Ina's Closes Today

There's one thing Chicago will miss as this year comes to a close-- Ina Pinkney's iconic breakfast spot. Pinkney announced in August that she had chosen this day to stop operation of her West Loop restaurant. So as we say good-bye to 2013 we bid adieu to Ina's. And to Ina Pinkney, affectionately known as the breakfast queen, we wish you well with future endeavors.

Frasca's Pizza Week

Frasca Pizzeria and Wine Bar, 3358 N. Paulina, hosts a pizza week Jan. 13-19, Selections, along with wine specials includes giveaways, bogos and a special pizza Benedict (three eggs over easy, sausage, bacon, prosciutto, cheese and Hollandaise sauce on a homemade crust; $15) available for brunch and dinner Jan. 18. A kid's pizza-making class is 2-4 p.m. Jan. 19. frascapizzeria

Muncipal's New Chef

Don Penza is Municipal Bar + Dining Company's, 216 W. Ohio, new executive chef. And, with a new chef comes a new menu. Look for items such as Philly cheese steak egg rolls; pork loin with goat cheese polenta and bourbon apple sauce and lobster roll (wild caught lobster, lemon aioli, shallots and fine herbs on a roll). municipalbar

Alpana Singh is Wine Enthusiast's Sommelier of the Year

Alpana Singh, master sommelier and owner of  "wine-driven" restaurant The Boarding House, 720 N. Wells, which recently celebrated its one-year anniversary, heads to New York to receive Wine Enthusiast's 2013 Sommelier of the Year Wine Star Award on Jan. 24. boardinghouse

Kanela Hosts a January Food Drive

Bring in a can of soup or non perishable food item when visiting Kanela, 3231 N. Clark, during January, which is National Soup Month, and receive a complimentary order of the restaurant's signature loukoumades (Greek doughnut with lemon honey syrup and toasted walnuts). Donations will go to local food pantries. kanelacafe

Donut Fest Sold Out

Tickets for Wicker Park's inaugural Donut Fest, featuring offerings from more than 15 vendors, are sold out. The fest takes place Jan. 26 at Chop Shop & 1st Ward, 2033 W. North. donutfest

Rack Gears Up For The Pack

Bears Super Bowl XX champion Dennis McKinnon joins fans at the Rack House Kitchen and Tavern, 222 E. Algonquin, Arlington Heights, to cheer the Bears on against the Pack 3-6 p.m. Dec. 29. Former Bear Adrian Peterson will be in attendance as well. Mckinnon and Peterson will sign autographs during the event. Guest will have the opportunity to win an autographed football during a raffle. Tickets are $5. Proceeds will benefit the Gridiron Greats, a charity which helps former NFL players in need. Drink speciasls include $5 Bloody Marys; $3 mimosas; $4 domestic beers; $12 domestic beer buckets. Chicken wings will be on special for .50 cents. Kickoff is at 3:25 p.m. rackhousetavern

Bountiful Eatery's NYE Special

Bountiful Eatery, 3313 N. Broadway, hosts a BYOB New Year's Eve Dinner 7-9 p.m. Dec. 31; $30. Reservations are required for the intimate dining destination, which features only eight tables. entree selections (all gluten free) include a choice of Dijon marinated salmon; marinated grilled chicken breast; marinated and grilled tofu kabob; marinated chicken kabob; ground bison plate; jalapeno and ground turkey plate and a Latin bowl. bountifuleatery

Sportsman's Club Now Open

Humboldt Park is home to Sportsman's Club, 948 N. Western, Matt Eisler and Kevin Heisner's first launch in the Heisler Hospitality neighborhood tavern series. The bar, which opened Dec. 20, offers an old-fashioned neighborhood atmosphere with cosmo flair. The tavern's interior design, which boast an art deco bar, was inspired by a French hunting drawn from the inspiration of a French museum and wooden hunting museum. Noted mixologist Jeff  Donahue (Aviary, Barrelhouse Flat and Graham Elliott) and Wade Elroy (Trenchermen, Barrelhouse Flat and the Dutch in New York). drinkingandgathering

