McQ's March Sauce Madness

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McQ's Bar & Grill's, 730 N. Bolingbrook Drive, Bolingbrook, annual Sauce Madness is back through April 3, a new match-up of 16 of their sauces on their crispy popcorn chicken kicked off March 16 with "Butter Buffalo Parmesan" against the "Orange Teriyaki." The March 17  match-up pits Smoked Pineapple Jalapeno against Mole. 

Other match-ups include: Salsa Roja vs Thai Peanut (March 18); Carolina BBQ vs Sweet Onion Balsamic (March 19); Dr. Pepper BBQ vs "Wild Curry (March 20-21) and Sweet Honey Mustard vs Mango Jerk (March 22). Visit for complete lineup. Winning sauces will be announced April 23.

McQ's will offer an extensive lineup of  domestic and craft beer along with game day food specials.

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III Fork Host Marchesi Antinori Wine Dinner

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III Forks Prime Steakhouse, 180 N. Field, hosts a Marchesi Antinori wine dinner 7 p.m. April 12; $125. The evening gets underway with a welcome reception at 6:30 p.m. RSVP: 312-938-4303 

Antinori representative Chris Smarto  leads participants through the history of the estate as well as the characteristics of Antinori wines, including 2013 Tignanello. 

Executive chef Cedric Harden's menu: 

Course One

2014 Castello Della Sala San Giovanni Della Sala

Charred Octopus Salad with grapes, watermelon radish, champagne vinaigrette

Course Two
2013 Cabernet Sauvignon

Braised Rabbit Ravioli with rabbit sugo, grana padano, pea shoots

Course Three
2013 Tignanello

Dry Aged Ribeye with escarole, huckleberry reduction

Course Four
Guado al Tasso Bruciato

Chocolate Extravaganza  

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Bang Bang Pie's "Perfect American" Salute

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Chicago Opera Theatre and Bang Bang Pie and Biscuit Shop join for a venture saluting the theater's production "The Perfect American," pie party, 7:30 p.m. March 27, Bang Bang Pie and Biscuit, 4947 N. Damen. Tickets. 

The event salutes the theater's production of "The Perfect American" the last three months of Walt Disney's life, 7:30 p.m. April 22; 3 p.m. April 30, Harris Theater of Dance, 201 E. Randolph. Tickets.

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Chicago Firehouse Restaurant's St. Patrick's Day Menu

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The Chicago Firehouse Restaurant, 1401 S. Michigan, celebrates St. Patrick's Day with a special Irish-inspired menu items, available 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. March 17-18. Among the dishes guests can savor: Irish soda bread, Guinness stew, corned beef and cabbage, fish and chips, mint Oreo cheesecake and Black Dog gelato sundae.

Toast the occasion with a green cocktail, the Cucumber Bliss (Ketel One Citroen, St-Germaine elderflower liqueur and fresh squeezed lemon juice; $14).  See complete menu.

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Oyster Bah Throws a Crawfish Boil

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Oyster Bah, 1962 N. Halsted, is throwing a crawfish boil. The Louisiana-style dish (1-¼ lbs fresh LA crawfish, andouille sausage, red bliss potatoes, and corn on the cob) will be offered along with the regular dinner menu March 15; $29.95.  

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Sketchbook Adds Dark Brews and Limited Edition

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Sketchbook Brewing Company, 821 Chicago Evanston, has dark beers on tap that include: Bud's Corvus Irish Stout ($1 off all draft pours of this beer). Available for the first time in bottles; Brunswick Mum Schwarzbier (black lager); Turbulence Imperial Stout; Common Culture Oatmeal Stout and Ripe Now Porter with cranberries. 

In a collaboration with Candlelite Pizza, the brewer will feature, for a limited time, Road Trip IPA (All Michigan beer with Mackinac hops). View complete tap and bottle list.

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Rockit Bar & Grill hosts "Chi-Rish," a St. Patrick's Day Party

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Rockit Bar & Grill, 22 W. Hubbard, hosts "Chi-Rish," a St. Patrick's Day Party, March 11. Early risers will be feted to a complimentary buffet 7-9 a.m. In addition, Jameson  and Irish Car Bombs will be $8; Bud Light $5 and Guinness, $7 through the day.

