—On Thursday, Nov. 3, Chicago is invited to celebrate twists on classic Greek dishes at the National Hellenic Museum's annual Kouzina food festival. For $125 per person, guests explore the legacy and tradition of Greek food and wine through tastings provided by some of Chicago's top local chefs, including Chef/Partner Devon Quinn of the forthcoming Mediterranean restaurant Eden. See www.nationalhellenicmuseum.org/calendar/kouzina/ .
—Portillo's is again offering the Pumpkin Pie Shake. Available for a limited time only, the frosty treat features real pumpkin mixed with the brand's signature vanilla shake and topped with crumbled graham cracker crumbs. See Portillos.com .
—Coco Pazzo Restaurants announced that Coco Pazzo Cafe, a Streeterville eatery that has been serving rustic Italian fare since 1996, plans to relocate from 636 North St. Clair St. in order to merge operations with its neighborhood trattoria, Tre Soldi, on nearby 212 E. Ohio St. One of the reasons for the move is to expand the focus of the menus by offering Tuscan classics from the cafe menu alongside select Roman dishes from Tre Soldi. Coco Pazzo Cafe will close after dinner service on Nov. 30 so ownership can begin working on combining the two concepts; renovations are slated to be completed in January 2017.
—Restaurant owner and Evanston resident Mina Sudsaard, together with business partner Sam Rattanopas, are hosting the grand opening of NaKorn—a metropolitan, full-service Thai restaurant at 1622 Orrington Ave. in Evanston—with a ribbon-cutting by Mayor Elizabeth Tisdahl on Friday, Nov. 4. The restaurant and full-service bar aims to provide a nostalgic glimpse of the past, reminiscent of 1970s Thai shophouses. See NaKornKitchen.com .
—The Barn has opened at Rear 1016 Church St., Evanston, and it's from proprietor Amy Morton, daughter of Arnie Morton ( founder of Morton's Steakhouses ). The carnivore-friendly restaurant features old-school table-side service and cuisine from Chef Nicole Pederson, Food & Wine's "People's Best New Chef" nominee in the Great Lakes category in 2014 and 2015. See TheBarnEvanston.com .
—The inaugural Strange Foods Chicago Festival will take place Sunday, Nov. 6, 1-4 p.m., at Moonlight Studios, 1446 W. Kinzie St. More than 15 local restaurants will offer tastes of their authentically made cuisines; among the places slated to take part are HoneyDoe ( Syria ), Tropicuba ( Cuba ), Aha Crepes ( China ), Serai ( Malaysia ) and El Carrito Mexican Street Food. Early bird tickets are $40 per person through Oct. 12 and $45 through Oct.16; thereafter, tickets are $55. Visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1st-annual-strange-foods-chicago-festival-tickets-26454628506.
—This Election Day ( Nov. 8 ), pizza lovers can show their voting receipts or "I voted" wristbands, and receive 20 percent off all pizzas at Robert's Pizza Company, 355 E. Ohio St. See RobertsPizzaCompany.com .
—Bistro Campagne, 4518 N. Lincoln Ave., will host a five-course Loire Wine dinner on Wed., Nov. 9, at 6:30 p.m. The evening includes Adam Brunsen of Martine's Wines speaking about each wine that is paired with a dish from Executive Chef Luke Creagan. Culinary items include baked oyster en Lardon Beurre, pork cheeks, olive oil-poached monkfish, quail and goat-milk semifreddo. The cost is $75 each; call 773-271-6100.
—Angel's Restaurant, 230 S. Ashland Ave., is hosting ALMA ( Association of Latino/as Motivating Action )'s Hall of Fame reception for the new Latino/a/x and inductees and allies. The event will take place Thursday, Nov. 10, 6-9 p.m. See " Association of Latino/as Motivating Action 2016 GLHF Reception" on Eventbrite.com . Space is limited.
—Gene & Georgetti ( 500 N. Franklin St., downtown; and 9241 W. Higgins Rd., in Rosemont ) supports National Adoption Month in November by donating a portion of proceeds from dessert sales to Oak Park-based Hephzibah Children's Association. Guests to both Chicago and Rosemont locations can enjoy signature favorites like Tiramisu, spumoni, chocolate tuxedo mousse cake and Gene & Georgetti's Italian lemon creme layer cake.
—Revolution Brewery, 2323 N. Milwaukee Ave., will host an event honoring West Town Bikes, a non-profit bicycle resource center. The event will take place Tuesday, Nov. 15, 6-8 p.m. Admission is $50 and there will be complimentary hors d'oeuvres, Revolution beer and a silent auction; register at https://events.r20.constantcontact.com/register/eventReg?oeidk=a07ed9n01o6ffd99dab&oseq=&c=&ch=.
