Raise a glass or two at wine fest
More than 250 wines highlight the Naperville Wine Festival. Local chefs, including Terrell Cole of Sullivan's Steakhouse and Filemon Ochoa of Meson Sabika, conduct demonstrations and seminars on tasting and pairing wines, and local bands perform. It runs from 4 to 10 p.m. today and 3 to 10 p.m. Saturday at Naper Settlement, 523 S. Webster St., Naperville. Tickets are $25 at the gate, and an alcohol-free "designated driver" ticket is available for $10 less. (847) 382-1480.
Specials
Emmett's Ale House celebrates its eighth anniversary by serving a free dessert with every entrée purchased and giving away eight dinners each evening of the promotion. The offer is good now through Sunday at all three Emmett's locations: 5200 Main St., Downers Grove, (630) 434-8500; 128 W. Main St., West Dundee, (847) 428-4500; and 123 W. Washington St., Oswego, (630) 383-2020.
Edelweiss, 7650 W. Irving Park Road, Norridge, observes Oktoberfest with a special menu, traditional German entertainment and contests. Also featured are "Oktoberfest Flights," enabling tastings of any four of the restaurant's 16 imported draft beers. The festivities began Thursday and continue through Oct. 28. (708) 452-6040.
Kiki's Bistro, 900 N. Franklin St., Chicago, sparks up more than 300 glass-encased votive candles, which flicker above the dining tables from Monday through Sept. 22. The dramatic lighting accompanies a showcase of Champagnes from the year 2000, known as the "miracle vintage." Executive Chef Jose L. Espino pairs Veuve Clicquot and Moet & Chandon Champagnes with a four-course dinner. For details and reservations, call (312) 335-5454.
This week only
Casa Italia Festival Center, 39th and Soffel avenues, Stone Park, presents its second annual fall festival and wine tasting, Festa della Vendemmia. Along with an all-you-can-eat breakfast, a grape stomping competition, a winemaking demonstration and a farmers market, the fest includes a wine tasting from noon to 6 p.m. The family event runs from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. It's free except for the tasting, which costs $10 for unlimited sips of vino. (708) 345-3842.
Prairie Grass Cafe, 601 Skokie Blvd., Northbrook, hosts a grand finale lunch buffet for this week's Localvore Challenge. Since Monday, participants pledged to eat only locally grown and produced foods. These hearty souls, along with board members of Chicago's Green City Market and the general public convene during the meal to discuss the benefits and challenges of the endeavor. It begins at 1:30 p.m. Sunday and costs $20. Make reservations at (847) 205-4433.
Café Pyrenees, in the Adler Square Shopping Plaza, Route 137 and Milwaukee Ave., Libertyville, offers a special menu on Sunday. In honor of the 17th anniversary of the restaurant (which recently expanded its retail wine shop, adjoining tasting room and bar), 17 years' worth of favorite dishes are available. Live jazz accompanies the dinner, for which reservations begin at 4 p.m. (847) 362-2233.
Hot Chocolate, 1747 N. Damen Ave., Chicago, welcomes Garrett Oliver of Brooklyn Brewery for a four-course beer dinner. It begins with house-made soft pretzels, duck liver mousse, duck neck rillettes and Brie de Mieux fondue paired with Brooklyn's Oktoberfest, and only gets more interesting from there. The dinner begins at 6:30 p.m. Monday and costs $65 per person. Make reservations at (773) 489-8077.
Adobo Grill, 2005 W. Division St., Chicago, features a three-course dinner paired with libations from Tequila Partida. Executive Chef Freddy Sanchez prepares passed bocadillos (sandwiches), family style platillo principals and a postre (dessert) course, while guest speaker Sophia Partida discusses the tequilas that go into special drinks like an agave nectar margarita, sangria Mexicana and a "horchata-tini." The cost of the dinner at 7 p.m. Wednesday is $35. Call (773) 252-9990 for reservations.
Phil Stefani's, 437 N. Rush St., Chicago, takes patrons to the heart of "the Island": Sicily. A traditional Sicilian menu is enhanced with presentations on Sicily's traditions, culture and places by writer Gaetano Basile and St. John's University professor Gaetano Cipolla. The dinner begins at 7 p.m. Thursday; business attire is required. For reservations or further information, call Melissa at (312) 553-9137, ext. 15.