—Shaw's Crab House is celebrating its 30th "Pearl" anniversary of Oyster Fest on Oct. 4-12 at Shaw's Crab House Chicago, 21 E. Hubbard St., and Shaw's Crab House Schaumburg, 1900 E. Higgins Rd. Events will include oyster happy hours, pop-up 50-cent oyster hours, slurp-off competitions, oyster-centric menus, tap parties, live music and a dinner in partnership with Shedd Aquarium to kick-off Lettuce Entertain You's strawless initiative. See ShawsCrabHouse.com .
—Chicago gained just one new Michelin star ( Temporis ) this year in what the Red Guide called a "challenging culinary environment"—and four restaurants ( Grace, Sixteen, GreenRiver and Naha ) were removed from the starred-rankings due to closures or overhauls, Eater Chicago reported. Overall, Chicago has 22 starred restaurants for 2019, down three from 25 last year ( with Alinea the only three-starred spot ); New York, by comparison, has 72 stars, while San Francisco holds 55.
—Sable Kitchen & Bar, 505 N. State St., has announced the appointment of Jenee Craver to beverage director, replacing former head bartender Mike Jones. Craver brings more than six years of industry experience to the pre-prohibition inspired cocktail program at Sable.
—Club/restaurant TAO Chicago, 632 N. Dearborn St., has created "pink" dessert specials and a #DRINKPINK campaign on offer throughout October during World Breast Cancer Awareness Month. There are a #DRINKPINK Specialty Cocktail with Tito's Handmade Vodka, aperol, grapefruit and lime; and giant pink fortune cookie filled with white and dark chocolate mousse. A percentage of the proceeds will be donated to the American Cancer Society.
—The restaurant etta's, 1840 W. North Ave., is launching brunch Saturday, Oct. 6. Chef Danny Grant will offer items such as beef shortrib-fried rice, a hearth-smoked salmon platter, huevos rancheros and more. See ettarestaurant.com .
—Roman-style pizzeria Bar Cargo, 605 N. Wells St., has launched a pizza contest with the prize being free pizza for a year. The contest runs through Oct. 31. To enter, people must submit their best Roman-style pizza ideas at BarCargo.com/nameyourcargo and post Instagram photos of their favorite pizzas, recipes, selfies, etc., with #NameYourCargo and tagging @BarCargoChi. The first-place winner gets to name his/her/their pizza, have it listed on the Bar Cargo menu and win free pizza for a year ( one free pizza from November 2018 through October 2019 ).
—Family-owned Chicago gourmet grocery chain Treasure Island Foods is closing down after 55 years in business, with is remaining six stores shutting down Oct. 12, according to an Inc.com item that cites the Chicago Maroon. In a message sent to employees, CEO Maria Kamberos said, " We have done everything we could to attempt to get the company on solid ground to try to operate for another 55 years. Unfortunately, given the current industry conditions, it has been impossible for us to continue to operate without losing money."
—Italian Village Restaurants, 71 W. Monroe St., will offer a special $20.18 Marathon Pasta Bowl at The Village the weekend of Oct. 6-7. There will be the options of whole-wheat spaghetti or fettuccine alfredo with chicken ( plus a mixed green salad and garlic bread ). In addition, the spot will offer a complimentary cannoli at The Village on Oct. 7 for those who show their bibs. See italianvillage-chicago.com .
—State and Lake Chicago Tavern, 201 N. State St, will be offering a Chicago Marathon pasta dinner that includes choice of either a spring vegetable ragu, with bucatini pasta and burrata ( $17 ) or a Sunday Gravy, rich tomato and meat sauce, rigatoni pasta and pecorino ( $19 ), available on Saturday, Oct. 6, beginning at 4 p.m.
—Moxy Chicago Downtown hotel, 530 N. LaSalle St., offering Chicago Marathon runners free services during the race weekend. All marathoners with a bib number will receive a complimentary 10 minutes massage and a complimentary mimosa at 12-4 p.m.
—Booth One, 1301 N. State Pkwy., is hosting a South African wine tasting in the Library Bar on Thursday, Oct. 11, 6-8 p.m. Each glass will be paired with regionally inspired two-bite hors d'oeuvres with sommelier Seth Wilson. Tickets are $35 each; visit BoothOne.com .
—James Beard-awarded chef Debbie Gold will host an intimate dinner with Billy Harris on Monday, Oct. 22, at Tied House, 3157 N. Southport Ave., 6:30-10 p.m. Guests will enjoy a multi-course wine paired dinner, a chef meet-and-greet plus a hosted cocktail hour with hors-d'oeuvres. Tickets are $155 each ( including tax and tip ), with proceeds from the live auction benefiting The Trotter Project and presented by Barilla. Visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/chef-debbie-gold-at-tied-house-hosted-by-billy-harris-tickets-47964297505.
—The Trotter Project is presenting its Second Annual Excellence Gala on Saturday, Oct. 27, at 5:30 p.m. at at Revel Fulton Market, 1215 W. Fulton Market—and the evening celebrating the achievements of culinary scholarship recipients as well as the legacies of Chefs Charlie Trotter and Homaro Cantu will feature headlining Chef Andoni Luis Aduriz. Andoni's visit is supported by a team of alumni from both Charlie Trotter's restaurant and Chef Homaro Cantu's Moto, as well as The Trotter Project culinary supporters; this all-star team is led by host of Cooking Channel's Carnival Kings and Top Chef's Richie Farina. Tickets are $500 each; visit TheTrotterProject.org/excellence-gala-2018/ .
—Il Porcellino, 59 W. Hubbard St., will host a hands-on beverage experience to learn about and enjoy classic cocktails invented in Chicago, including the Old Fashioned and Cohasset Punch ( and each guest will receive a gift ). Tickets are $55 each; visit IlPorcellinoChicago.com .
—The not-for-profit organization Pilot Light will host its sixth annual Feed Your Mind Gala, to be held Friday, Nov. 2, at Revel Fulton Market, 1215 W. Fulton Market, 6-10 p.m. Guests can purchase a seat among nine other diners and will be assigned to the table of one of almost two dozen chefs, including Grant Achatz ( Alinea ), Stephanie Izard, Rick Bayless ( Frontera ) and Noah Sandoval ( Oriole ). Individual tickets are $350 and ticket prices have not yet been determined; visit FeedYourMindGala.org .
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