); $14; prime meatballs (caramelized tomato sauce, Parmesan and old-school garlic bread, $14 and moules frites (Bar Harbor mussels, white wine, shallots, parsley, $14).

Curated cocktails from Christina DeLucca includes the Healy Hoo (Laird's Bonded, house-made grenadine); Lost City #2 (Kappa, Cocchi di Torino, benedictine, Fernet Branca, Bittermens Xoxcolatl mole bitters) and Scotchy Scotch Scotch (Famous Grouse, David Nicholson 1853 BIB, Cocchi di Torino, Grand Marnier, Laphfroaig float); $14 each.

DeLucca also has also created a "Big One's," large format cocktails that can be topped with a choice of Champagne, including Moet and Dom Perignon. Featured cocktails include LPZ 80 (Ford's gin, Chareau, St. Germain, fresh lime, cucumber mint) and Fancy Pants (chamomile tea infused Tito's vodka, Giffard Pamplemousse, Carpano Bianco, fresh lemon, grapefruit); $80 each. PHOTO CREDIT: DEREK RICHMOND