Hugo's Frog Bar, 1024 N. Rush St., is marking its 20th anniversary with a full week of festivities that kicks off Wed., Feb. 22. A party ( free and open to the public ) will take place Feb. 22 as Hugo's Frog Bar & Fish House owners Steve Lombardo and Hugo Ralli will cut the first slice of the restaurant's well-known cake. Also, Hugo's will offer a look back with a special Then & Now menu, featuring some of Hugo's classic dishes specially priced to reflect the original menu released in 1997 and current dishes with special 20th-anniversary pricing. See HugosFrogBar.com .
Coco Pazzo Restaurants announced that Coco Pazzo Cafe is now open at 212 E. Ohio St. The Streeterville Cafe has merged operations with its sister restaurant, Tre Soldi Trattoria. The combined concept reopened in the renovated space that was occupied by the Trattoria, which is a block away from the cafe's former St. Clair Street location. The merged menu contains favorites from both the Tuscan-inspired cafe and the Roman-inspired Trattoria. See CocoPazzoCafe.com .
Coinciding with the end of Chicago's Restaurant week, more than 20 Andersonville restaurants have signed on for Andersonville's first official neighborhood restaurant week, continuing through Feb. 26. Some of the participants will include Hamburger Mary's, Big Jones, Andersonville Brewing, Vincent, Appellation/Pastoral, Lalibela Ethopian and Replay Andersonville. See Andersonville.org .
Celebrity chef Rick Bayless, known for his show Mexico: One Plate at a Time, closed his Chicago restaurants Feb. 16 in solidarity with staff who wish edto participate in demonstrations called "A Day Without Immigrants," CBS Chicago noted. "For three decades, we've been a place that has welcomed, respected and promoted our immigrant staff, friends and restaurant family," Bayless said on his website. Bayless closed Frontera Grill, Topolobampo, Xoco and Fonda Frontera.
Chicago Northwest Restaurant Week will take place Feb. 24-March 5. A few of the restaurants taking part include Brazil Express Churrasco Grill, Fox & Turtle, Longhorn Steakhouse, Shaw's Crab House, Tokio Pub, Toasty Cheese, Finn McCool's and Giordano's Schaumburg. Visit ChicagoNorthwest.com/restaurant-week/ .
Bottleneck Management is giving away $1,000 10 times through March 10 to mark its 10th anniversary. Any guests who sign up for the email newsletter on Fridays between 7-10 p.m. are eligible to win. Its restaurants are Old Town Pour House, Sweetwater and Trace, among others; see BottleneckMgmt.com .
Kizuki Ramen & Izakaya, 1482 N. Milwaukee Ave., is launching its Japanese anime movie nights. Every Tuesday, Kizuki will show a different film beginning at 7 p.m. Classic anime movie selections will include Howl's Moving Castle, Castle in the Sky, Spirited Away and more.
Mardi Gras will be here Tuesday, Feb. 28, and Big Jones, 5347 N. Clark St., invites guests for a culinary journey down South with featured menus created by Chef/Co-Owner Paul Fehribach. From now through Thursday, March 2, there are two ways to dig into Louisiana favorites: with a la carte items like fried chicken and shrimp and grits, or a prix fixe menu ( for $33 ) with traditional dishes. Prix fixe items include Cajun boudin balls, skillet cheddar jalapeno cornbread, crawfish etoufee and rum bread pudding, among others. See bigjoneschicago.com .
In recognition of Fat Tuesday on Feb. 28, Kanela Breakfast Club's Executive Chef Don Penza will make New Orleans beignets sprinkled with powdered sugar, available for $6 per order ( five beignets per order ). See KanelaBreakfastClub.com .
Latin fusion spot Carnivale, 702 W. Fulton Market, is unveiling a Brazilian-inspired Mardi Gras menu on Feb. 25-28. Items will include bahia shrimp caraje, wood-raosted prime picanha, moqueca de bacalhau ( cod-and-shrimp stew, coconut rice and Brazilian slaw ) and bolo de rei ( Brazilian-style coconut king cake ). See CarnivaleChicago.com .
The 18th Annual WingFest takes place on Sunday, March 5, 1-5 p.m., at UIC Pavilion, 525 S. Racine Ave. This will be the festival's inaugural year at UIC, a larger-than-usual venue that can accommodate more people and double the number of restaurants cooking up over 9,000 pounds of wings. Some of the 2017 WingFest participants include Rhyme or Reason, Howells & Hood, Chicago Culinary Kitchen, Son of A Butcher Tavern and River Forest Catering. See WingFest.net .
St. Patrick's Day special: Bernie's Lunch & Supper, 660 N. Orleans St., will team with Glendalough Distillery for a pop-up Irish cocktail menu March 11-18. Menu items include Irish coffee with Glendalough Double Barrel Irish Whiskey; Glendalough Double Barrel Irish Whiskey Old Fashioned; and an Irish Spritzer with Glendalough Poitin, Cinnamon Syrup, lemon, bitters and cider.
Also for St. Patrick's Day, Frontier, 1072 N Milwaukee Ave., will open early on Friday, March 17. Guests can enjoy Chef Brian Jupiter's full menu beginning at 11 a.m., in addition to a $5 Irish Whiskey menu that will feature a variety of mainstream and small batch Irish whiskeys. See TheFrontierChicago.com .
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