Stretch Bar & Grill, 3458 N. Clark St., has partnered with the Chicago Spartans Michigan State Alumni Association to host a winter-coat drive benefiting Elam Davies Social Service Center. For any new or gently used coat donated, Stretch will give customers a free Miller Lite or Coors Light draft ( one per person ). Donations will be accepted at the bar anytime until Saturday, Nov. 21. Visit www.thestretchchicago.com .
Nearly nine months after the Michelin-starred Lake View restaurant Senza closed, the husband-and-wife team behind the concept are opening their own place elsewhere, Eater Chicago noted. Noah and Cara Sandoval, along with Jean Banchet award-winning pastry chef Genie Kwon ( from Boka ), are planning to open Oriolea 28-seat, tasting-menu spotthis winter in the West Loop. Patrons should expect 16-18 "small" courses for under $200 ( with either full pairings or a la carte beverage options ), an open kitchen, and an atmosphere where cooks will often step into the dining room to serve patrons.
Cooper's Hawk Winery & Restaurants kicks off a year-long celebration to honor its 10-year anniversary with a special-edition magnum bottle, Decadence. The anniversary wine is being distributed as a thank-you gift to the company's 2,500 employees who are older than 21, and as a wine-of-the-month varietal for more than 150,000 Wine Club members. Helmed by CEO and Founder Tim McEnery, Cooper's Hawk was first uncorked in Orland Park, Illinois, in 2005.
Gold Coast dining destination Fig & Olive, 104 E. Oak St., has launched "Aperitivo Hour" 4-7 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays with specially priced crostini, draft beer, wine and cocktails. Also during Aperitivo Hour, crostini are offered for $6/three pieces or $11/six pieces, including new selections from the fall menu such as grilled leek, romesco and hazelnut, or Gorgonzola, apple and red pepper marmalade. See the full Aperitivo Hour menu at www.figandolive.com/wp-content/uploads/CHI_AP.pdf .
National Dessert Day is on Oct. 14. The S'mores Pizza at Bar Toma, 110 E. Pearson St., is wood-fired and features a combination of lightly charred marshmallows, cinnamon sugar, Nutella, and graham cracker crumbles. See BarTomaChicago.com .
The team at Ani, 3056 N. Lincoln Ave., announced that it will now be open seven nights a week with the launch of Izakaya Mondays as well as additional fall offerings. Guests dining at Ani on Monday evenings will be greeted with a sample of Ani's signature sake, Ichi No Torri. Among the specials is a combination of ramen with Japanese beer ( or glass pour of sake ) for $15. See AniChicago.com .
On Thursday, Oc. 15, Roka Akor Chicago, 456 N. Clark St., welcomes Brook Drummond, the general manager of Alexander Valley's Skipstone Winery, to collaborate on a four-course wine dinner with Executive Chef Ce Bian. The evening will kick off with fresh oysters and a grand Cru champagne reception at 6:30 p.m. Dinner will follow immediately after, with each course offering a paired selection of Skipstone's current wine releases. Tickets are $120 per person plus tax and gratuity; call 312-477-7652.
Home Run Inn is opening its very first North Side restaurant at 3215 N. Sheffield Ave. in Lakeview at 3 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 15. The first 100 guests in line on opening day will receive a coupon for one free large two-topping pizza ( valid Oct. 16-Nov. 30 ). A percentage of proceeds from opening weekend sales will go to Lakeview Pantry, the neighborhood's non-profit food pantry and social services organization with the mission to eliminate hunger and poverty in Chicago communities.
ShopHouse Southeast Asian Kitchen, the Southeast Asian restaurant created by Chipotle Mexican Grill ), has announced plans to open at 1022 N. Meacham Rd. in Schaumburg this November. This location will be the first of two restaurants to open locally, with the recently announced downtown Loop location at 24 E. Jackson Blvd. scheduled to open in December. ShopHouse currently operates 11 locations in Los Angeles and the Washington, D.C., area. Visit ShopHouseKitchen.com .
