Hyatt Regency Woodfield names Hagopian as new executive chef
Hagop Hagopian has been named executive chef of the Hyatt Regency Woodfield, 1800 E. Golf Road, Schaumburg. Formerly the executive sous chef of La Grange Country Club and the executive chef at Lake Forest's Deer Path Inn, Hagopian now oversees the hotel's Tre Cena Restaurant as well as coffee shop, room service and banquet operations. To find out more about the chef's creations, call the hotel at (847) 605-1234.
At Marion Street Cheese Market, 101 N. Marion St., Oak Park, Michael J. Pivoney has been named executive chef/partner. Under the direction of Pivoney, who previously served as corporate executive chef at the John Hancock Center's Signature Room and executive chef at Carlucci in Lincolnshire, the artisan cheese and wine specialty shop begins offering prepared foods-to-go this autumn. For details, call Marion Street Cheese Market at (708) 848-2088.
New restaurants
Irae 60 opened three weeks ago at 700 N. Milwaukee Ave., Vernon Hills. The restaurant mixes classic sushi and sashimi recipes with more avant-garde maki rolls, as well as a complement of contemporary French offerings. For example, the lobster and scallop raviolis are comprised of lobster mousse studded with lobster and scallop meat, wrapped in rice paper, sauteed and served in a Vietnamese lobster foam. (847) 367-6600.
Pizzeria via Stato debuted last week in the front bar space of Osteria via Stato, 620 N. State St., Chicago. The Roman-style pizzeria from the Lettuce Entertain You folks specializes in "tavern pizzas" in red and white varieties, with thin and crispy crusts, artisanal meats, hand-pulled mozzarella and seasonal vegetable toppings, plus a selection of 300 Italian wines. (312) 337-6634.
Ai opened in late September at 358 W. Ontario St., Chicago. The River North eatery, owned by siblings Agnes Chua Yoshikawa and Gene Chua of Tsuki and Ringo fame, offers a selection of maki, nigiri, sashimi, noodles and Japanese entrees, featuring a signature blend of premium brown and short-grain rice. (312) 335-9888 or www.aichicago.us.
This week's events
La Casa del Gordo, 2014 First St., Highland Park, continues to observe both Halloween and the Mexican Day of the Dead through Sunday. Chef Fructoso Sandoval concocts a special menu with seasonal dishes such as homemade pumpkin pie and pumpkin tamal, while the bar offers cocktails from the crypt including Bloody Brain and Vampire Shots. (847) 266-1411 or www.lacasadelgordo.com.
Marlowe's Restaurant, 704 Euclid Ave., Palatine, hosts a cooking class dinner for married and engaged couples entitled "Thanksgiving Dinner With a Kick" at 7 p.m. Monday. Cooking With the Best Chefs presents its founder, Bill Lavery, along with Marlowe's executive chef Keith Willis, leading attendees through preparation of a six-course holiday meal. Recipe sheets, clipboards and a full-sized dinner portion of each dish are included in the registration fee of $100 per couple. Register at (630) 980-6800 or www.bestchefs.com.
Spartan Terrace Restaurant, at Elgin Community College's Culinary Arts Center, 1700 Spartan Drive, Elgin, welcomes Heaven on Seven chef/owner Jimmy Bannos as the next guest in its Distinguished Visiting Chef Series. A wine and hors d'oeuvre reception begins at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, followed by an upscale New Orleans-style dinner especially prepared by Bannos at 7 p.m. It costs $50 per person. Reservations are accepted at (847) 622-0300 until 5 p.m. Saturday.
Emmett's Ale House, 123 W. Washington St., Oswego, holds its fall brewmaster dinner at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday. It begins with a beer reception and a tour of the brewery by brewmaster Ryan Clooney, while the dinner pairs four courses with various Emmett's microbrews. The price is $49.95. Make reservations at (630) 383-2020.
Westin Chicago North Shore, 601 N. Milwaukee Ave., Wheeling, is the home of "Putting on the Ritz With Restaurant Row." The sixth annual event begins at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday and offers samples of signature dishes from more than 20 area eateries including Bob Chinn's Crab House, Don Roth's Blackhawk and Osteria di Tramonto, plus live jazz, silent and live auctions and a raffle. It costs $25 in advance, $30 at the door. For details, call the Wheeling/Prospect Heights Area Chamber of Commerce at (847) 541-0170.
RA Sushi, 310 Yorktown Center, Lombard, offers a Sake and Sushi Social at 6 p.m. Wednesday. After an assortment of appetizers, attendees learn to roll their own sushi under a qualified sushi chef, then dine on their creations while they learn about and sample three different sakes. The evening costs $25. Make reservations at (630) 627-6800.
Carlos', 429 Temple Ave., Highland Park, celebrates 26 years of business with a special eight-course degustation menu prepared by chef Ramiro Velasquez. The menu is priced at $90, $130 if paired with Carlos' wines, and available from Wednesday through Nov. 12. For details or reservations, call (847) 432-0770.