Chicago Area Restaurant QuickNews – February 17th
Valentine’s Day has come and gone but there’s still many other restaurant events in the month of February! Several restaurants are featuring special Mardi Gras menus and drinks and others have delicious Lent specials! Read on for more information!
This Saturday, February 18th, The Red Canary will be hosting a special Mardi Gras brunch from 10am to 3pm and dinner from 3pm to Midnight, as well as lounge service until 3am! Chef Tolentino’s menu features items like Cajun Gumbo ($8) and Cajun Chicken Pasta ($10), as well as themed drink specials like the $4 “Big Ass” beers. The Red Canary will offer a complimentary hosted bar from 9-10pm, as well as a three hour drink package that goes from 10pm-1am for only $25 per person. Call 312-846-1475 for more information!
Love eating contests? Stop by Cactus Bar and Grill to participate in their second annual crawfish eating contest for charity on Tuesday, February 21st! Contestants are to eat three POUNDS of crawfish as fast as they can! All proceeds, including the $25 entrance fee, will go towards Habitat for Humanity of New Orleans. There will be four heats and the winner of each will compete in the final round. But not to worry, all contestants will get a Cactus t-shirt! First place will get a $50 gift certificate to the restaurant, second place will win a table top grill and third place will receive a Corona metal beer cooler! Beads and masks will be given out to the crowd watching the contest as well! Various Mardi Gras style drinks and dishes will be available, such as the $4 cup, $6 bowl Shrimp and Crawfish Gumbo or the $10 Shrimp Po Boy with side. If you want to compete in the crawfish competition, click here or call 312-922-8025.
Also on the 21st, Nacional 27 will be hosting a “Carnival 2012″ cocktail party! The restaurant will feature live Brazilian music by the Bossa Tres Trio from 7:30pm-9:30pm as well as custom cocktails made with Brazilian ingredients. In-house mixologist Liz Samples will offer three types of Caipirinhas (a classic Brazilian drink made with cachaca). Executive Chef Francisco Vilchez’s full tapas and dinner menus will also be available during the evening. Call 312-664-2727 for more information or to reserve a table for the night!
Celebrate “Mardi Gras Madness” at a Fat Tuesday party at Kit Kat Lounge and Supper Club! On February 21st, enjoy Chef Mark Kasper’s Kit Kat Gumbo (tiger shrimp and Amish chicken with okra, rice and buttermilk biscuit- $17) and many half-price Cruzan rum cocktails ($5 each). The Diva Tracy Ross will be performing songs, starting at 7:30pm and will be throwing out beaded necklaces, hats and other giveaways, courtesy of Cruzan Rum! Call 773-525-1111 to make a table reservation!
On February 23rd, Francesca’s Amici in Elmhurst will be hosting a wine dinner, featuring the Italian wines of Buglioni Vineyards. The evening will feature various dishes, along with wine pairings. Some highlights on the menu are crostini with chicken liver pate or ricotta and sweet tomatoes, handmade pappardelle with wild mushrooms ragu and charred chicken breast and a cheese tasting with fruit, nuts, sweet gorgonzola and pecorino grand cru. Tickets for the dinner are $58 per person. Call 630-279-7970 to make your (required) reservation!
Zed451 will be hosting an Academy Awards viewing party on Sunday, February 26th! Guests will walk on a red carpet into Zed451′s lounge where the red carpet arrivals and awards ceremony will be shown on the 10-foot projection screen! There will be a ballot contest to predict the winners and guests with the most correct answers will win $150 towards Zed451! There will be several Oscar-themed cocktails (Hollywood Stars Sangria, Midnight in Paris, The Red Carpet, etc.), as well as various drink specials for the night. The “Big Screen” Burger will be offered for $5 (8 oz. Angus burger on a pretzel bun w/butter pickles and pickled shallots or with maple Cajun bacon and choice of cheese), and the full “Cravings” menu will be available as well. Call 312-266-6691 to reserve your spot!
Sabor Saveur is featuring a new 3-course menu for only $35! Chef Yanitzin Sanchez’s menu showcases warm ingredients for the chilly winter months! The menu is available on the weekdays from 5-7pm. The prix-fixe menu includes a choice of appetizer, entree and dessert. Guests are invited to bring in their own alcoholic beverages to compliment the menu. Some dishes on the menu are Avocado Walnut & Ground Meat Sopresa, Poached Salmon Filet with Orange Beurre Blanc, and Pineapple Rice Pudding with Caramelized Sauce and Cinnamon Tulip. In addition to the new 3-course, menu, Sabor Saveur is offering special fresh fish specials in honor of Lent! Dishes like Shrimp Mignon (w/apple cider and caramelized apples w/red onion and brussels sprouts), Mole De Olla (sea bass w/pasilla, pulque sauce, pumpkin flower and zucchini) and Halibut (w/a pesto crust and ricotta cheese tamal). These dishes will be available from Wednesday, February 22nd and every Friday night through April 6th! Call 773-235-7310 for reservations.
Rio’s D’Sudamerica is also observing Lent by offering various specials that focus on quinoa (a grain), which originated in Peru. Dishes like Chaufa de Quinoa (Peruvian style stir-fried quinoa w/green onions, corn, red pepper, egg, ginger and soy sauce and choice of protein), Quinoa Seafood Paella (quinoa in a seafood broth w/shrimp, octopus, squid, mussels, clams, red peppers and green peas) and Quinoa Salad (tomatoes, quinoa, white cheese, basil, cilantro, roasted green and red peppers on a bed of lettuce) will be available. Guests can order these dishes from Wednesday, February 22nd and every Friday through April 6th. Call 773-276-0170 for more information!
Last but not least, both Pinstripes locations will offer meatless meals and a Friday Fish Fry! Chef Cesar Gutierrez’s meatless menu will feature items like Maple Glazed Salmon, Pine Nut Crusted Halbut, Gnocchi and Yellowfin Tuna and the Ahi Tuna Salad with Lemon-Caper Dressing. On Friday nights, a Fish Fry special includes wild-caught beer-battered cod that is served with Parmesan fries, whole grain mustard, horseradish coleslaw and house-made tartar sauce. These special dishes will be available from Wednesday, April 22nd through April 6th and are offered for both lunch and dinner! Reservations are not required!
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