Adobo serves tequila dinners for fall
Adobo Grill locations in Chicago at 2005 W. Division St., (773) 252-9990, and 1601 N. Wells St., (312) 266-7999, both host four-course fall harvest tequila dinners featuring Tequila Oro Azul. The Wicker Park location's dinner is 7 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 17, while the Old Town location's dinner is 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 25.
The luxury Hotel Arista at Citygate Centre, Naperville's first certified green hotel, debuts this weekend alongside Sugar Toad, a new regional American restaurant created by acclaimed chef Jimmy Sneed. Sugar Toad gets its funny moniker from the nickname of a tasty blowfish from the Chesapeake Bay and features a mix of seafood and other American favorites. Lunch is 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, dinner is 5:30 to 10 p.m. (open until 10:30 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays) at 2139 City Gate, Naperville. (630) 778-8623.
Alpana Singh, host of WTTW's "Check, Please!" and a master sommelier, pairs wines with a special four-course "Dinner and Wine to Fall in Love With" seasonal meal prepared by executive chef Mychael Bonner. 6 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 18, at Reel Club, 272 Oakbrook Center Drive, Oak Brook. $75 per person. (630) 368-9400 or reel-club.com.
Carlucci hosts a charity benefit for the Cystinosis Research Network featuring lots of food, drinks, auctions, entertainment by "Frank & Dave" and an appearance by Miss United States, Ashley Kazian, from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 18, at 1801 Butterfield Road, Downers Grove. $50 per person. Visit afestivalofhope.org or call (630) 512-0990 for more information.
The Adobo Grill at 356 Yorktown Shopping Center, Lombard, (630) 627-9990, has just introduced "Friday Night Salsa Dancing" through the fall. Complimentary salsa lessons are from 8 to 8:45 p.m. There is a $5 cover starting at 10 p.m. and a $10 cover after 11 p.m. Visit adobogrill.com for more information.
Brasserie JO, 59 W. Hubbard St., Chicago, hosts a gin social at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 17. G'Vine Gin is teamed with the restaurant's classic French appetizers. Cost is $30. Call (312) 595-0800 or visit brasseriejo.com for more information.
Carlos' Restaurant, 429 Temple Ave., Highland Park, teams up with ChicaGourmets! for a four-course dinner prepared by Chef Ramiro Velasquez. A wine reception begins at 5:30 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 14. Cost is $109 per person, all-inclusive. Reservations required. (708) 383-7543 or chicagourmets.org.
Citizen Bar, 364 W. Erie St., Chicago, hosts a neighborhood wine tasting from 6 to 9 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 16. Cost is $20, which includes a selection of two or three wines with small bite food pairings. Reservations recommended. (312) 640-1156.
Cyrano's Bistrot and Wine Bar locations in Chicago at 546 N. Wells St., and at the cafe location at 233 E. Riverwalk Parkway, both celebrate their annual Mussels Festival from Monday, Sept. 15, through Sunday, Sept. 28. Call (312) 616-1400 for more information.
Mon Ami Gabi, 260 Oakbrook Center, Oak Brook, teams up the Alliance Francaise de Chicago for an exclusive five-week level two beginners French language course for tourism and gastronomy running Saturday, Sept. 13, through Saturday, Oct. 11. Cost is $275 and includes a classic French lunch and dessert prepared by Bruce Williams paired with a wine from a different region of France each week, plus loads of other discounts. Space is limited to 15 students. Call (630) 472-1900 for more information.
Purgatory Pizza, 3415 N. Clark St., Chicago, is giving away slices of its thin pizza if customers offer to sell their souls through September and October. Customers can then buy back their souls for the price of a full pizza on All Souls Day, Sunday, Nov. 2. For more information on this Faustian special, call (773) 975-6677.
Sam's Wine and Spirits, 1720 N. Marcey St., Chicago, teams up with Big Creek Productions and Lincoln Park Young Professionals for an evening of Bordeaux wine tasting and passed appetizers from Flemings Steakhouse, California Pizza Kitchen, Devon Seafood and Grill, Melting Pot, Lindt Chocolates and Edible Arrangements from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 12. Cost is $40 in advance, $50 at the door. Visit ticketweb.com for more information.
Tallgrass Restaurant, 1006 S. State St., Lockport, celebrates its recent top French Zagat Rating of 29 out of 30 with a special dinner 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Sept. 19. Chef Robert Burcenski prepares a five-course dinner of signature plates, priced at $60 per person, plus tax and gratuity. Wine pairings are an additional $40. Reservations required by calling (815) 838-5566.
Via Carducci, 1419 W. Fullerton Ave., Chicago, has a 12-year anniversary and customer appreciation celebration from 6 to 9 p.m. Monday, Sept. 15, with complimentary hors d'oeuvres, white and red Italian wines, live music and more. Call (773) 665-1981 or visit viacarducci.com.
Viand, 155 E. Ontario St., Chicago, celebrates the election season by offering two specifically tailored prix fixe menus to Democrats and Republicans at the cost of $20.08 each (tax and gratuity extra). viandchicago.com or (312) 255-8505.
Wine Discount Center, 1826 N. Elston Ave., Chicago, teams up with Chicago Digital Photography Meetup for a photography competition and wine tasting from 7:30 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 17. Attendees vote on 25 different photos from 11 photographers while sampling up to 20 wines from Washington State. Entrance fee is $25. Visit winediscountcenter.com for more information or call (773) 489-3454.