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Bar Lupo Goes Green for St. Patrick's Day

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Bar Lupo, 217 W. Huron, becomes O'Conall's Bar for St. Patrick's Day, March 11. For the occasion the bar launches an Irish menu that includes: corned beef meatballs, soda bread and Lupo fish and chips. Festivities begin at 10 a.m. and continue through closing.

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Sarah Mispagel Named Sepia's New Pastry Chef

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Sarah Mispagel is Sepia's 123 N. Jefferson, new executive pastry chef.

Chef Mispagel, formerly of Nightwood, is not only in charge of the Sepia pastry team but will be creating globally inspired desserts at the new sister restaurant, Proxi, scheduled to open late spring. 

Among the chef's dazzling desserts is the black walnut cake with rum soaked raisins and carrot cake ice cream.

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City Winery's Riverwalk Cafe St. Patrick's Day Celebration

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City Winery Chicago Riverwalk, 11 W. Riverwalk South, on the south bank of the Chicago River between Dearborn and State Streets, opens for St. Patrick's Day festivities 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. March 11.

From the venue's outdoor cafe area guests (arriving early) will have front-row viewing of the dyeing of the river. In addition visitors will also be feted with Irish food, beverages and live music from Rick King’s Royal Hustle, who will play two sets: 11 a.m. to noon; 1-2 p.m.

Food specials include a corned beef sandwich served with chips, a corned beef plate with potato salad and cabbage and Vegetarian Irish Stew made with root vegetables, mushrooms, faro, leeks and kale. In addition the house wines, Lagunitas Brewing Company’s Cappuccino Stout, Imperial Stout, Pilsner and IPA along with regular and Irish coffee from the West Loop’s Sparrow Coffee, will be available.

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Duck Inn JUSTIN Wine Pairing

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Executive Chef Kevin Hickey of  Duck Inn, 2701 S. Eleanor with JUSTIN Winemaker Scott Shirley hosts a five-course pairing 6:30 p.m. March 8. A reception is at 6 p.m. The cost is $120.

Among the wine samples will be Isosceles ranked sixth best wine in the world by Wine Spectator Magazine. See menu pairings below. Limited space. Tickets.

Menu:
BERGAMOT CURED PRAWNS
Celeriac & Green Apple Mousseline | Lemon & Black Garlic Gremolata
Sauvignon Blanc

CEDAR SMOKED SEA TROUT
Creamy Farro & Black Currants | Cardamom
Justification

GLAZED DUCK BREAST
Braised Fennel | Vietnamese Mint & Culantro | Violet Duck Jus
Cabernet Sauvignon

COCOA SPICED HANGER STEAK
Fondant Potatoes | Creamed Kale & Bacon
Isosceles

PERSIMMON BREAD PUDDING
Cracked Pepper & Vanilla Custard
Savant

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Geja's International Women's Wine Festival

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Geja’s Café, 340 W. Armitage, as part of its evolving worldly wine festivals, salutes women of the wine world with a two month-long International Women’s Wine Festival this March and April. 

The wine menu will feature an entire page of wines devoted to notable women of enology from around the world. Red selections include Cloudline Pinot Noir 2014 (Willamette Valley, OR); Elena Walch Schiava, 2013 (Alto Adige, Italy) and Thomas Goss Cabernet 2014 (Australia). 

White selections include: Fiddlehead  Cellars Sauvignon 2014 (California); Chelhalem Reisling 2014 (Wilmette Valley, OR) and Stag Leap Cellars Sauvignon 2014 (Napa Valley, CA)

During the event Geja’s Café will donate $1 for every bottle ordered to Deborah’s Place, Chicago’s largest provider of supportive housing exclusively for women. Purchase tickets.

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Forbidden Root's Ping Pong Night

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Forbidden Root, 1746 W. Montrose, host its second Ping Pong Night, 8-11 p.m. March 7. The outing gives guest the opportunity to unseat Ping Pong Master Robert Finkel. Competitors in the friendly competition will win Forbidden Roots merchandise. 

During the event Forbidden Root beers will be available for $5. 

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