\—Frontier, 1072 N. Milwaukee Ave., will host the second installment of the "So You Think You're a Foodie" chef's table Wed., Jan. 30, at 8 p.m. For $60 per person, guests are invited to indulge in a mystery five-course tasting menu. Space is extremely limited; see www.thefrontierlive.com .
—Angel's Envy bourbon will be featured at a Jan. 22 (7 p.m.) dinner at Untitled, 111 W. Kinzie St. The menu will include items such as pork-belly confit, sweet potato biscuits, cherry mostarda and kohlrabi slaw; and smoked Slagel Farms chicken, soy bourbon glaze and braised Tuscan kale. The fee is $50; call 312-880-1511 to RSVP.
—The Cookie Joint—known for its cookie fries (cookies that resemble French fries)—is making a Valentine's Day offer: a three-pack of the fries with a trio of four-ounce mason jars containing apple, cherry and blueberry pie dips. Heart themed gift-wrapping completes the package ($38 to $41); call 847-461-3068 or visit www.thecookiejoint.com .
—Jason Wagner is now wine director/sommelier at Henri, 18 S. Michigan Ave., and The Gage, 24 S. Michigan Ave. Most recently, Wagner was responsible for the wine programs at Nellcote and RM Champagne Salon, which gained national press for the wine programs he created.
—Tavern on Rush, 1031 N. Rush St., is introducing its new winter menu items. Offerings include osso bucco ($36.95), crispy half duck ($28.95) and pecan sticky bun ($6), among other things. See www.tavernonrush.com .
—Steve's Deli, 354 W. Hubbard St., has closed, according to Chicago.eater.com . An employee blamed the lack of traffic after 5 p.m. for the restaurant's shuttering.
—Jake Melnick's Corner Tap, 41 E. Superior St., hosting its second annual "Local Beer, Local Cheer" beer-tasting Wed., Jan. 16, 6:30-9:30 p.m. The festivities will be $35 per ticket, with $5 being donated to the Fallen Firefighters Widows and Orphans fund. See www.jakemelnicks.com .
—mk, 868 N. Franklin St., will offer 50 percent off all bottles of wine Sunday through Thursday until Jan. 31. (The promotion includes any selection from mk's portfolio, which features more than 1,000 choices.) Additionally, every Wednesday at 6-9 p.m., mk invites guests to relax and unwind in the restaurant's lounge space with "Wine on Wednesday," the popular wine-and-menu tasting series. For reservations, call 312-482-9179.
—Lawry's The Prime Rib, 100 E. Ontario St., will present a three-course Valentine's menu created by Executive Chef Victor Newgren Feb. 13-15. The meal ($125 per couple, excluding tax and gratuity) includes a glass of Champagne, and items such as prime ribs or Scottish salmon along with a heart-shaped red velvet cake for two. Call 312-787-5000 or visit www.LawrysOnline.com .
—French restaurant Bistronomic, 840 N. Wabash Ave., invites guests to enjoy a three-course prix fixe menu for $55 (without tax or gratuity) Feb. 14-17. There are many items for diners to choose from, including Waldorf salad, John Dory a ala dieppoise, beef tenderloin a la berrichone and crepes Suzette. Call 312-944-8400.
—Evanston's Koi, 624 Davis St., is hosting an eight-course tasting at the sushi bar plus a sushi-making demonstration on Tuesday, Feb. 5, at 7:30 p.m. Items will include everything from miso soup to spicy tuna taco to angel shrimp. The price is $45 (all-inclusive); visit http://koi.ticketleap.com/koi-chefs-table/dates/Feb-05-2013_at_0700PM.
—Maxwell's at the Club (500 N. Kingsbury St.; 312-527-5800) is offering its Sunday brunch to the public 10 a.m.-2 p.m.; options include a full omelet bar, a roast strip beef loin carving station and freshly made waffles, among other things. The spot also offers a pound-and-a-half slab of baby back ribs—served with corn on the cob, mashed potatoes and cole slaw—on Thursdays for $18. See www.MaxwellsAtTheClub.com .
—Quay, 465 E. Illinois St., will be the site of a bourbon tasting Jan. 31, 6-8 p.m. Hosted by Woodford Reserve, the event will highlight several bourbons, including Woodford Reserve Distiller's Select, Woodford Reserve Double Oak,and Woodford Reserve Four Wood-Masters Series. The cost is $40; call 312-981-8400.
—From Jan. 24 through March 31, LM Restaurant Group will feature "Passport to LM," a winter rewards program. Guests will receive a passport to travel to the restaurant group's four locations: Brasserie 54 by LM in Andersonville, Brasserie by LM in the South Loop, LM Bistro in River North and Troquet in Ravenswood. With the purchase of an entree, guests will receive a stamp; when guests receive stamps from all four restaurants, they will receive a $35 gift card.
