Dining news: Ten Mile's cocktails; Drury lane's new restaurant
COMPILED BY ANDREW DAVIS
—Evanston's Ten Mile House has unveiled its cocktail menu. The selections include The Ten Mile ( Bulleit Bourbon, Giffard Apricot Liqueur, amaro and Carpano Antica Formula ), The Maud ( St. Germain, Castillo Silver, Bonne Maman Strawberry Preserves, fresh basil and soda ) and the E-Town Mule ( FEW Bourbon, fresh lime and ginger beer ), among others. See TMHEvanston.com .
—Oakbrook Terrace's Drury Lane Theatre & Convention Center has announced the opening of Lucille, a classic American restaurant featuring traditional cuisine with modern influence by Executive Chef Bill Kummrow. Named after Owner Kyle DeSantis' grandmother Lucille DeSantis, the restaurant pays homage to the Chicagoland staple's 30-year history.
—Lake View's Farm Bar—the "Little Sister" and third concept to join the Farmheads group, joining Farmhouse Chicago & Farmhouse Evanston—launches a Saturday & Sunday chef-driven brunch. Executive Chef Eric Mansavage will offer items such as beer onion upside-down cornbread, root vegetable hash, spicy goat-sausage poutine and pickled autumn squash salad, among other items. Call 773-281-2599.
—Gibsons Restaurant Group has announced a new restaurant project—and it will be the organization's first downtown location to open since 2005. The river-front facility ( at 444 W. Lake St. ), leased by Hines Interests, will feature a multi-level fine-dining restaurant that boasts scenic river views, and patio dining. The concept of the restaurant is still in the formulation stage. The opening is currently slated for mid-2017.
—ROTI Modern Mediterranean announced Andrew Ashmore as the new chef and director of culinary operations. In this new role, Chef Ashmore oversees the menu development and culinary training of all 22 restaurants in Chicagoland; Washington, D.C.; and New York City. ROTI's menu features sandwiches, salads, rice plates and traditional Mediterranean side dishes including falafel, hummus and couscous.
—On Monday, Dec. 14, Pastry Chef George Kovach and the team at TWO, 1132 W. Grand Ave., welcome an all-star lineup of pastry chefs from across Chicago for the restaurant's first annual Toothache event, a pre-holiday pastry-palooza at the 2016 Bib Gourmand West Town restaurant. Guests are encouraged to donate children's clothing or unwrapped toys at the event ( nice ) while indulging in desserts ( naughty ). Tickets are $45; visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/toothache-at-two-tickets-19555303439.
—Jake Melnick's Corner Tap, 41 E. Superior St., is hosting "The Twelve Beers of Christmas," a one-night-only event on Monday, Dec. 14, at 6 p.m. The Twelve Beers of Christmas, curated by Beverage Director Emilie Sharboneau, offers an array of Christmas ales and seasonally-inspired beers including Great Lakes Christmas Ale, Revolution Brewing Fistmas and more. See JakeMelnicks.com .
—Fish Bar, 2956 N. Sheffield Ave., is transporting guests to the Big Easy with a New Orleans-inspired menu starting Wed., Dec. 16. Dishes will include spicy crab remoulade, pecan catfish, chocolate creme-brulee bread pudding, and shrimp-and-crawfish etoufee, among other items. See FishBarChicago.com .
—Valli Produce Evanston, 1910 Dempster St., will host a book-signing with celebrity chef and recent Cutthroat Kitchen winner Fabio Viviani on Sunday, Dec. 20, 5:30- 7:00 p.m. Visit www.valliproduce.com or call 847-866-6100.
—La Ciudad Mexican Cafe and Grill, 4515 N. Sheridan Rd., is hostng its 2nd Annual "Feed the Homeless" Event on Thursday, Dec. 24, 12-3 p.m. La Ciudad is accepting sponsors and donors for this annual event; money, goods and service donations are all welcome and needed. Visit LaCiudadGrill.com or call 773-728-2887.
—Chicagoans who celebrate the New Year with Commonwealth Tavern, 2000 W. Roscoe St., will enjoy a $60-per-person package beginning at 8 p.m. which includes microbrew drafts, domestic bottles, call drinks, wine, food buffet, champagne toast at midnight and live DJ. Visit CommonwealthChicago.com .
—On New Year's Eve at Frontier, 1072 N. Milwaukee Ave., there will be a whole-animal meal package starting at 8 p.m. The package ( $85 per person ) includes whole smoked animal service ( pig, goat, lamb and boar ), oysters, salads, sides, desserts, wine, punch, premium liquor, cocktails, craft and domestic beers, a champagne toast at midnight and party favors. See TheFrontierChicago.com .
—ENO Wine Room ( at the InterContinental Hotel, 505 N. Michigan Ave. ) will host "It's Midnight Somewhere!" event Dec. 31. Every hour on the hour, starting at 5 p.m., guests will toast to different locations around the world striking midnight with a glass of featured champagne. It's $8 for a half-glass of Champagne; call 312-321-8738 to RSVP.
—Kanela will be open on New Year's Eve for regular hours, and in celebration of the holiday season, each Kanela Breakfast Club location will feature a unique menu special. Depending on the location, specials will be eggnog pancakes, hot chocolate French toast and more. See KanelaBreakfastClub.com .
—In partnership with Green Curtain Events, Municipal's New Year's Eve bash at 216 W. Ohio St. will feature live DJ entertainment, a heavy appetizer buffet, six top shelf drink vouchers, $5 call drinks for the duration of the event, 2016 party favors with a LIVE ball drop and more. Doors will open at 9 p.m. and the party will end at 2 a.m. Visit gce.hastickets.com/municipalNYE2016 for tickets.
—La Sirena Clandestina, 954 W. Fulton Market, celebrates the start of 2016 with a New Year's Day Brazilian brunch on Friday, Jan. 1, 12-6 p.m. with live music, cocktails and Latin fare. Reservations for the New Year's Day brunch are required, with the last seating time at 5:30 p.m; call 312-226-5300 or visit www.lasirenachicago.com .
—Farmheads—the growing hospitality collective responsible for local, farm-fare concepts Farmhouse Chicago and Farmhouse Evanston—has launched Farm Bar, a tavern in Lake View. Now open, the 2,000-square-foot venue will be located at 1300 W. Wellington Ave., which most recently housed Wellington's Tavern. The beverage program has a 24-tap beer system focusing on Midwestern craft offerings, as well as locally produced options from the group's very own line of ciders.
—Chicago's Best WingFest will return for its 17th year on Feb. 21, 2016, 1-5 p.m., at Bailey Auditorium, 1340 W. Washington St. There will be wings from 25 area restaurants, competitive wing-eating and six categories of wing competition, among other things. The first block of tickets ( $40 each ) will go on sale on Wed., Dec. 9, 2015, at 12 p.m.; the second and final block tickets will go on sale on Wed., Jan. 13, 2016, at 12 p.m. See Wingfest.net .
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