Dining out: Pinstripes hosts Off Color Brewing dinners
Beer dinners at Pinstripes
Pinstripes (Bistro + Bowling + Bocce) is partnering with Logan Square's Off Color Brewing for a series of four-course beer dinners starting Thursday, June 21. During the dinner, an Off Color Brewing expert and the Pinstripes' chef will demonstrate how each pairing enhances each course. The reception includes Bacon 3 Ways paired with Tooth & Claw Czech pilsner. The goat and fruit salad will be served with Troublesome, a Gose beer. The main course features Devil's Airline Chicken served with linguine, lemon and fresno peppers paired with Sibling Rivalry, a Belgian-style tripel. Dessert concludes with a crispy custard of mango, passion fruit, custard, fried pineapple and caramel served with Spots, a tropical Berliner Weiss. All beer dinners begin at 7 p.m. and cost $50, which includes tax and tip. Preregistration is required.
Thursday, June 21: 1150 Willow Road, Northbrook, (847) 480-2323; Friday, June 22: 100 W. Higgins Road, South Barrington, (847) 844-9300; and Thursday, June 28: 7 Oakbrook Center Mall, Oak Brook, (630) 575-8700. pinstripes.com/.
Strawberry delight
Of course, this weekend's Long Grove Strawberry Fest is all about the strawberries. Try sweet and savory treats such as deep-fried strawberries on a stick, chocolate strawberry popcorn, strawberry barbecue sauces, strawberry kebabs, strawberry jams, strawberry fudge, funnel cakes with strawberries, strawberry smoothies, strawberry blintzes, strawberry banana Nutella crepes, chocolate-covered strawberries, strawberry doughnuts, strawberry shakes, strawberry ice cream, chocolate strawberry sundaes and more. Besides strawberries, vendors will be dishing out barbecue and other fruity delights. Entertainment includes main stage headliners Wedding Banned on Friday, High Infidelity on Saturday and Mr. Blotto on Sunday. Plus, don't miss the kids' zone, bags, spin art coloring, face painting, strawberry crafts, ongoing strawberry pie-eating competitions, a carnival and more. Hours are 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday, June 22; 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday, June 23; and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, June 24. Admission is $5 and free for kids 12 and younger.
The fest takes place near 308 Old McHenry Road, Long Grove, longgrove.org/festivals/strawberry-festival/.
MJ welcomes summer
Michael Jordan's Restaurant welcomes summer with refreshed menus highlighting a variety of seafood and warm-weather specialties. Diners can choose from new dishes such as grilled chicken paillard with a summer vegetable salad ($22), pan-roasted salmon with poblano creamed corn ($24) and Mediterranean-accented seared sea scallops ($29). Also recently added to the menu is the bacon and onion dip app ($12), lobster ravioli ($24), a pork chop sandwich ($16) and a citrus-marinated grilled chicken sandwich ($13) with creamy butterkäse cheese and a spicy-sweet slaw.
Michael Jordan's Restaurant is at 1225 W. 22nd St., Oak Brook, (630) 828-2932 or michaeljordansrestaurant.com/.
Summer sippers
Want to kick back and relax with a summer cocktail? Quiubo in Naperville recently added some new drinks to its menu, such as the new seasonal raspado (a frozen drink with passion fruit, habanero-infused Exotico tequila, Hank's Recording vodka and lime), Suavecita (g4 blanco, chareau aloe liqueur, fresh honeydew, lime and soda) and Guayabo (pink guava, la venenosa raicilla, Q Ginger Beer and lime). A Toda Madre in Glen Ellyn is offering new drinks starting Friday, June 22. Try the El Durazno (white peach, g4 blanco, giffard crème de peche and lime) and the La Doña (passion fruit, por siempre sotol, mint and lime). On Friday, June 29, Bien Trucha in Geneva will start offering the Suavecita.
Quiubo is at 120 Water St., Suite 122, Naperville, (331) 702-2711, quiubomx.com/; A Toda Madre is at 499 N. Main St., Glen Ellyn, (630) 474-0969, atmrestaurant.com/; and Bien Trucha is at 410 W. State St., Geneva, (630) 232-2665, bientrucha.com/.
Craft beer fests
Hopp to it: Taste an abundance of local craft beers and multiple wines from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, June 23, at FoxFire's Hopp on the Vine. Appetizers will be passed around to cleanse the palate after each taste. It's $40 for wine and beer tastings and appetizers in advance; $45 at the door. Buy tickets at eventbrite.com/ or over the phone. FoxFire is at 17 W. State St., Geneva, (630) 232-1369, foxfiregeneva.com/ or members.genevachamber.com/events/details/hopp-on-the-vine-33593.
Morton Arboretum Craft Beer Festival: Toast to the trees with the fifth annual Craft Beer Festival featuring more than 40 breweries, plus food from local restaurants and Arboretum concessions from 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday, June 23. Tickets: $40-$60 for members; $50-$70 for nonmembers; $15 for designated driver. The Morton Arboretum is at 4100 Route 53, Lisle. mortonarb.org.
$6 deal at Q-BBQ
Q-BBQ in Naperville is turning 6, and to celebrate they're offering a $6 pork sandwich meal now through June 30. The meal includes a pulled pork sandwich, hush puppies and one side. The special offer is only available at the Naperville location.
Q-BBQ is at 103 S. Main St., Naperville, (630) 637-6400 or q-bbq.com/naperville.
Let's do lunch
Stefani Prime in Lincolnwood launched lunch service this week, offering appetizers, sandwiches, entrees and more from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday. Menu highlights include the seafood Cobb salad, Italian Tostone Panino, chicken parmigiana sandwich, Stefani prime rib sandwich, veal scaloppine and pappardelle Bolognese.
Stefani Prime is at 6755 N. Cicero, Lincolnwood, (847) 696-6755 or stefaniprime.com/.