—The restaurant 312 Chicago, 136 N. LaSalle St., celebrates Italian Heritage Month with its first annual "Battle of the Sous Chefs" with Luis Silva and Juan Ramirez. Each sous chef is battling it out to win a spot for his appetizer and dessert recipes on 312 Chicago's upcoming winter menu. Dishes include pan-roasted jumbo calamari; crab and shrimp with kale; lasagna; butternut squash creme brulee; and chocolate-pumpkin bread pudding. Visit www.312chicago.com .
—Longtime Andersonville restaurant owners Marty Fosse ( Anteprima, Ombra, Acre ), along with Jim Dragatsis and Sandeep Malhotra ( both of Marigold ), are opening Summerdale at 5413 N. Clark St. this month. "We chose the name Summerdale because it used to be both the neighborhood prefix, as well as the train stop in Andersonville," said Fosse in a press release. "Highlighting Andersonville's history, our walls will be adorned with vintage photography and local art. Summerdale will be a real neighborhood spot … the sort of restaurant that everyone wishes they had around the corner." It will serve contemporary American fare.
—The Oct. 27 installment of "The Dinner Party" will feature Chef Paul Virant of Vie & Perennial Virant cooking for Joffrey Ballet Artistic Director Ashley Wheater, film director Joe Swanberg, singer/Chicago Force quarterback Sami Grisafe and host Elysabeth Alfano—and the public at City Winery, 1200 W. Randolph St., at 6:30 p.m. Visit www.citywinery.com/chicago/fear-no-art-presents-the-dinner-party-10-27-14.html .
—Tortoise Club, 350 N. State St., has welcomed a new chef ( Aaron Browning ) and has announced its seasonal fall menu. The pheasant pie ( a version of chicken pot pie ) is back, and there are new dishes such as oak-aged bourbon barrel meatloaf, Chicago 250 filet mignon and Butterfield Idaho trout. See www.TortoiceClub.com .
—Food Network star Chef Robert Irvine is taking his brand of no-nonsense cooking on the road to Joliet's Rialto Square Theatre Friday, Oct. 10, at 8 p.m. Tickets are $29.50-$153.50 ( with possible additional fees ); call 815-726-6600 or 800-982-2787, or visit www.ticketmaster.com or www.rialtosquare.com .
—Sunday brunch has returned to Maxwell's at the Club ( in the East Bank Club, 500 N. Kingsbury St. ). The cost is $24 for adults, and range from free to $12 for children. The menu includes an extensive omelet bar alongside a rotating menu of seasonal entrées, salads and sides. Visit www.maxwellsattheclub.com .
—Lockwood Restaurant & Bar—located within the Palmer House, 17 E. Monroe St.—has announced Mathew Wiltzius as its new executive chef. Among other endeavors, Wiltzius has worked under Chef Herve Cuvee at the Waldorf Astoria Chicago. Visit LockwoodRestaurant.com .
—Plymouth Restaurant & Bar, 327 S. Plymouth Ct., invites Chicago Marathon runners and guests to carbo-load at an all-you-can-eat pasta buffet Saturday, Oct. 11, 6-9 p.m. Runners and their families can enjoy the pasta buffet for $10, with drink specials throughout the day.
—In partnership with Square Kegs homebrew club, Louis Glunz Beer, Inc., Hirter Beer will present the Hirter Uberbrew homebrew competition awards ceremony and celebration Saturday, Oct. 11, at 7 p.m. at DANK Haus German American Cultural Center, 4740 N. Western Ave. Guests receive a complimentary Hirter glass with the purchase of a beer, and the Alpine Thunder Band will provide authentic German folk/pop music. The event is free and open to the public.
—Lush Wine & Spirits ( 2232 W. Roscoe Ave. and 1412 W. Chicago Ave. ) is encouraging Chicagoans to drink pink in October with "From Our Rack to Yours," in honor of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. One dollar from each bottle of pink wine purchased will benefit Lynn Sage Cancer Research Foundation.
—Devon Seafood Grill, 39 E. Chicago Ave., is offering an exclusive incentive for private holiday dining. Guests who book their holiday parties by Nov. 4 will receive an offer card that can be redeemed for a future dining experience. Holiday parties valued at $500 or more will receive a $50 offer card and parties valued at $1.000 or more will receive a $100 offer card. The offer card is valid for use starting Jan. 1, 2015.