The Drawing Room's NYE DInner

The Drawing Room's, 937 N. Rush, Tommy Sheean promoted from sous chef to newly appointed executive chef, is hosting as New Year's Eve dinner; $85, wine pairings are available for an additional $35. See menu below. drchicago

Amuse:

Heart of palm, tangerine, black pepper

First Course

Beet Tartare - cucumber, horseradish, crème fraiche, fennel puree

Ahi Crudo - jalepeno, pomegranate, cilantro

Second Course

Duck Confit - ravioli en brood, turnip, hazelnut

Roasted Brussels Sprouts - spaghetti squash, preserved lemon, thyme, parmesan

Third Course

Halibut - pancetta braised cabbage, maitake mushrooms, charred scallion vinaigrette

Beluga Lentils - roasted winter squash, pickled pearl onion, Romesco, goat cheese

Petite Tender - braised endive, sunchokes, caramelized onion puree, mustard demi

Dessert

Chocolate Crème Brulee, raspberry compote

Bread Pudding, kirsch brandy, cherry, pistachio

 

Kimpton Hotels & Restaurant's NYE Events

Kimpton Group restaurants Atwood Cafe, South Water Kitchen and 312 Chicago offer three different styles of New Year's eve celebrations Dec. 31.

Atwood Cafe, 1 W. Washington, rings out the old year with chef  Derek Simcik's six-course (each course is inspired by a local chef) tasting menu and Champagne toast; $70. atwoodcafe

Chef Roger Waysok of South Water Kitchen, 225 N. Wabash, taps into the holiday celebration with a dinner and beer pairing; $75. southwaterkitchen

Chef Luca Corrazzina of 312 Chicago, 136 N. LaSalle, opts for a four-course meat and veggie menu; $65, $90 with wine pairings. 312chicago

Caffeinated Club Comes to Chicago

Water-down coffee or sodas, who wants them? Caffeinated water, now that's whole new concept one that Caffeinated Club, flavored soda water with caffeine, has cornered. The 12-ounce bottled beverages contain 34 grams of caffeine (equal to the amount in a 12-oz can of cola) 15 grams of sodium, 0 grams of sugar, no artificial sweeteners and zero calories. Varieties include clear, orange grapefruit, raspberry and lemon. caffeinatedclub

City Tavern's New Brunch Menu

Executive Chef Amanda Barnes of City Tavern, 1416 S. Michigan, has designed a new brunch menu, available 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sundays, that includes one entree and bottomless Champagne or mimosas for $25. See menu below. citytavern

Brunch Menu at City Tavern

Traditional two eggs any style, hash browns, ciabatta toast $10

Omelet of the Day hash browns $13

French Toast brioche, maple mascarpone, syrup, mixed berries $12

Bacon Pancakes whipped goat butter, maple syrup $12

Southern Benedict buttermilk biscuit, country ham, two poached eggs, Hollandaise $14

Pork Schnitzel two fried eggs, lemon, capers, maple mustard $15

Shrimp Hash hollandaise, two poached eggs, potatoes, bacon bits $18

Breakfast Burger half-pound burger, fried egg, bacon jam, garlic aioli, lettuce, pickles, onion, frites $15 add cheddar or swiss $1.50

Croque Madame brioche, gruyere, ham, farm egg, frites $14

Foie and Bacon Sandwich English muffin, maple syrup $15 

Monte Cristo ham, cheddar and bacon triple decker sandwich

Apple Salad arugula, pecans, chili vinaigrette $10

Escarole and Kale Salad blue cheese dressing, garlic croutons, bacon $12

Tavern Cheese Board
each $7, pick three $19, pick five $32

Tavern Charcuterie Board
each $8, Tavern Board $25

Salami Nostrano, Finocchiona, Coppa, Sopressata, Speck