—Barcito, 151 W. Erie St., will continue the fundraiser "Amigos of Pintxo" Jan. 28, 8-10 p.m., with chefs Sean Brock (Husk, Charleston) and Dirk Flanigan (The Gage). Attendees can enjoy all-you-can-eat pintxos (traditional San Sebastian-style bar snacks) for $25. A portion of the sales from this year's series will be donated to the culinary organization Pilot Light. See www.facebook.com/standandeat.
—French-cuisine eatery Bistro Voltaire, 226 W. Chicago Ave., is extending its Monday-night prix fixe menu to accommodate the theater crowd. From 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, guests can experience the prix fixe three-course menu specially curated by Chef Farid Oualidi for $29. The previous special continues Monday nights 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. Visit www.BistroVoltaire.com .
—Chicago Restaurant Week will take place Feb. 1-10. More than 250 restaurants (ranging from Balsan in the Waldorf Astoria Chicago to Michael Jordan's Steak House to Socca) will participate, with prix fixe menus starting at $22 for lunch and $33/$44 for dinner (excluding beverages, tax and gratuity). For dining ideas, a complete list of participating restaurants and the menu offerings, visit www.EatItUpChicago.com .
—Sixteen, located at the Trump International Hotel & Tower Chicago, has introduced a new winter menu. Menu highlights include items such as a white storm (sablefish, daikon sake seaweed), retiring fireside (potato coals, raclette, onion brulee) and a welcome homecoming (pickled foie gras, hearth spices, borscht). Visit www.sixteenchicago.com or call 312-588-8030.
—Cityscape, 350 W. Mart Center Dr., will mark President Obama's inauguration (Jan. 21) with the "O"Bama-Tini, which features Absolut Mandarin Vodka, Blue Curacao, Amp Decibel and Sierra Mist ($9). The bar will broadcast the inauguration live on its televisions. See www.cityscapebar.com .
—Stout Barrel House & Galley, where executive chef Chris Curren serves American comfort food in River North (642 N. Clark St.), will host a four-course beer dinner celebrating the Deschutes Brewery launch in Chicago 4-11 p.m. on Wed., Jan. 9. The four-course beer dinner with Deschutes beer pairings costs $35 per person (tax and tip not included); call 312-475-1390 or visit www.opentable.com/stout-barrel-house-and-galley.
—Gibsons Restaurant Group Chef Randy Waidner will help prepare a menu at New York City's Beard House Wed., Jan. 30, that spotlights Skuna Bay salmon. The dinner—which features items such as swordfish a la plancha and country-friend Napa Valley quail—will include chefs from other places such as New York City and Anaheim, Calif.
—LUXBAR, 18 E. Bellevue Pl., will mark Martin Luther King Day (Jan. 21) with a brunch that will include housemade pecan sticky buns ($4) and croissants ($3); house-cured gravlax eggs Benedict ($11.50); and Gibsons Marinated USDA prime skirt steak and eggs ($14), among other items. See www.luxbar.com .
—Brasserie 54, 5420 N. Clark St., is offering brunch followed by a special Sunday Supper menu for dinner starting Jan. 13. Brunch menu highlights include both savory and sweet items including LM Restaurant Group's signature croques, available vegetarian with caramelized onions, brie and spinach or with ham, Swiss cheese, béchamel and Dijon mustard, buttermilk pancakes, omelets and more. In addition, a mimosa and entrée special ($22) is available.
—Ciao Amore, 1134 W. 18th St., now features live jazz on Fridays 7-10 p.m. The restaurant, which features house-made pastas, is BYOB and there's no corkage fee. There is free parking at St. Procopius Church, on 18th and Allport. See www.ciaoamoreristorante.com . (A Windy City Times profile is at www.windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/Gay-chef-talks-about-Pilsen-eatery/32080.html .)
—The Union League of Chicago, 65 W. Jackson Blvd., will host the 8th Annual For the Love of Chocolate Gala on Saturday, Feb. 23. There are two packages to the black-tie event: the Dessert Dance Party (8 p.m.-12 a.m.; $150/person) and the VIP package—Dinner and Dancing (6 p.m.-12 a.m.; $300/person). See www.ForTheLoveOfChocolateFoundation.org .
— ItaliAsia Restaurant, located in the Holiday Inn Chicago Mart Plaza (350 W. Mart Center Dr.), is marking International Day of Italian Cuisines Jan. 17. Menu highlights include pasta Bolognese, bucatini with meatballs, lobster risotto fra diavlo and chicken Vesuvio. See www.italiasiarestaurant.com .
Send items to Andrew@WindyCityMediaGroup.com .