—Transgender chef Brandon Byxbe is opening a lunch counter at 741 Howard St., Evanston, in November. As a chef of seven years, Byxbe created the "Amazing Kale Burger," a healthy, vegan, gluten and soy-free alternatve. Byxbe is raising funds through Kickstarter for a 40-gallon steam ketle and commercial convecton oven to add to his new space, aiming to raise $5,000 by Oct. 14. See https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1024813986/the-amazing-kale-burger-wants-to-feed-you.
—Chipotle Mexican Grill will again host its Halloween fund-raiser, Boorito. On Friday, Oct. 31, Chipotle will offer $3 burritos, bowls, salads, tacos or kids meals to customers dressed in costume. Proceeds from the fund-raiser will benefit the Chipotle Cultivate Foundation.
—Pastoral is hosting a variety of activities in honor of National Cheese Month ( October ). Among other things, it will highlight four cheeses: Capriole Cheese's "O'Banon, "Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese's "Bay Blue," Alemar Cheese's "Good Thunder" and LaClare Farms' "Chandoka." Also, Bar Pastoral, 2947 N. Broadway, will host a special brunch/book-signing with Legendary "Breakfast Queen" Ina Pinkney in celebration of her new book Taste Memories on Oct. 26. See www.PastoralArtisan.com .
—Eataly, 43 E. Ohio St., is hosting the Italian Food & Wine Festival Oct. 14-16. Among slated events are a four-course dinner at Baffo that chef/restaurateur Lidia Bastianich is hosting ( Oct. 14 ) and "Wine Around," a walk-around tasting with dozens of Italian producers ( Oct. 15 ). In addition, chefs Tony Mantuano, Ugo Alciati, Lee Wolen and Davide Oldani will hold seminars Oct. 16. ( Note: Events may be sold out. ) Visit www.eataly.com/chicago-italian-food-wine-festival/ .
—This October, Glazed and Infused Pastry Chef Nick Stewart offers guests a charitable treat in support of Breast Cancer Awareness month. The artisan doughnut shop is donating 5 percent of proceeds from the specialty Chocolate4 Lynn Sage doughnut ( $3 ) to the Lynn Sage Foundation's "In Good Taste" campaign. Visit www.goglazed.com .
—Chef Tom Van Lente and the team at TWO, 1132 W. Grand Ave., are collaborating with Brewery Vivant for a special beer dinner on Thursday, Oct. 16, at 6 p.m. The five-course menu is $65 per person, exclusive of tax and gratuity; interested guests may make reservations by calling 312-634-8363. Among the culinary offerings will be roasted beets, BBQ whitefish, grilled hanger steak, chocolate pavé and passed appetizers.
—Sixteen ( at Trump International Hotel & Tower Chicago, 401 N. Wabash Ave. ) has unveiled its newest menu, "The Faces of Sixteen." The 12-course tasting menu—which includes items such as pine-smoked venison, turtle soup and pear sorbet—costs $185 per person; wine pairings may be added for $125 and a reserve pairing may be selected for $185. Visit www.sixteenchicago.com or call 312-588-8030.
—On Friday, Oct. 31, ROOF on theWit, 201 N. State St., will be crawling with witches and dripping with blood-red cocktails in honor of Halloween. "A ROOF Horror Story," inspired by the television series, will feature the "spooky" sounds of DJ Tina T. There's no cover charge. Visit www.roofonthewit.com .
—The 13th AlphaBeer—a three-hour event that teaches craft beer lovers about 26 different beers, one for every letter of the alphabet—will take place Saturday, Oct. 18, at A.J. Hudson's Public House, 3801 N. Ashland Ave. Tickets are $50 each, including tip; visit http://chicago.thelocaltourist.com/event/alphabeer-xii.
—Bistronomic, 840 N. Wabash Ave., will feature a Beaujolais Nouveau menu on Thursday, Nov. 20, 5-9:30 p.m. The $39 menu will include three courses of items such as Belgium endive salad, steak frites, Moulard duck breast and banana brioche bread pudding. Call 312-944-8400 or visit www.bistronomic.net .
—Chef/Owner Jake Bickelhaupt of 42 grams ( 4662 N. Broadway ) has unveiled his fall menu. Among the menu items are cultured barley porridge, Skuna Bay salmon and A5 Miyazaki Wagyu. Visit www.42gramschicago.com .
—Evanston's Smylie Brothers Brewing Company ( 1615 Oak Ave.; www.smyliebros.com ) has opened for weekend brunch. Offerings include favorites such as brisket hash and fried chicken biscuits and gravy as well as items including spinach omelets, roasted portobello sandwiches and citrus-cured salmon and bagel.
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