Dining events: Waterleaf pairs fall foods, wines

Fork in the fall

Taste the season at a four-course fall wine dinner at 6 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 16, at Waterleaf. Begin with a butternut squash, ricotta and sage crostini paired with Varichon & Clerc Brut N.V. Next, try cauliflower soup with chive oil and Melba toast paired with 2009 Arizona Stronghold Tazi White. Follow that with a spiced pumpkin, lentil and goat cheese salad with the 2010 Michel Gassier Nimes Notre Pais. For the entree, enjoy the tea-spiced marinated duck paired with a 2010 Ayres Pinot Noir and end the evening with a dessert and wine pairing. $99 per person. For reservations, call (708) 383-7543. Waterleaf is at the College of DuPage Culinary & Hospitality Center, 425 Fawell Blvd., Glen Ellyn.

Game day game changers

Ready, set, hike on over to Tuscany Oak Brook to score from the $3 bar menu from 4 to 6:30 p.m. on game days. Bar menu treats include mini burgers, fried shrimp tempura, smoked salmon crostini, meatballs arrabiata, mini filet sandwiches, pizza margherita and baked oysters and mini antipasto. A $3 drink purchase is required. Tuscany Restaurant Oak Brook is at 1415 W. 22nd St., Oak Brook. (630) 990-1993 or tuscanychicago.com.

Lunch, extra fast

Grab an express lunch at Saranello's — a three-course special for $15.95 that includes a choice of soup, salad or appetizer, plus an entree and a dessert. Quick lunch options include the eggplant parmesan, the parmesan burger and fries, spaghetti and meatballs, the Waldorf salad or the smoked salmon salad. Saranello's, 601 N. Milwaukee Ave., Wheeling. (847) 777-6878 or saranellos.com.