—Shaw's Crab House ( in Chicago and Schaumburg ) will be celebrating lobsters this summer at its annual Lobster Festival. People are encouraged to stop by Shaw's Chicago through July 31 and try one of the restaurant's lobster-centric dishes. Call 312-527-2722 or visit ShawsCrabHouse.com .
—Outdoor space AIRE, 100 W. Monroe St., is now open on Sundays with a new liquid brunch offering at 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Also, through the end of summer, weekend guests will be enjoying cocktails for a cause; every Saturday and Sunday, AIRE will partner with a different local charity as part of its SHAIRE program. AIRE is on the 24th floor of Hyatt Centric The Loop Chicago.
—Cochon Volant Brasserie, 100 W. Monroe St., will celebrate National Ice Cream Month throughout the month of July with an ice-cream special by Pastry Chef George Kovach. Ice-cream enthusiasts can enjoy a traditional housemade kouign-amann with walnut croquant and housemade roasted banana ice cream for $8.95.
—In celebration of National Hot Dog Month this July, Clark Street Dog and Bar, 3040 N. Clark St., will feature a new hot dog special every week including A Dog's Breakfast, Mac & Cheese Dog, California Dog and the new Frank and Mary Bloody Mary. Also, guests will have a chance to win free hot dogs for a year. Patrons who take photos of their hot dogs with one of the Clark Street Dog signs and share the photos on Instagram using hashtag #clarkstreetdog will be entered for a chance to win free hot dogs for a year.
—In honor of Bastille Day, ‹Mon Ami Gabi, 2300 N. Lincoln Park West, is offering summer specials July 14—20 from new Executive Chef Michael Battocletti. Bastille Day specials include chilled fennel & grapefruit soup, Moroccan-style cod, spinach & baby kale salad with poached thumbelina carrots, Gabi's fish & frites with French tartar sauce, and red raspberry sorbet for dessert, in addition to the regular menu. See MonAmiGabi.com .
—The Foodseum Choc-O-Box is a collection of chocolate from some of its supporters—and all proceeds directly benefit the growth of Foodseum, Chicago's first nonprofit food museum. Each box contains more than three pounds of chocolate, including a one-pound almond bar from World's Finest Chocolate, a full box of Fannie May Mint Meltaways, Flessor's Buzz Bark, professional grade baking chocolate from Callebaut, and other selections from Hollingworth Candies, Chocolate Santander and Kimmie Candy. Each box is $49.99 and shipping is free; visit squareup.com/store/chicago-foodseum/ .
—Imperial Lamian, 6 W. Hubbard St., is now offering dim sum brunch on Saturdays and Sundays 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Some of the dishes include vegetable spring rolls, mushroom bao, Shanghai dumplings and ham sui gok/fried crescent dumplings. In addition to dim sum, patrons can also enjoy a selection of the restaurant's signature lamian as well as wok favorites such as jasmine tea smoked ribs, wagyu oxtail fried rice and black pepper beef. See Imperial-Lamian.com .
—Restaurant Magazine has named the world's 50 best restaurants. Chicago's Alinea was the only Windy City entry, at number 15, while the top five were Osteria Francescana ( Modena, Italy ), El Celler de Can Roca ( Girona, Spain ), Eleven Madison Park ( NYC ), Central ( Lima, Peru ) and Noma ( Copenhagen, Denmark ).
—Doodle's Doughnuts, 1419 N. Wells St., is teaming with ChowNow to fulfill online orders. Customers can place orders directly on the local shop's website or the Facebook page, or download the customized Doodle's Doughnuts smartphone app, available for Android and Apple devices—and can add a customized message to the signature Doodle's Doughnut for an additional $1.50. The shop is offering $2 off every first-time order.
—As the opening date draws near, Revival Food Hall is adding to its roster of restaurants. The 24,000-square-foot dining destination, located in the The National, a historic space in The Loop—has revealed three more culinary partners: The Budlong, Brown Bag Seafood Co. and Aloha Poke Co. They will join previously announced collaborations with Antique Taco Chiquito, Furious Spoon, Danke, Graze Kitchenette, Farmer's Fridge, Union Squared, The Fat Shallot, Black Dog Gelato and Harvest Juicery.
