—Takito Kitchen, 2013 W. Division St., announces its new Takito To Go menu, available Tuesday through Sunday for dinner beginning at 5 p.m. Created by Executive Chef/Partner David Dworshak, the menu features salsas, tacos (with items like crispy redfish and pork belly), shared plates, sides and sweets (such as Mexican chocolate ganache). See www.TakitoKitchen.com .
—Dining Out for Life will take place April 25 in several North American cities, including Chicago; visit www.diningoutforlife.com . Last year, Chicago raised more than $110,000 to continue its mission of providing housing and services to men, women and children living with HIV/AIDS. Among the dozens of participating restaurants are Club Lucky, Andies, Crew Bar & Grill, Salpicon, and Longman & Eagle.
—mk, 868 N. Franklin St., will mark its 15th anniversary with a new spring menu as well as a renovation. An $86 tasting menu includes items such as pan-sear veal sweetbreads, poached Alaskan line-caught halibut, roast Colorado lamb loin and the Black Forest (chocolate-chip brioche bread pudding with cherries, almond ice milk, chocolate sauce and chocolate crisp). See www.mkchicago.com .
—In Sonoma, Calif., Out in the Vineyard will host its Gay Wine Weekend 2013 in California Wine Country June 14-16, according to SDGLN.com . It will be a weekend of wine and celebration benefiting the Sonoma County AIDS Network. Events will include "Wine & Dine OUT in Sonoma" and the "Twilight T-Dance." See www.outinthevineyard.com/events/gaywineweekend2013.
—The 4-Star Restaurant Group announced the appointment of new Corporate Chef Kevin Ives, who now presides over all seven Chicagoland restaurants: The Smoke Daddy, Frasca Pizzeria & Wine Bar, Dunlays Logan Square and Lincoln Park, D.O.C. Wine Bar Chicago and Lombard, and Crosby's Kitchen. A Level 1-certified court of master sommelier, Ives brings nearly 20 years of experience in the restaurant and hospitality industry to his new position, including corporate chef at Francesca's in Chicago.
—South Branch, 100 S. Wacker Dr., is hosting a Kentucky Derby-themed event Saturday, May 4, 2-6 p.m. The Southern buffet-style menu will feature bites including a Kentucky Hot Brown, Benedictine spread and pumpkin cheesecake bites with bourbon drizzle. Tickets are $20 ($25 at the door) and a percentage of the ticket proceeds will benefit the Rainbows Foundation; visit www.SouthBranchChicago.com .
—On Monday, May 20, Executive Chef Paul Fehribach, in conjunction with Chefs Collaborative, will be joined by nine of Chicago's premier chefs to present a Trash Fish Dinner at Big Jones, 5347 N. Clark St. The dinner will begin with a cocktail reception at 6 p.m. followed by an eight-course, family-style dinner at 7 p.m. The cost is $125 each; call 617-236-5200 or visit www.chefscollaborative.org/events.
—L'étage, LM Restaurant Group's cocktail and wine bar on the second floor of Brasserie 54 at 5420 N. Clark St., has unveiled its beverage menu. All cocktails are $10, and include such items as the Femme Fatale (Fair Quinoa vodka, pear shrub, pear brandy and lemon juice topped with bubbly) and The Last Word (Maraschino liqueur, gin and green chartreuse fresh lime juice). See www.letagechicago.com .
—This Mother's Day, Sunday, May 12, Shaw's Crab House in Schaumburg is offering a Sunday brunch and dinner buffet priced at $48 for adults while kids 12 and younger eat for free (limit 2 children per adult). The buffet will run 9 a.m.-3 p.m. and will feature a "Grand Hot Buffet" line with classic breakfast fare, plus Shaw's specialties. Call 847-517-2722 or visit www.shawscrabhouse.com .
—Chicago Academy for the Arts' "A Taste for the Arts Gala" will feature the culinary creations of chefs who have all been previously featured on WTTW's popular dining show Check, Please! (Restaurants will include 90 Miles Cuban Cafe, Frontera Grill and Green Zebra, among others) The evening begins with a student performance at the Harris Theater, 205 E. Randolph St., followed by dinner on the Millennium Park Terrace Tuesday, May 14, at 6 p.m. Individual tickets start at $350; visit www.atasteforthearts.org or call the Harris Theater box office at 312-334-7777.
—Frontier, 1072 N. Milwaukee Ave., will host the fifth installment of the "So You Think You're a Foodie" chef's table on Wed., April 24, at 8 p.m. For $65 per person, guests are invited to indulge in a mystery five-course tasting menu (with a rabbit focus) that Pioneer Tavern Group Corporate Executive Chef Brian Jupiter will prepare. See www.thefrontierlive.com .
—Sola, 3868 N. Lincoln Ave., is offering new items for brunch. Among the offerings are a wasabi Bloody Mary with wasabi pea rim, shrimp, pickled asparagus ($12); sausage and lentils with housemade pork sausage, fried egg and pesto ($9); and bibimbap with pork belly, egg, red rice, pineapple, spinach and kim chee ($12). See www.sola-restaurant.com .
—Chicago q, 1160 N. Dearborn St., is hosting a whiskey tasting Wed., April 24, 6:30-9 p.m. Sample four High West Whiskeys, including the Double Rye, Rendezvous Rye, American Prairie Reserve Bourbon and Campfire; in addition, there will be eats such as pulled pork sliders. Tickets are $72 in advance and $85 at the door (including tax and gratuity); call 312-642-1160.
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