Dining out: Learn the art of French cooking during Mon Ami Gabi class
French cooking class
Love French food? Learn how to make wild mushroom tartare with cheese toast, merguez burger with cream cheese spread and hand-cut frites, and malted chocolate chip cookie ice cream sandwiches at a French cooking class from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, Jan. 20, at Mon Ami Gabi in Oak Brook. Each course will be paired with boutique French wines. Each participant will receive a recipe booklet to take home. The class is $55, plus tax and gratuity. Mon Ami Gabi is at 260 Oakbrook Center, Oak Brook, (630) 472-1900 or monamigabi.com/home/?loc=oakbrook.
WildFish's $10 lunch
Arlington Heights' WildFish Sushi, which is under new management, recently introduced a new $10-and-under lunch menu. The simplified lunch menu includes maki specials (choice of three rolls), bento specials (served with soup or salad), poke bowls (with a choice of a base, a protein and a sauce) and noodle dishes (served with three pieces of California maki). Lunch is served from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday. WildFish Sushi is at 60 S. Arlington Heights Road, Arlington Heights. (847) 870-8260 or wildfishsushi.com/.
Party time at Hofbrauhaus
Hofbrauhaus Chicago is turning 5, so the beer hall is throwing a celebration starting at 6 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 20. The fun includes a traditional keg-tapping ceremony and music from a 40-piece German Bugle band and authentic “oompah” band direct from Germany. Oh, and traditional German fare and beer. The first 300 guests will receive a free T-shirt. Hofbrauhaus Chicago is at 5500 Park Place, Rosemont, (847) 671-2739 or hofbrauhauschicago.com/events/#anniversary-party.
Bottomless ramen bowls
Sunday is funday, but it's also “bottomless” ramen bowl day at Schaumburg's Tokio Pub after 4 p.m. every Sunday in January. Ramen bowl choices include pulled chicken, steak, pulled pork, pork belly or pot stickers. Limit of three refills per person; dine-in only. Tokio Pub is at 1900 E. Higgins Road, Schaumburg, (847) 278-5181 or tokiopub.com/.
Slimmed-down meals
In January, chef Michael Lachowicz is adding an even more personal touch to Restaurant Michael's Flavor Fit menu. Now, guests can call or email the restaurant or Chef Lachowicz in advance to request a lighter meal, which will then be personalized and will contain less than 800 calories. “Flavor Fit is not about restriction, it's about portion control and being responsible,” Chef Lachowicz said. Dinner includes appetizer, entree and dessert. Dishes might include roasted cauliflower with ground turkey and crimini mushrooms, root vegetable mosaic and roasted and pickled beets.
Restaurant Michael will be hosting a Wine Dinner Wednesday featuring special guest Michael Corso of Corso Wine Selections on Jan. 24. The dinner, which costs $125, will feature warm truffle-laced gougeres; truffle foie gras ravioli jus de poulet with 2013 Emile Beyer; truffle and potato-crusted black bass and crème de truffe with 2012 Chassagne-Montrachet; filet de boeuf et truffe en brioche, truffle pomme puree and beurre rouge with 2012 Gille Chambolle-Musigny 1er Cru; and symphonie de l'hiver. Restaurant Michael is at 64 Green Bay Road, Winnetka, (847) 441-3100 or restaurantmichael.com/.