On Thursday, Oct. 15 ( in honor of Farm to School Month and National School Lunch Week ), Pilot Light, a not-for-profit started by Chicago chefs, will partner with Chicago Public Schools ( CPS ), the USDA Food and Nutrition Service, and Aramark to provide more than 390,000 CPS students with a chef-designed, Chicago-themed lunch. The founding chefsPaul Kahan ( Blackbird, Big Star ), Matthias Merges ( Yusho Chicago, A10 ), Jason Hammel ( Lula Cafe ) and Justin Large ( One Off Hospitality )worked with Aramark to build a meal that adheres to USDA's healthier school-lunch nutrition standards, connects to Pilot Light classroom lessons and includes locally sourced food.
In honor of the opening of Florida's stone-crab season, Hugo's Frog Bar & Fish House, 1024 N. Rush St., is offering a complimentary fresh medium stone crab claw to all diners who order a dinner entrée on Friday, Oct. 16 ( starting at 3 p.m. ). Fresh stone crab season runs through May 15, 2016. Prices for stone crab are market price, and sizes vary depending on availability. Visit www.hugosfrogbar.com .
The Chicago play Bad Jews is staging a matzo-ball eating competition on Saturday, Oct. 17, at 10 a.m. at the Royal George Theatre, 1641 N. Halsted St. The winner gets a $50 gift card to The Bagel and two tickets to Bad Jews. To sign up, email holly@heroanagency.com .
In recognition of Sweetest Day, Oct. 17, all Kanela locations will feature a raspberry cheesecake French toast with challah bread stuffed with raspberry jam and sweet cream cheese, topped with fresh raspberries and a graham cracker crumble, available for $11. See KanelaBreakfastClub.com .
Municipal Bar + Dining Co, 216 W. Ohio St., will host Chili Fest Chicago on Saturday-Sunday, Oct. 17-18, 10 a.m.-7 p.m., in the parking lot adjacent to the restaurant. Municipal will also broadcast the Michigan State vs. University of Michigan game on Saturday ( game time TBD ), and the Chicago Bears vs. Detroit Lions on Sunday at 1 p.m. Ticket packages are $10 to $40, and available at www.hastickets.com/eventinfo.aspx .
This October, Pastoral Artisan Cheese, Bread & Wine celebrates American Cheese Month ( ACM )the fifth annual event that honors cheese production. The highlight of the month is an exclusive, ticketed cheesemaker dinner at Bar Pastoral in Lake View on Sunday, Oct. 18, 6-9 p.m., to honor cheesemaker Veronica Pedraza of Meadowood Farms. During this month, Pastoral will also feature four award-winning American-produced cheeses in all of its retail locations, and will offer an ACM medley ( $64.99 ) for purchase at www.pastoralartisan.com .
It will be an evening of "Sugar Skulls & Cerveza" at D'Noche. 2710 N. Milwaukee Ave., on Tuesday, Oct. 20, 6:30-8:30 p.m. D'Noche, the dinner concept from Cafe Con Leche in Logan Square, will provide papier-mache skulls and the paint to decorate the calaveras ( skulls ) in preparation for Dia de Los Muertos ( Day of the Dead ), a day where the living celebrate the dead. Visit www.dnochechicago.com .
The Pig+Pomme, a collaboration by chefs Cam Smith and StephenB, will have a pop-up event Thursday, Oct. 22, at Brix Event Space, 1463 W. Leland Ave., at 7 p.m. The five-course tasting dinner will focus on a pork-and-apples theme with items such as sweet pork belly and savory tenderloin. Admission is $65 each; visit PigAndPomme.BrownPaperTickets.com .
The third annual James Beard Foundation's Taste Chicago will take place Friday, Oct. 23, at The Geraghty, 2520 S. Hoyne Ave. The cocktail/tasting reception will be at 5:30 p.m., with dinner at 7 p.m. ( Cocktail attire is requested. ) Some of the chefs slated to participate include Paramount Events' Devon Quinn, Big Jones' Paul Fehribach, Parachute's Johnny Clark and Beverly Kim, and Acadia's Ryan McCaskey, with chef Rick Bayless and TV figure Steve Dolinsky co-hosting. Visit tasteamerica.myshopify.com/collections/chicago .
