National Root Beer Day

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Cactus Bar and Grill, 404 S. Wells, toasts National Root Beer Day (August 8) with an adult version of the root beer float (Small Town Brewery's Not Your Father's Root Beer, vanilla ice cream; $7). Available 11 a.m. to midnight Aug. 6 only.

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The Dawson's Summer Punches

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Beverage Director Clint Rogers of The Dawson, 730 W. Grand, launches communal-style punches that includes the retro Saturday Night Fever (Absolut Elyx, Carano Bianco, Chareau Aloe liqueur, Prosecco, watermelon, lemon, basil) 0 cocktail, severed in disco ball-styled container $120) 4-8  people.
See all punch-style offerings below. PHOTO: Nicole Ess

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• Canteen No. 3 (Bols Genever, Smith & Cross Navy Strength Rum, Carpano Antica, Coconut Green Tea, Honey, Lime) – Serves 2-4 people -  $45
• Botija Nueva No. 2 (Pisco Porton, Rhine Hall Apple Brandy, Byrrh Quinquina, Grand Marnier, Lemon, Pomegranate, Berries, Mint) – Serves 3-5 people -  $48
• Champagne Whiskey Punch (Knob Creek Bourbon Dawson Barrel, Raspberry, Lemon, Bitters, Piper Heidsieck Champagne) – Serves 4-8 people -  $120
• Octopus's Garden (Bacardi 8 Aged Rum, Hennessy Vs. Vanilla, Strawberry, Lime, Grapefruit, Oleo-Saccharum, Herbs, Sugarcane) – Serves 6-12 people - $200

Kit Kat's Dirty Dancing Brunch

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The Kit Kat Lounge and Supper Club, 3700 N. Halsted, in conjunction with the Broadway in Chicago stage production at Cadillac Palace Theatre (opening Aug. 18), hosts a Dirty Dancing themed brunch, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Aug. 2. The cocktail of the day..., Nobody Sits Baby in the Corner (Stoli Oranji, fresh squeezed orange juice, Champagne float). All cocktails are half priced. In addition a build-your-own beverage package is available for $14.95. During the event five guests will have the opportunity to win a pair of tickets to the production.

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mk Heirloom Tomato Salad

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mk, 868 N. Franklin, re-opens Aug 6, but until then here's the restaurant's five-step Heirloom tomato salad to try at home. Enjoy!








Ingredients:
1 Heirloom tomato
handful kale
1 radish, thinly sliced
4 tbs fresh burrata
1 jalapeno pepper
1/2 cup olive oil
1/8 cup lemon juice
coarse sea salt
freshly ground black pepper

Preparation:
1. Slice tomatoes into wedges and sprinkle with sea salt and pepper 10 minutes before serving.
2. Place jalapeno and olive oil into a blender. Strain mixture through mesh strainer to make oil.
3. In bowl, whisk oil with lemon juice, salt pepper.
4. Arrange sliced tomatoes on a plate. Dress kale and radish with vinaigrette, add to plate.
5. Distribute cheese on plate and serve.

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Luella's Milk Chocolate Bread Pudding

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Chef/owner Darnell Reed of Luella's Southern Kitchen, 4609 N. Lincoln, serves up his hand-crafted milk chocolate bread pudding (normally only offered during brunch) as a special treat for National Milk Chocolate Day (July 28). The pudding comes dressed with strawberry jam anglaise and homemade praline ice cream ($6). Available all day Tuesday only. PHOTO: Cindy Kurman

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Grilling and Hot Dog Month Specials Go Away Soon

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Grilling and Hot Dog Month comes to a close July 31 and with it all the month-long specials including the Goose Island 312 beer-soaked Johnsonville Big brat topped with sauteed onions ($9) at LandShark Beer Garden at Navy Pier, 600 E. Grand. Live music featured Wednesday through Sunday.

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Cafe Spiaggia Reopens with a Fresh New Look

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Tony Mantuano's Italian eatery is sporting a new contemporary look, thanks to Karen Herold of Studio K who just completed a renovation of the mag mile restaurant. Along with its new look Cafe Spiaggia, 980 N. Michigan, second level, also features a new menu that includes desserts from new pastry chef Melanie Diamond-Manlusoc.

The updated look includes marble cafe tables, black chairs; white leather banquettes and brass fixtures. Diamond-Manlusoc's creations include a Pizelle panino (ice cream sandwich made with thin Italian wafer cookies) and gelato scoops that includes
flavors such as honey cashew and an Earl Grey tea. Photos: Jeff Kauck

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Glazed and Infused Doughnut Sundaes

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Glazed and Infused (30 E. Hubbard; 222 N. LaSalle) gets creative with its doughnuts designing summer treats such as the doughnut and coffee sundae (chocolate4 doughnut, coffee gelato, chocolate sauce, pretzel streusel); raspberry old fashioned sundae (lemon cream gelato, raspberry compote, almond streusel) and a build-your-own doughnut sundae (choose your doughnut, gelato and toppings).

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Autre Monde Tiki Sundays

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Chefs Dan Pancake and Beth Partridge of Autre Monde Cafe & Spirits, 6727 W. Roosevelt, hosts a Tiki sangria brunch 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sundays through Sept. 6.

Highlights include chicken and pancakes (crispy fried chicken and buttermilk pancakes, $11), olive oil poached tuna and white bean salad and the Am burger (on homemade brioche, Red Rock cheddar, dijonnaise, frites, $10).

In addition to the Tiki sangria ($5) mixologist Becci Visconti West serves of Rosemary sours and Harissa Bloody Marys.

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Found's Wednesday Social Meetings

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Found, 1631 Chicago, Evanston, launches a summer "Meet Me at Found" series Wednesdays in August kicking off with "Where Is This Found?" salon talk with Evanston History Museum's executive director and local expert Eden Juron Pearlman, 5:30 p.m. Aug. 5. An installation/visual tour of Evanston will be set up throughout the restarant.

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Umami Celebrates the Return of Happy Hour

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Chicago's Happy Hour ban has been lifted and Umami Burger Chicago, 1480 N. Milwaukee, has designed a "social" hour menu, available 3-6 p.m. Monday-Friday, for the occasion. Items include: sliders for $4 (trio; $9); truffle fries ($3); drafts ($5) wine ($6) and cocktails ($7).

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Arami-Yusho Noodle Night Collaborative

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Guest chef  (Harold Jurado, Yusho; pictured) joins host chefs de cuisine Ajay Popli and Nelson Vinansaca for Arami-Yusho Noodle Night at Arami, 1829 W. Chicago, 5 p.m. July 27. Chef Jurado prepares two dishes for the event: hamachi poke with chilled somen (squash noodles, summer vegetables, $12) and spicy chicken 'n beer ramen (chicken dumpling, bok choy, pickled ginger, pickled onion, shiso, scallion, $16).

Popli and Vinansaca serve up braised short rib tonkotsu (poached egg, naruto, grilled bamboo shoots, Tokyo negi, pickled Fresno pepper, $16).

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Maple & Ash

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Maple & Ash, 8 W. Maple, partners with Sportsman's Club, 948 N. Western, for a special edition of of its pre-opening weekly Sunday BBQ Series, 6-9 p.m. (Monday) July 27.

For the "Bonus Weeknight BBQ," Executive Chef David Ochs and beverage director Cristiana De Lucca design a meal reminiscent of classic cruise ship fare (surf 'n turf and potato: beef tenderloin, crab legs, twice baked potato, sauce Americaine) for the nautical themed barbecue being held on the Sportsman's Club patio. Tickets are $20, includes an Allagash beer and classic Maple & Ash martini. Maple & Ash opens this summer.

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