On Thursday, Oct. 29, at 6:30 p.m., NAHA ( 500 N. Clark St. ) will host a four-course dinner by James Beard Award-winning Chef/Owner Carrie Nahabedian. Dinner will be paired with a selection of Tromba Tequila and cocktails by NAHA/Brindille Bar Director Amy Starr. Marco Cedano, master distiller and founder of Tequila Tromba, will be present as well. Tickets are $100 each; call 312-321-NAHA.
Bountiful Eatery, 3312 N. Broadway, closed Oct. 25. Owner Ed O'Brien said in a mass email that "after an exhausting 3 years, the time has come for me and Bountiful Eatery to move on. Running a specialty restaurant like Bountiful is a challenge, and for a while a challenge can be engaging. Then the time comes when engaging becomes exhausting and that time has come."
South Water Kitchenlocated inside Hotel Monaco, 225 N. Wabash Ave., is slated to close in December. The restaurant will be completely renovated and relaunched in the spring of 2016, and Roger Waysok will remain executive chef. The last service at South Water Kitchen will be dinner on Saturday, Dec. 19.
Caffe Umbria, located in River North at 346 N. Clark St., is now open. The new cafe is designed to deliver the urban European cafe experience to Chicago, an international hub with an appreciation for coffee and espresso. The new coffee and espresso bar features Caffe Umbria's signature blends, pastries and a variety of additional bakery items provided by Caffe Baci and La Fournette Bakery & Cafe.
For the 2015-16 NBA season, Michael Jordan's Steak House, 505 N. Michigan Ave., is offering a meal like the one Jordan used to eat on game day ( which he always had exactly four hours before game time ). The "Eat Like Mike" meal ( $54; tax and gratuity not included ) consists of Caesar salad, MJ's Delmonico 16-ounce steak, whipped potatoes and dessert, and will be served 4-7 p.m. on days when the Chicago Bulls play at home. In addition, it will only be available to the first 23 guests who order.
Imperial Lamian, 6 W. Hubbard St.the first U.S. concept from Indonesia-based Imperial Grouphas announced Andy Foo as the restaurant's executive wok chef. Opening this winter, Imperial Lamian promises to offer "diners authentic, yet modern, Chinese cuisine in a stylish, open-kitchen environment, right in the heart of Chicago's River North neighborhood."
The CEO of the American Egg Board has stepped down earlier than planned, following the release of emails indicating she tried to stop the sale of a vegan mayonnaise at Whole Foods, The Chicago Tribune reported. Joanne Ivy retired at the end of September; before the release of the emails, the egg board said Ivy would retire Dec. 31. Even though Ivy tried to stop the sale of Just Mayo at Whole Foods in 2013, the item is still sold there.
Pork Shoppe, 5721 N. Clark St., is launching a weekly trivia night on Wednesdays at 7 p.m. starting Nov. 4. In addition, the eatery is celebrating National Nachos Day on Nov. 6, and has an updated menu that includes a sampler platter for $24. See PorkShoppeChicago.com .
Vermilion, 10 W. Hubbard St., is launching "Vermilion Lounge Nights" Friday, Oct. 30, at 9 p.m. The restaurant promises a sophisticated after-dinner soiree, with $10 select lounge cocktails, $5 elevated street-fare bites, music from DJ Seen Clear and dancing. ( Lounge/music requests can be sent to www.facebook.com/vermilion.indianlatin. ) Reservations are recommended; call 312-527-4060.
Caffe RoM & Fido To Go invite Chicagoans to celebrate Halloween at Caffè RoM's Shoreham location, 400 E. South Water St., on Saturday, Oct. 31, beginning at 9:30 a.m. Guests will enjoy cookie give-a-ways with purchase of any seasonal drink along with treats and prizes for their furry friends. A doggie costume contest will be held at 10:30 a.m. See www.cafferom.com .
Geja's Cafe's 42nd Annual Professional/Amateur Wine Tasting Contest will take place Sunday, Nov. 1, at 1 p.m., wine experts from around the city will gather at 340 W. Armitage Ave. The Grand Award for the highest scorer in each category will be an engraved crystal wine decanter. To enter, contestants pay an entrance fee of $20, and must be 21 years of age or older. To RSVP, call 773-281-9101.
Kings Bowla 24,000-square-foot bowling, dining and cocktail venuewill open a new location in Lincoln Park at New City, 1500 N. Clybourn Ave., on Monday, Nov. 2. Kings will give a free year of bowling ( two games each month for a full year ) to the first 250 visitors through its doors Nov. 2 at 5 p.m. Food will include hand-formed buffalo wontons, pan-seared ginger soy-glazed salmon and chicken wings. See KingsBowlAmerica.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 .
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 http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/2272863.
Old Town Pour House ( 8 Oakbrook Center, Oak Brook ) Corporate Executive Chef Paul Katz and Executive Chef Brian Korey invite the neighborhood to say cheese at the Second Annual "Masters of Mac" Cook-Off on Tuesday, Nov. 10, 4-8 p.m. Katz and Korey will go up against top chefs from the western suburbs to create original mac 'n' cheese recipes to be featured as part of a tasting flight. Each portion will be paired with the chef's choice of craft beer. To make reservations, visit www.oldtownpourhouse.com/oakbrook or call 630-601-1440.
Devon Seafood Grill, 39 E. Chicago Ave., will host a whiskey tasting on Tuesday, Nov. 10, at 6 p.m. Selections featured will include Elijah Craig Small Batch Bourbon 12 Year, Rittenhouse Rye Whiskey, Henry McKenna Single Barrel Bourbon and Koval Four Grain Whiskey; also, a signature passed appetizer will accompany each tasting, such as corn fritters with parmesan garlic aioli, bourbon-glazed shrimp, grilled goat cheese and bacon sandwich, and beef satay. Tickets are $45; call 312-440-8660.
On Thursday, Nov. 12, LuxeHome, in partnership with Wine Spectator Magazine, presents the ninth annual CHILL: an International Wine & Culinary Event. Proceeds from LuxeHome CHILL will directly benefit the local programming ofThe Lynn Sage Foundation, Saturday Place and the Respiratory Health Association. CHILL 2015 will be 6-8:30 p.m. at the Merchandise Mart; tickets ( $95 ) can be purchased at https://www.microspec.com/tix123/eTic.cfm?code=CHILL2015.
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. Featured chefs will include Bill Kim ( Belly Q ), Danny Meija ( MFK ), Tony Priolo ( Piccolo Sogno ) and Paul Virant ( Perennial Virant ), among others. 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.
Send items to Andrew@WindyCityMediaGroup.com or follow on Twitter @Azygous60610 .