—Donna's Cafe, 1255 S. State St., is currently closed until further notice. On the restaurant's Facebook page, owner Donna Adams answered someone who was saddened at the prospect of the eatery leaving the South Loop: "[W]e aren't leaving ... just reinventing ourselves! Takes a lot to beat me down, I am a fighter!"
—Gibsons Restaurant Group Chef Randy Waidner will help prepare a menu at New York City's Beard House Wed., Jan. 30, that spotlights Skuna Bay salmon. The dinner—which features items such as swordfish a la plancha and country-friend Napa Valley quail—will include chefs from other places such as New York City and Anaheim, Calif.
—Angel's Envy bourbon will be featured at a Jan. 22 (7 p.m.) dinner at Untitled, 111 W. Kinzie St. The menu will include items such as pork-belly confit, sweet potato biscuits, cherry mostarda and kohlrabi slaw; and smoked Slagel Farms chicken, soy bourbon glaze and braised Tuscan kale. The fee is $50; call 312-880-1511 to RSVP.
—French-cuisine eatery Bistro Voltaire, 226 W. Chicago Ave., is extending its Monday-night prix fixe menu to accommodate the theater crowd. From 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, guests can experience the prix fixe three-course menu specially curated by Chef Farid Oualidi for $29. The previous special continues Monday nights 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. Visit www.BistroVoltaire.com .
—Chicago Restaurant Week will take place Feb. 1-10. More than 250 restaurants (ranging from Balsan in the Waldorf Astoria Chicago to Michael Jordan's Steak House to Socca) will participate, with prix fixe menus starting at $22 for lunch and $33/$44 for dinner (excluding beverages, tax and gratuity). For dining ideas, a complete list of participating restaurants and the menu offerings, visit www.EatItUpChicago.com .
—Sixteen, located at the Trump International Hotel & Tower Chicago, has introduced a new winter menu. Menu highlights include items such as a white storm (sablefish, daikon sake seaweed), retiring fireside (potato coals, raclette, onion brulee) and a welcome homecoming (pickled foie gras, hearth spices, borscht). Visit www.sixteenchicago.com or call 312-588-8030.
—Cityscape, 350 W. Mart Center Dr., will mark President Obama's inauguration (Jan. 21) with the "O"Bama-Tini, which features Absolut Mandarin Vodka, Blue Curacao, Amp Decibel and Sierra Mist ($9). The bar will broadcast the inauguration live on its televisions. See www.cityscapebar.com .
—Stout Barrel House & Galley, where executive chef Chris Curren serves American comfort food in River North (642 N. Clark St.), will host a four-course beer dinner celebrating the Deschutes Brewery launch in Chicago 4-11 p.m. on Wed., Jan. 9. The four-course beer dinner with Deschutes beer pairings costs $35 per person (tax and tip not included); call 312-475-1390 or visit www.opentable.com/stout-barrel-house-and-galley.
—LUXBAR, 18 E. Bellevue Pl., will mark Martin Luther King Day (Jan. 21) with a brunch that will include housemade pecan sticky buns ($4) and croissants ($3); house-cured gravlax eggs Benedict ($11.50); and Gibsons Marinated USDA prime skirt steak and eggs ($14), among other items. See www.luxbar.com .
—Jason Wagner as now wine director/sommelier at Henri, 18 S. Michigan Ave., and The Gage, 24 S. Michigan Ave. Most recently, Wagner was responsible for the wine programs at Nellcote and RM Champagne Salon, which gained national press for the wine programs he created.
—Brasserie 54, 5420 N. Clark St., is offering brunch followed by a special Sunday Supper menu for dinner starting Jan. 13. Brunch menu highlights include both savory and sweet items including LM Restaurant Group's signature croques, available vegetarian with caramelized onions, brie and spinach or with ham, Swiss cheese, béchamel and Dijon mustard, buttermilk pancakes, omelets and more. In addition, a mimosa and entrée special ($22) is available.
—Ciao Amore, 1134 W. 18th St., now features live jazz on Fridays 7-10 p.m. The restaurant, which features house-made pastas, is BYOB and there's no corkage fee. There is free parking at St. Procopius Church, on 18th and Allport. See www.ciaoamoreristorante.com . (A Windy City Times profile is at www.windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/Gay-chef-talks-about-Pilsen-eatery/32080.html .)
—The Union League of Chicago, 65 W. Jackson Blvd., will host the 8th Annual For the Love of Chocolate Gala on Saturday, Feb. 23. There are two packages to the black-tie event: the Dessert Dance Party (8 p.m.-12 a.m.; $150/person) and the VIP package—Dinner and Dancing (6 p.m.-12 a.m.; $300/person). See www.ForTheLoveOfChocolateFoundation.org .
— ItaliAsia Restaurant, located in the Holiday Inn Chicago Mart Plaza (350 W. Mart Center Dr.), is marking International Day of Italian Cuisines Jan. 17. Menu highlights include pasta Bolognese, bucatini with meatballs, lobster risotto fra diavlo and chicken Vesuvio. See www.italiasiarestaurant.com .
—The Southern, 1840 W. North Ave., will host a "Prohibition Party" Thursday, Jan. 24, 8-11 p.m. The event will feature the new Jack Daniel's Unaged Tennessee Rye, and will include live music by Four Star Brass Band. Tickets are $10; see http://thesouthern.ticketleap.com/prohibition.
—Primebar, 155 N. Wacker Dr., has a "$3 Beer of the Month" special. Described as a "modern-day ale house," Primebar has food that ranges from small plates (for example, beer mussels and chicken tortilla soup) to sliders to "two-handed sandwiches" to specialties (that include horseradish-crusted salmon, twin filets and pork tacos). See PrimebarChicago.com .
Send items to Andrew@WindyCityMediaGroup.com .
