Dining events: Italian beer pairings in Elmhurst

Beer + Italian = dinner

Francesca's Amici hosts its first beer dinner. The five-course meal plus pairings begins at 7 p.m. Thursday, July 28. The meal includes an appetizer of artichokes wrapped in prosciutto di Parma, a mixed tossed salad with apple cider vinaigrette, pasta with sauteed Maine lobster, a grilled pork chop, and a dessert of peach and blueberry eggless custard. Beer pairings are courtesy of Two Brothers Brewery in Warrenville. The price is $45 per person. Francesca's Amici is at 174 N. York Road, Elmhurst. Call (630) 279-7970 or visit miafrancesca.com.

New at O'Hare

Travelers have a new destination at O'Hare International Airport. Blackhawks Restaurant recently opened its doors. It serves many of the home-style menu items as its counterpart Stanley's Kitchen and Tap, located in Lincoln Park. Blackhawks Restaurant will also serve classic breakfast items. Blackhawks Restaurant is at O'Hare International Airport, Terminal 2 near gate E-3, 2985 Mannheim Road, Des Plaines.

Table for two

Riccardo's Restaurant unites couples with a dinner-for-two special for $30. Put your heads together to choose one appetizer with soup or a salad, two entree items and then either two desserts or two bar drinks. Entree choices from the old-fashioned Italian menu include New York strip steak, chicken Marsala, lasagna, eggplant Parmesan