Dining out: Oktoberfest, free bagels for Jeffs, Pizza Cook Off at Abt and more
Prost!
It’s almost October so we’re well into Oktoberfest season. Nearly every local brewery is doing something special to mark the occasion, so here are a few restaurants bringing you tastes of Bavaria.
Bluegrass in Highland Park has its annual Octobeer Fest menu featuring items such as pretzel bites, a sausage sampler, wiener schnitzel and more. The highlight is the pork shank (Schweinshaxe), served with German potato salad and sauerkraut. It’s $34.95 with limited availability daily. And you’ll be dining for a good cause, as the restaurant is supporting the Lynn Sage Foundation in October for Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
Oktoberfest is in full swing at Puttshack in Oak Brook. They’ve added a soft pretzel and beer cheese ($13) to the menu and are pouring $5+ Samuel Adams Oktoberfest pints.
L. Woods Tap & Pine Lodge in Lincolnwood offers German favorites Monday, Sept. 29, through Wednesday, Oct. 15. A la carte specials include the Bavarian bierhaus platter with Oktoberfest brat, knackwurst, pretzel twists, deli mustard and bier cheese dip; beer-braised short ribs with mustard glaze, roasted Brussels sprouts and German potatoes; schnitzel with crispy pork tenderloin, braised red cabbage, buttered spätzle and onion gravy; and German chocolate cake. Pair it with a stein of Stiegl-Pils, Hacker-Pschorr or Hofbräu Dunkel.
Brunch for ballers
The Greggory in South Barrington is bringing its wood-fired fair and flair to brunch. Dishes include shakshuka made with lamb ragù, a marscapone-stuffed French toast layered with pear and maple, and a smoked salmon platter. If you’re leaning toward lunch, try the Berkshire pork schnitzel with a fried egg and mustard seeds or the rotisserie chicken club.
Have a big brunch appetite? Order the Big Baller Brunch, featuring a 32-ounce wagyu tomahawk, pancake tower, crispy hash browns, eight eggs any style and bottomless mimosas. It’s $300, but I guess you could share.
Brunch is served from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.
Calling all Jeffs
If you’re a Jeff, Geoff, Jeffrey, Geoffry, or any other derivation of the name, you can make a run to Downers Grove for a free bagel Friday.
Jeff’s Bagel Run, at 1105 Ogden Ave., is celebrating its namesake’s birthday with a free bagel and side spread for all varieties of Jeffs. Just show a valid ID on Sept. 26; no purchase necessary.
Charity pizza cook-off
It’s time for a parking-lot pizza throwdown, and you can get a slice of the action Sunday, Sept. 28, at Abt Electronics, 1200 N. Milwaukee Ave. in Glenview.
Five chefs from local pizza restaurants will compete in Abt’s third annual Pizza Cook Off from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. for a chance to win a donation to the charity of their choice on behalf of the Abt Family Foundation. The event will be hosted by Steve Dolinsky.
Pizzaiolos from Prince Street Pizza, Pizza di Farfalla (last year’s champion), Pizza Lobo, Tievoli Pizza Bar and WG Pizzas will battle using Alfa pizza ovens and will be judged by a panel of local food experts and influencers. The winning chef will get $2,000 for their chosen charity. Guests attending the competition will choose a “people’s choice” winner, who will get $1,500 for their charity. All runners-up will receive a $500 donation to their selected charities.
Tickets to the event are $15 and include samples of each chef’s pizza, as well as lawn games, music and raffle prizes.
Go pink
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, so diners can anticipate a lot of pink promotions at bars and restaurants. CityGate Centre in Naperville has numerous offers from their hospitality venues beginning Wednesday, Oct. 1.
Che Figata and Zorba Lounge will both offer the Part & Parcel cocktail, featuring an appropriately colored mix of Wheatley Vodka, elderflower liqueur, fresh grapefruit, citrus and a touch of sweetness. Arista Coffee & Café will serve up a white chocolate mocha topped with a swirl of cream and pink ribbon sprinkles. CityGate Grille is offering Frosted with Hope, featuring layers of vanilla bean pink velvet cake, pink lady apple filling and cream cheese frosting.
A portion of the proceeds will benefit Bringing Joy, Inc., a local nonprofit that procures and delivers care packages to bring comfort and happiness to cancer patients.
Zero-proof pairing dinner
When you hear pairing dinner, you usually think of a multicourse meal with wine, spirits or cocktails. The Side Lot in Wauconda is offering a version for the N/A crowd.
“The Dry Run” is a five-course dinner paired with elevated mocktails. The zero-proof drinks promise to feature the same bold flavors, fizz, smoke and foams from their bar program, just without the alcohol.
The one-time only event (for now, they say) will be held at 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 3, and is $55 per person. Reservations can be made on Tock.
Happy birthday, Jacques!
Cook, Cork and Fork in Palatine will be celebrating the 90th birthday of legendary chef Jacques Pepin with an intimate dinner inspired by Pepin’s timeless recipes and French techniques. A portion of each registration will be donated to the Jacques Pepin Foundation, which supports community-based kitchens offering culinary training to adults with high barriers to employment. Join Daily Herald Food columnist Penny Kazmier and others Thursday, Oct. 2, in preparing a five-course meal, complete with wine pairings. The menu includes baked French onion soup; a beet, walnut and arugula salad with honey balsamic; baked cod with a calamata and tomato tapenade; braised short ribs with Brussels sprouts; and an apple frangipane tart with a caramel drizzle. The fun starts at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are $150 and can be purchased at CookCorkandFork.com.
• Email dining events to rwest@dailyherald.com.