—Walton Street Kitchen + Bar, 912 N. State St., is now offering the Italian-American Sunday supper. Offered on Sunday evenings, there are three courses ( $32 individual/$54 to share ), featuring chopped antipasti salad, Pasta Napoletana with San Marzano-braised pork shank, Italian sausage and meatballs, and tiramisu from pastry chef Ji Yoon. Reservations can be made by calling 773-570-3525 or visiting OpenTable.
—Parlor Pizza Bar has opened its third location—this time in Chicago's River North neighborhood at 405 N Dearborn St. The River North location will feature two meu exclusives: the "Al Pas-THOR" ( $16 ) pizza, which is made with achiote marinated pork, roasted pineapple, salsa verde, chipotle marinara, queso fresco, cilantro and shaved red onion; and the "Gimme S'More" TACOlato ( $8 ) with Rocky Road ice cream, Hershey's chunks, marshmallow fluff, graham cracker, fudge sauce, whipped cream and sugar crusted graham-cracker shell. Visit parlorchicago.com .
—Winnetka spot Restaurant Michael, 64 Green Bay Rd., will offer a special dinner on Christmas Eve ( Dec. 24 ). The meal will feature four entree selections, including the filet of dover sole, lobster Galantine, brown butter Brussels sprouts leaves, saffron potatoes and lobster fondue as well as several first-course selections like the house-cured and smoked salmon with warm potato galette and lemongrass creme fraiche. Desserts will include the candy cane, banana rum or gingerbread souffles Tickets are $75 each; visit RestaurantMichael.com .
—Cafe Robey, 1616 N. Milwaukee Ave., will offer a "Holiday Two Course Meal" for $35/person on Dec. 24-25. The meal will include items such as roasted turkey, apple-parsnip dressing, and gingerbread cake with ice cream, among other items. In addition, the New Year's Eve five-course dinner ( 5-11 p.m. ) will be a meal for $80/person, with an additional $35 each for wine pairing. Visit www.caferobey.com/ or call 872-315-3084.
—Italian Village Restaurants, 71 W. Monroe St., announced the appointment of Chef Emily Phillips as executive chef of its contemporary Italian concept, Vivere. Phillips joined the Italian Village family as sous chef this past summer. Phillips now oversees all culinary operations at the contemporary Italian restaurant, from menu development and kitchen management to preparation and cooking.
—Mayor Rahm Emanuel recently joined Ferrara Candy Company to announce the company is relocating its headquarters to the Old Post Office in downtown Chicago. The new headquarters will occupy 77,000 square feet at the Old Chicago Main Post Office at 433 W. Van Buren St. Ferrara's portfolio of nearly 35 brands includes SweeTARTS, Trolli®, Brach's, Black Forest, Butterfinger, CRUNCH, Laffy Taffy and NERDS, along with iconic favorites like Lemonhead, Red Hots, and Now and Later.
—The Franco's Restaurant Group of family-owned restaurants will open Il Culaccino—a 225-seat, fine dining Italian restaurant in Chicago's new McCormick Square neighborhood, next spring. Anchored in the Arrive Lex Tower, 2138 S. Indiana Ave., Il Culaccino is being promoted as the first upscale Italian, full-service restaurant in the McCormick Square entertainment district.
—Chef/owner David Choi's Seoul Taco has opened its second Chicago location in the city's Hyde Park neighborhood at 1321 E. 57th St. The Hyde Park menu includes all the Seoul Taco staples, including gogi bowls, kimchi-fried rice burritos, quesadillas and nachos. The restaurant is the first of two new Chicagoland locations for the brand; Choi plans to open a suburban location in Naperville this winter. See SeoulTaco.com .
—Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel, 221 N. Columbus Dr., will offer a four-course menu on Dec. 24-25 featuring smoked chestnut soup, winter citrus salad, guest's choice of a main, family-style sides and dessert. The cost is $58 ( $22 for kids 4-12 ). Reservations: 312-477-0234
—Chicagoans will have a unique way to spend New Year's Eve this year—by partying with Hot Doug and a selection of his sausages, Eater Chicago noted. Doug Sohn will helm a pop-up on December 31 at the Library Bar inside the Ambassador Chicago hotel, 1401 N. State Pkwy. There will be gourmet sausages, including the signature foie gras and sauternes duck sausage with truffle aioli and foie gras mousse, and the duck-fat fries as well as creations like the alligator sausage w/crayfish remoulade. Tickets are $75 each; visit www.exploretock.com/boothone/ .
—Steak 48, 615 N. Wabash Ave., offers its full menu for guests looking to toast to the new year with beignet trees and Wagyu tomahawk steaks. Late tables will receive a champagne toast, as patrons can indulge in sides like Alaskan king crab-and-rock shrimp mac 'n' cheese, Chef Brian Key's au gratin potatoes, crispy shrimp and corn creme brulee. See www.steak48.com/steakhouses/chicago/ .
—Geja's Cafe, 340 W. Armitage Ave., will offer New Year's Eve revelers a romantic repast featuring fondue and champagne along with classical/flamenco guitar music. Geja's will feature three special reserved seatings on Monday, Dec. 31, at 5 p.m. ( $95 per person ), 7:30 p.m. ( $115 ) and 10 p.m. ( $130 ). See GejasCafe.com .
—Oak Brook spot Michael Jordan's Restaurant, 1225 W. 22nd St., will host "A Red Tie Affair" on Monday, Dec. 31, starting 6 p.m. There will be a seafood tower filled with an array of Alaskan red king crab, jumbo shrimp, oysters on the half-shell, scallops and more, accompanied by chilled bottles of sparkling wine. The deluxe theme continues with the signature wedge salad and lobster medallions, followed by a main course of "A Study in Filet Mignon," featuring platters of bone-in and American Wagyu tenderloin. Admission is $175/person, with six-person tables for $900; call 630-828-2932.
—Merchant, 3137 W. Logan Blvd., is ringing in the new year by offering a $50 five-course family-style dinner Dec. 31 with an optional $25 wine and cocktail pairing, in addition to a la carte options. The dinner includes sunchoke lemongrass soup, steak with puffed rice and Brussels Kraut, pear salad with watercress and evalon, fried chicken with braised green and cannellini beans, and kumquat ricotta with Champagne curd. Reservations can be made by calling 773-687-8822 or at MerchantChicago.com .
—The Kitchen Chicago, 316 N. Clark St., will offer its weekend brunch from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on New Year's Day. Guests can start the year off right with a complimentary zero-proof "One More Please" mocktail, or enjoy a little hair-of-the-dog with one ( or a few ) of the new holiday brunch cocktails such as Coffee With Alexander. Culinary offerings include Gulf shrimp and grits, buttermilk Belgian waffle and crispy fish lettuce "tacos." Visit www.thekitchenbistros.com/location/the-kitchen-chicago/ .
—Elf'd Up in Wrigleyville—a new holiday pop-up bar at 3485 N. Clark St. that pays tribute to the movie Elf—will host a New Year's Day Onesie Brunch beginning at 11 a.m. The guest with the best onesie will win a $200 cash prize. Elf'd Up will broadcast all college bowl games as well as the NHL Winter Classic on 15 TVs and two quad video walls throughout the bar.
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