El Tapeo creates exclusive dish for World Tapas Day

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El Tapeo Modern Spanish Kitchen, located in Le Méridien Chicago - Oakbrook Center,  2100 Spring Road, Oak Brook celebrates World Tapas Day June 21 with an exclusive offer with a portion of proceeds benefitting the Hinsdale Humane Society.


Executive Chef Matthew Cappellini's Pimenton de Cerdo is handcrafted with pan-fried peppered bacon and a saffron orange dipper; $9. 

In addition to the exclusive item guests can choose from a selection of other signature tapas that include: Datiles (fried medjool dates, marcona almonds, and cherry-wood bacon); Coca (tomato jam, goat cheese, arugula, and flatbread); Alitas de Cerdo, three miniature pork shanks, and orange-jalapeño glaze; Gambas al Ajillo (sautéed shrimp, garlic, fresh herbs, and polenta bread) and Vieras Fritas, fried bay scallops, chermoula, frisee, and espelette.

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Hard Rock turns back time with its 71-cent offering

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Mark your calendar for this anniversary special. Hard Rock Cafe, 63 W. Ontario, celebrates its 47 birthday by offering it's Original Legendary Burger (beef patty topped with smoked bacon, cheddar cheese, a golden fried onion ring, crisp lettuce and vine ripened tomato, served on a toasted brioche bun with Hard Rock’s seasoned fries) for 71-cent, reflective of the year it opened. The burger will be available from 11 a.m. to noon (only) June 14.  First-come, first-served basis.

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aliveOne brings on the laughs

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AliveOne, 2683 N. Halsted, kicks off its "Back Room Comedy,"
a monthly showcase featuring Chicago stand-up comedians, 9 p.m. June 15. Upcoming guests include Amy Sumpter, Scott Duff, Maya May and Aaron McDavis.

Comedy night specials include half-off everything (except shots) from 5-7 p.m. Specials available all evening include: $4 PBR bottles; and a shot of Old Grand-dad with an Old Style draft, $8.

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3 Forks' fried lobstail tail

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III Forks Prime Steakhoiuse, 180 N. Field, celebrates National Lobster Day, June 17, in a big way with Hans Aeschbaher's Texas-style fried lobster tail with homemade remoulade sauce ($65), available 5-11 p.m. June 15-16; 5-10 p.m. June 17.

Other lobster-centric foods include: lobster bisque ($15), lobster mac and cheese ($20) and cold water lobster tail (market price). For reservations call 312-938-4303.

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Mon Am Gabi turns 20 with style

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Mon Ami Gabi, 2300 N. Lincoln Parkway, celebrates it's 20th anniversary all month long with the featured event, the Veuve Clicquot sunset toast, taking place June 19. The toast also salutes Veuve Clicquot Rose's 200th anniversary. 

The evening begins on the patio with a selection of Chef Nelli Maltezos hors d' oeuvres paired with Veuve Cliquot's Yellow Brut and Rose. Sorbet served with profiteroles from a croquembouche dessert. Space is limited and reservations are required. The cost is $65, plus tax and gratuity. reservations can be made at 773-348-8886.

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Slurping Turtle sake tasting

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Slurping Turtle, 116 W. Hubbard, hosts a sake tasting with passed appetizers 6:30-9 p.m.
June 14; $25, plus tax and gratuity. Must register.

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Ribfest Chicago 2018

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Ribfest Chicago, celebrating 20 years of "Ribs and Rock & Roll," returns June 8-10 at Lincoln/Damen and Irving.

Vendors include: Fireside Restaurant; Old Crow Smokehouse; Famous Dave's; BBQ King Smokehouse; Porkchop; Mrs. Murphy and Son's Irish Bistro; Wrigley BBQ; Austin's Texas Lightning; Blackwood BBQ; Chicago BBQ Co.; Real Urban Barbecue; BBQ Supply Co and  Ribs 1 BBQ and Bangers. See complete list of food vendors.

In addition live music; children's center; family activities will take be held throughout the weekend.

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Caffe Umbria's Negroni Week special blend

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Caffè Umbria, a Seattle-based artisan coffee roaster, has created a special edition, non-alcoholic Negroni Week Blend, available June 4-30 in all Chicago area locations.

The special limited-edition blend come in 12-ounce bags, $15 and five-pound bags, $80. The bags will also be available for purchase online. $1 from each bag sold will benefit No Kid Hungry, a charity working to end child hunger in America.

Caffè Umbria's Logan Square and River North locations will offer the Negroni Week Blend as a cold brew and a variety of other brew methods like pourover, aeropress and espresso. The coffee is available for $4.50 (12-ounce) and $5 (16-ounce).

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Staytion Market & Bar hosts R.E.D Fest

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Staytion Market & Bar at Renaissance Chicago, 1 W. Wacker, presents R.E.D. Fest, an event paying tribute to Chicago’s booming summer festival scene that continues to embrace and enrich the city’s local culture year after year. R.E.D. Fest, which stands for Renaissance Encourages Discovery. Festivities, which includes live entertainment and an array of local vendors, musicians, artists and distillers, kicks off at 5 p.m. June 5.

Specialty cocktails will be created with ingredients from local venders Two Brothers and FEW along with a signature cocktail for the evening created with ingredients from Chicago Distilling Company. 

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Texas de Brazil hosts a Grey Goose mixology

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Texas de Brazil, 210 E. Illinois, hosts a Grey Goose mixology class 6:30 p.m. June 5; $35, includes appetizers. An ambassador representing the brand will be on hand. Must be 21 and older. Tickets.

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Gene and Georgetti talk Negroni and steak in June

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Gene & Georgetti, both location, pays homage to Negroni Week a round of special cocktails.

Selections, with trivia history include: Negroni (gin, Amaro, sweet vermouth, classic); Americano (swap the gin for soda water, which is older than the Negroni. This variety is the first cocktail ever mentioned in the James Bond novels); Broken Negroni, aka Sbagliato, (swap the gin for Prosecco. In 1972 at Bar Basso in Milan, sparkling wine was added to a Negroni by mistake and has been a spin-off favorite since); Boulevardier (swap the gin for bourbon, which creates a new storyline while maintaining the bittersweet interplay between the Amaro and the vermouth) and the Negroni Fizz (add lemon, sugar and soda, which creates a light twist on the old standard). All variations are $10 each.

In addition the steakhouse whips up outstanding National Steakhouse Month special: USDA Prime 32-ounce dry-aged long bone Long Bone “Tomahawk” Rib-eye; $115.  

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Forbidden Root hosts exclusive beer dinner

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Forbidden Root, 1746 W. Division,
hosts its monthly beer dinner 6-9 p.m. June 6. The exclusive dinner, there is room for only 14 guests, is held in the venue's private dining room.

Chef Dan Weiland's four-course dinner will reflect his love of local, seasonal ingredients. Tickets ($45) are sold on a first-come, first-served basis. Purchase.

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Latinicity hosts Gourmet Mexico Chicago

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Gourmet Mexico Chicago will be held 6-11 p.m. June 1, Latinicity, 108 N. State. Guests will be feted with created by top chefs from various regions of Mexico; $60.

In addition to food sampling the price includes tequila beer and Champagne stations sampling. A portion of the evening's proceeds benefit the Greater Chicago Depository. Tickets.

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