The Andersonville Dessert Crawl will take place Sunday, Oct. 24, 2-5 p.m. The ticket pick-up will take place at the Swedish American Museum, 5211 N. Clark, with a walk to host restaurants and shops located throughout the neighborhood. Admission is $25 in advance, and $30 on the day of the event; see www.Andersonville.org .
Chicagoans will get a new taste of Old Town during the 2015 Old Town Restaurant Week Monday-Saturday, Oct. 26-31. This week-long foodie celebration, presented by the Old Town Merchants & Residents Association, will include more than a dozen restaurants offering special menu options, cooking demonstrations and week-long dining deals across Chicago's historic Old Town neighborhood. Restaurants will include Benchmark, The Fireplace Inn, Old Town Pub and Kamehachi, among others. Visit oldtownchicago.org/events/ .
On Saturday, Oct. 31, Shaw's Crab House in Chicago will jump into the Halloween spirit as it throws a "Heroes and Villains" costume brunch. ( The Schaumburg location will do the same on Oct. 25. ) From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., attendees are urged to arrive in their favorite costumes. Shaw's will have brunch offerings from seafood to traditional breakfast items to mini-desserts, along with face-painting, Halloween candy and a visit from superheroes. The brunch costs $55 for adults and is free for kids 12 and younger ( limit two children per adult ). Call 312-527-2722 and visit www.shawscrabhouse.com .
Cocoa + Co., a store and cafe at 1651 N. Wells St. featuring a collection of artisan chocolatiers, will begin afternoon tea service Wed., Nov. 4. Guests will enjoy a selection of Cocoa + Co.'s scones and signature pastries before sampling bonbons created by featured chocolatiers, then finishing with a sampler of drinking chocolates. Organic Kilogram teas and La Colombe espresso drinks will accompany the chocolate-themed menu. Visit cocoaandco.com/ .
SheKnows Media announced that actress/culinary entrepreneur Sarah Michelle Gellar will keynote #BlogHerFood15, taking place in Chicago on Nov. 6-7. Hundreds of food-focused bloggers, writers, cookbook authors, photographers, videographers, stylists, social influencers, experts and brands will attend the event. Gellar is best known for her roles on the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer and The Crazy Ones, and in films Cruel Intentions and The Grudge. http://issues.tennistuesday.net/09-22-2015/p/7# .
On Saturday, Nov. 7, at 12 p.m., urbanbelly Owner/Executive Chef Bill will host the second annual Ramenfest, where 20 chefs from across the city will prepare their best ramen dish in hopes of being named this year's ramen winner. A portion of all proceeds from the event ( at 1400 W. Randolph St. ) will benefit Common Threads, the non-profit charity founded by Chicago Chef Art Smith committed to educating underserved communities about different cultures through food and art. Visit www.brownpapertickets.com/event/2272863 .
Lambs Farm will host its "Harvesting the Spirit 2015" benefit Nov. 7 at the historic Grand Hall at Union Station. The evening will feature hors d'oeuvres, a gourmet dinner, live and silent auctions, and dancing to The Gold Coast Orchestra and much moreall with a country twist. Reservations are $350 each, and proceeds will benefit programs for adults with developmental disabilities; visit LambsFarm.org .
Meals on Wheels Chicago ( MOWC ) will be hosting 60 of Chicago's chefs and more than a dozen mixologists at its 27th annual Celebrity Chef Ball on Friday, Nov. 13, 6 p.m.-12:30 a.m., at Morgan Manufacturing, 401 N. Morgan St. In addition to tastings, guests will also enjoy a silent auction, photo booth and more. Visit www.mealsonwheelschicago.org .
Devon Seafood Grill's, 39 E. Chicago Ave., is offering, for the Thanksgiving holiday, a menu ( 11 a.m.-8 p.m. ) that includes three courses of holiday favorites at $38 for adults and $19 for children ages 4-12, plus tax and gratuity. Items will include butternut squash soup, Maine lobster bisque, turkey, cornbread-and-sausage stuffing and cheesecake with fruit compote, among other items. Visit www.DevonSeafood.com/Chicago .
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