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Foodies map out your game plan because Chicago Restaurant Week returns January 26-February 8. Look for prix fixe brunch ($22); lunch ($33) and dinner ($44) specials. This year more than 360 restaurants will be participating. See list.
The event kicks off with the always highly anticipated First Bites Bash, 5:30-8:30 p.m. January 25 in the Aon Grand Ballroom at Navy Pier, 600 E. Grand. This year's host for the event, which features more than 60 chefs, is Lee Wolen, executive chef and partner of Lincoln Park eatery Boka. Must by 21 and older to attend. Tickets are $125. Click here for a complete list of participants.
A portion of the proceeds from the week-long event will benefit the Greater Chicago Food Depository. Donations are also being accepted online.
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Operation Taste 2018 takes place 6:30 p.m. February 5, Avalon Banquets, Elk Grove Village. Chicagoland chefs that include Jimmy Bannos, Jr. (Purple Pig); Martial Noguier (Bistronomic); Anu Sharma (Mantra by Indian Garden; Jimmy Bannos, Sr. (Heaven on Seven); Micahel Sheanan (Monno Pino's) and Fabio Viviani (Sienna Tavern) will hold food demonstrations and sampling in support of Operation North Pole, which works with major children's hospitals to bring a day of fun and fantasy to children with life-threatening diseases and their family. See complete list of chefs. Early bird tickets will be available for purchase through January 15. Tickets.
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Coors Light is giving away Passion Pit tickets and meet and greet passes along with offering Coors Light specials at three area bars 8-10 p.m. January 12.
Visit Easy Bar, 1944 W. Division, featuring Coors Light bottles ($3.50); aliveone, 2683 N. Halsted, featuring Coors Light drafts ($4) and Remedy, 1910 N. Milwaukee, featuring Coors Light bottles ($3.50).
Passion Pit performs 8 p.m. January 17, Riviera Theatre, 4746 N. Racine. Tickets.
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Geja's Cafe, 340 W. Armitage, is setting the wheels in motion for it's biggest Valentine's Day salute in its 53-year history, kicking off a week-long celebration February 11-17.
Highlights of the restaurant's Valentine's Day Festival include: one per cent off total bill for each year married (must present valid proof) on February 12; the restaurant opens early for "Lunch of Romance," available 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. February 14 (guests must register at opentable.com and leave a $25 deposit, which be deducted from your bill, to secure spot) and Valentine's Day dinner packages, reservations will begin being accepted 9 a.m. January 15.
In addition guests will be treated to special celebratory fetes throughout the week that include: commemorative photos, live flamenco and classical guitar; special sparkling rose wines.
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Perry's Steakhouse & Grille, 5 Oakbrook Court, Oak Brook, kicks off Magnum Mondays, a new promotion with special size and pricing on their Reserve magnum wines. Beginning January 8 guests can purchase Perry's Reserve Chardonnay Magnum for $79, regularly priced $115; and Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon Magnum, $99, regularly $155. The special pricing is a limited time offer valid with the purchase of a starter or entree (per guest) Mondays only.
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The Heritage, 7403 Madison Street, Forest Park, and Chicago Gourmets! partner for "A Heritage Sunday Night Supper," 5 p.m. January 28; $75.
The evening, hosted by Chicago Gourmets!'s Don Newcombe and Jim Price, with a meal prepared by chefs Sieger Bayer (pictured) and Michael Spiewak, begins with a wine and passed hors d'oeuvre reception followed by a three-course dinner featuring a first course of crispy pork belly and roasted oysters; a main course of grass-fed steak with romesco sauce; roasted Brussels sprouts, preserved lemon vinaigrette or, seared wild cod; French lentils, tapenade and oregano vinaigrette. Dessert is French butter cake with vanilla ice cream and roasted apples. Reservations can be made here.
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Cantina Laredo, 508 N. State, gets in a new year, new you state of mind with the unveiling three "skinny" cocktails that include: Strawberry Blood Orange Smash (SKYY Infusions Blood Orange vodka, fresh strawberries, basil and lemon juice, topped with soda (120 calories), $8.75; Hornitos Skinny 'Rita (Hornitos Plata tequila, fresh lime juice, agave nectar sweetener, topped with soda (124 calories), $8.75 and the Skinny Raspberry 'Rita (Hornitos Plata tequila, fresh lime juice, raspberry and triple sec, topped with soda (109 calories), $9.
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Macello, 1235 W. Lake, salutes National Pizza Week (January 6-13) with the Pizza Amore pie (Barese sausage, pancetta, prosciutto and mortadella); $19.
Everyday options include: Pizza Margherita (fresh mozzarella, tomato, basil), $13; Pizza Macello (burrata, cerignola olives and barese sausage), $16; Pizza Pugliese (burrata and thinly sliced mortadella), $16; Pizza Americana (fresh mozzarella, sopressata, mushrooms, roasted red peppers), $15; Pizza Barese (mozzarella, artichoke and black olive), $15; Pizza Bianca (fresh mozzarella, EVOO, cherry tomatoes, basil and arugula), $15; Pizza Molese (fresh mozzarella, EVOO, cherry tomatoes, capers, kalamata olives, Italian tuna and shaved Pecorino), $15; and Pizza Vegetariana (fresh mozzarella, carrots, yellow squash, eggplant, zucchini, roasted red peppers, shiitake mushrooms, EVOO and shaved ricotta salata), $14.
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Fizz Eatery and Soda Fountain, 494 N. Milwaukee, launched a kid-friendly happy hour menu available 2-5 p.m. Tuesday-Friday. Items include: mozzarella sticks with choice of tomato sauce, ranch or barbecue, $5; pizza puff with fries, $5; jalapeno poppers with choice of tomato sauce, ranch or barbecue, $5; potato skins topped with bacon, green onion and sour cream, $5; single cheeseburger with fries, $7 and chicken tenders and fries with ranch, barbecue, buffalo or honey mustard sauce, $7. All meals include a soda pop (Coke, Diet Coke, Sprite, Fanta or Barq's Root Beer).
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Koi Fine Asian Cuisine and Lounge, 624 Davis Street, Evanston, hosts a cocktail making class 6:30-8:30 p.m. January 11. Guests wear learn how to create six cocktails while mingling and sampling on small plates that include: crab rangoon, sushi and springs rolls.
Featured cocktails are: Basil Smash (muddled basil leaves, lime, splash of soda, whiskey, cranberry juice); pomegranate cosmo (Stoli citrus vodka, triple sec, fresh lime juice, pomegranate juice); lychee martini (vodka, lychee juice, lychee nut garnish); Maker's orchard (Maker's Mark, ginger syrup, ginger beer, apple garnish); pomegrante-lychee bellini (vodka, pomegranate juice, lychee juice, sparkling white wine, lychee nut garnish) and frozen mango martini (vodka, triple sec, mango puree, diced mango). Tickets are $25.
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Porkchop, (South Loop, Hyde Park and Bolingbrook locations only) is hosting a come as your are, including in Pjs, New Year's Day brunch. Guests arriving in pajamas will receive a 20 per cent discount. All guests of age receive a complimentary mimosa or bloody Mary. Kids eat free (check age limit with staff).
The restaurant's hangover Bloody Mary (slider, shrimp, bacon, fried pickle and wing—to name a few ingredients; $15) will be available at select locations.
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