—Staytion Market & Bar, 1 W. Wacker Dr., is hosting "Lemonade Please" on Wed., July 13, 2-4 p.m. Staytion's beverage cart will find its way outside, carrying fresh seasonal lemonade and tasty cookie bites. Guests can grab a taste of each for a small donation. All donations will benefit the kids at the local Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago.
—Executive Chef Cardel Reid of The Signature Room, 875 N. Michigan Ave., will team with Bacardi Rum to host a paired rum dinner on Thursday, July 14, 6-9 p.m. Guests are invited to enjoy a four-course meal paired with seasonal rum cocktails while taking in the cityscape. Tickets are $85 per person, and include a cocktail reception and a four-course dinner with cocktail pairings. Space is limited; pre-purchase tickets by calling 312-280-0465.
—Seoul Taco, 738 N. Clark St., the new Korean/Mexican restaurant in Chicago's River North, has teamed with Chicago streetwear designer Leaders 1354 to create an exclusive line of T-shirts for the fast-casual restaurant. On Friday, July 15, Seoul Taco will host a Hip Hop Happy Hour event at the restaurant at 5-8 p.m. with Chicago DJ Jayilla ( @jayilla ), giveaways and more. Every guest who buys a T-shirt will receive a free taco. Although the event is open to the public, guests are encouraged to RSVP at https://seoultaco.bazaarpass.com/products/ldrs-release-party.
—With National Ice Cream Day on Sunday, July 17, Cocoa + Co., 1651 N. Wells St., is offering new ice-cream sandwiches. Varieties include Coffee Toffee, Peppermint, Vanilla Oreo and Chocolate Chocolate Chip. See CocoaAndCo.com .
—Smack Shack, 326 N. Morgan St., is offering lunch Tuesday through Friday starting at 11 a.m. Guests who purchase the lunch special will receive a half lobster roll ( served either Smack Shack Original or Connecticut style ) and Boston Clam Chowda for $12 ( add $3 for a 16-oz. select draft ). Also, happy hour takes place Tuesday through Friday at 3-6 p.m., and includes specials such as $1 oysters, $9 mussels and $12 lobster mac and cheese, among other items. See Smack-Shack.com/Chicago.
—James Beard Award-winning Chef Tory Miller ( of restaurants Sujeo, Estrellon, Graze and L'Etoile in Madison, Wisconsin ) heads to Chicago to host two pop-up dinners with Honey Butter Fried Chicken and Sunday Dinner Club Chefs Christine Cikowski and Josh Kulp. Miller will serve his take on fried chicken at Honey Butter Fried Chicken on Sunday, July 24, 10 a.m.-9 p.m., with Korean Fried Chicken with cucumber kimchi and gochujang honey butter. On Monday, July 25, at 7 p.m., the pop-up continues with Sunday Dinner Club as the three chefs collaborate on a five-course Spanish-themed dinner. The Sunday Dinner Club Menu will be offered for $65 plus tax and gratuity; see https://sundaydinnerclub.tocktix.com/#/home.
—Chef Bill Kim is hosting the second Backyard BBQ of the summer at bellyQ, 1400 W. Randolph St., on Sunday, July 31, 1-4 p.m. Selections will include lobster, cucumber and radish in white soy-ginger vinaigrette; grilled sweet corn with chile lime butter; and sourdough toasts with benton's country ham, pickled peaches and charred sweet onions, among other things. Tickets ( $45 each ) can be purchased at BrownPaperTtickets.com .
—Food Tank Chicago will take place Wed., Nov. 16, at the Gleacher Center, 450 N. Cityfront Plaza Dr., 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Among the expected guests are Chicago Tribune food writer Bill Daley, chef Rick Bayless, IATP Executive Director Juliette Majot and Food Tank President Danielle Nierenberg. See https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2016-food-tank-summit-chicago-il-tickets-20817007229.
Send items to Andrew@WindyCityMediaGroup.com or follow on Twitter @Azygous60610.