—French bistro Bistronomic, 840 N. Wabash Ave., will offer a Thanksgiving prix fixe menu. This year, Executive Chef/Owner Martial Noguier will offer a three-course Thanksgiving prix fixe menu on Thursday, Nov. 24, 11 a.m.-9 p.m., for $57 per adult and $20 for children 12 and younger ( excluding tax and gratuity ). Some of the planned menu items include house-cured duck confit, Belgium endive salad, roasted farm turkey breast and stuffed leg, jumbo walleye pike and chocolate "Kit Kat" bars.
—A Church 4 Me MCC, 7366 N. Clark St., will hold its second annual Thanksgiving Community Meal on Thursday, Nov. 24, at noon. To reserve a place at the meal, contact Mike Schuppe at 847-529-8440 or mike123ptr@gmail.com .
—Hard Rock Cafe Chicago, 63 W. Ontario St., is kicking off the holiday season with a traditional Thanksgiving Day prix fixe menu available at 10 a.m.-9 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 24. The menu costs $27 ( plus tax and gratuity ) and features roasted farm-raised turkey, garlic smashed potatoes, harvest stuffing, assorted fall vegetables and New England cranberry jam and your choice of coffee, tea or soft drink along with cinnamon pumpkin pie topped with a root beer caramel sugar crisp. Also, children of all ages are invited to pose for photos with Santa and Mrs. Claus at the free Meet n' Greet at 1-3 p.m. ( Attendees should bring their own cameras. ) Reservations are recommended; visit HardRock.com/Chicago.
—Thanksgiving pies will return to the French-inspired patisserie Vanille. This is the only time of the year pies come out of the Vanille kitchen and, this year, three seasonal favorites will be offered: Pumpkin with Cinnamon Whipped Cream, Apple Streusel and Traditional Pecan. Along with the pies, Vanille will be hosting its first-ever Cereal Drive. Throughout November, Vanille will collect cereal at all three of its Chicago locations to be donated to Lakeview Pantry. Guests who bring a box in will enjoy 10 percent off an order ( up to $100 ), including pie orders. See VanillePatisserie.com .
—Devon Seafood Gril, 39 E. Chicago Ave., is offering a traditional Thanksgiving prix fixe menu at 11 a.m.-8 p.m. Some of the culinary items include Maine lobster bisque, butternut squash soup, roasted turkey, cranberry orange relish, pumpkin pie and mixed berries. The menu is $40 for adults and $20 for children 4-12, excluding tax and gratuity. ( Children under 4 eat free. ) Reservations are recommended; call Tim Sherlock at 312-440-8660 or visit DevonSeafood.com/chicago.
—Fairmont Chicago, 200 N. Columbus Dr., is bringing back its Thanksgiving at Home Dinner, which provides people with a Thanksgiving feast to take home to their own tables. The gourmet dinner, featuring a roast turkey with brioche stuffing, feeds eight to 10 people and can be ordered any time before 12 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 21, for $260. Dinners can be picked up on Thanksgiving Day between 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at Fairmont. Call 312-565-7973 to order between 9 a.m.-5 p.m., or email kristina.kline@fairmont.com .
—Oyster Bah, 1962 N. Halsted St., will host a seafood boil on Tuesday, Nov. 22. Guests can enjoy either head-on shrimp, clams, sausage, corn on the cob and potatoes ( $29.95 ); or a one-pound whole Maine lobster, clams, sausage, corn on the cob and potatoes ( $36.95 ). Oyster Bah will also serve their full dinner menu this evening. Call 773-248-3000.
—Tortoise Supper Club, 350 N. State St., will have a grand Thanksgiving buffet on Thursday, Nov. 24, 12-8:30 p.m. There will Thanksgiving favorites, ice seafood bar, carving station, a sweets table and more. Entrance is $75 for adults and $25 for kids 5-10. See TortoiseSupperClub.com .
—Also, Fairmont Chicago, 200 N. Columbus Dr., is kicking off the 2016 holiday season with its third annual Cookies and Cheer Luxury Cookie Exchange on Thursday, Dec. 1, 5:30-7:30 p.m. During the event, guests will have the opportunity to sample unlimited cookies from the wide variety of unique seasonal offerings including chai snickerdoodles, double-fudge oatmeal stout cookies and orange walnut spice logs. Tickets for the Cookies and Cheer event are $60 per person and on sale now; space is limited and reservations are required by visiting Eventbrite.com, event name "Cookies & Cheer."
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