—Carnivale, 702 W. Fulton Market, has a $33 prix fixe menu on Thursdays. Menu items in the three-course meal include baby arugula salad with goat cheese, mandarins, onion, pepitas and muscatel vinaigrette; Spanish seafood stew; and a cinnamon ice-cream sandwich with a chocolate crunch cookie, among other choices. See www.CarnivaleChicago.com .
—Fulton's On the River, 315 N. LaSalle St., is holding "Meet Your Meat." Guests will gain insight into the flavor profiles of a selected flight of three 4-oz. tastings, each designed to showcase the diverse preparation and cut. The meat connoisseur steak-tasting flight is $55 and accompanied with complementary mashed potatoes. See www.fultonsontheriver.com .
—Both Shaw's Crab House locations ( Chicago and Schaumburg ) are offering what they call "the perfect aphrodisiac dishes." Shaw's Crab House Schaumburg will serve its grand crab buffet ( for $56 ) 5:30-9 p.m. on both Saturday, Feb. 11, and Tuesday, Feb. 14. Also, diners can get a dozen Island Creek oysters and two glasses of Piper-Heidsieck Brut Champagne for $38 ( normally $54 ) . The special will be available during the restaurants' weekend-long Valentine's Day celebration, Feb. 11-14, during dinner only. Call Shaw's Crab House at 312-527-2722 ( Chicago ) or 847-517-2722 ( Schaumburg ) , or visit www.shawscrabhouse.com .
—President Bill Clinton will address attendees at the 2012 National Restaurant Association Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show May 6 at Chicago's McCormick Place. Clinton will share insights into his presidency and his current work with the William J. Clinton Foundation. The annual National Restaurant Association Restaurant, Hotel-Motel Show is the largest single gathering of restaurant, foodservice and lodging professionals.
—Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar, 25 E. Ohio St., is hosting a benefit for Illinois Supreme Court candidate Joy Virginia Cunningham 6-8 p.m. Wed., Feb. 8. Tickets are $150 per person; email events@joycunninghamforjustice.com or call Michele Wilde at 312-750-0870.
—This Valentine's Day, Giordano's will offer its heart-shaped, signature stuffed pizzas. The pizzas are available for any stuffed pizza combination. They're available for dine-in, carryout or delivery Feb. 7-14, and the prices start at $17 each. See www.giordanos.com .
—On Feb. 10-14, Tavern on Rush, 1031 N. Rush St., will offer a $200 five-course prix fixe menu for two created by Executive Chef John Gatsos. Among the dishes offered are oyster chowder; Rissoto with shaved perigod truffles; and Chocolate truffles and berries dipped in chocolate. See http:// www.tavernonrush.com .
—Also in honor of Valentine's Day, Water Tower Place's Mity Nice is serving a shareable one-pound burger, two beers and fries for $25 Feb. 10-14. The burger toppings are include Merkts cheddar and bacon; crispy onions and bleu cheese with a peppercorn crust; or Monterey Farms shiitake mushrooms and Cedar Grove Swiss cheese. See www.MityNiceChicago.com .
—Eduardo's Enoteca, 1212 N. Dearborn St., will host "A Night of Romance: Drinks, Dinner & a Movie" Valentine's Day, Feb. 14. Three seatings will take place at 5 p.m., 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.—each geared to couples—for $55. There will be courses including pasta and dessert; a bottle of boutique wine; a classic romantic film ( Annie Hall or Roman Holiday ) ; and a bottle of Prosecco to go. Call 312-337-4490 or visit www.EduardosEnoteca.com . ( Note: Eduardo's will be profiled in the Feb. 15 issue of Windy City Times. )
—In celebration of Windy City Circus at Navy Pier Feb. 17-26, Riva Crab House will offer a 10-percent discount ( food only ) at lunch and dinner to all Circus patrons. There will also be a special kids menu priced at $5.95 ( full kids menu available below ) . Guests must show wristband to receive discount. See www.rivanavypier.com .
—Waterleaf Restaurant, 425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn, invites guests to attend "A Night at the Movies" dinner and Academy Awards discussion with WGN entertainment reporter and critic Dean Richards Friday, Feb. 10. The evening kicks off at 7 p.m. in the Culinary & Hospitality Center amphitheater with wine and passed hors d'oeuvres. Chicago movie producer John Digles will open the event with a film industry discussion, followed by Richards' presentation about this year's Oscar-nominated films. The cost is $59 ( $110 per couple ) . Visit www.waterleafrestaurant.com .
—Capri Ristorante, first opened by "Mama Capri" in 1985, has opened a new location next door to FitzGerald's Nightclub in Berwyn, 6613 W. Roosevelt Rd., offering lunch and dinner ( 4 p.m.-2 a.m. ) seven days a week. Favorites include Linguine con Clams, eggplant parmigiana and pollo Genovese; see www.capriristorante.com .
—Master sommelier and Chicago television celebrity Alpana Singh plans to open The Boarding House in the historic building at 720 N. Wells St. The Boarding House, designed by celebrated Chicago architect Jeremiah Johnson ( Kamehachi, Hubbard Inn ) , will be an upscale multi-level restaurant and wine bar in a vintage building that, at one time, functioned as a boarding house. The restaurant will open this summer; see www.BoardingHouseChicago.com .
—The Morton Arboretum in Lisle will offer 14 ways to show your love for chocolate all February. Among the events are a chocolate "sushi" workshop Sunday, Feb. 12; a truffle-making workshop Saturday, Feb. 11; and "small plate" servings and beer from Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Company in the Ginkgo Restaurant. See www.MortonArb.org or call 630-725-2066.
Send items to Andrew@WindyCityMediaGroup.com .
