Dining Out: The PSL is back, seasonal offerings at Old Town Pour House, win burgers for a year
It’s back
We’re sure you know by now, but the unofficial start of fall arrived Aug. 25 with the start of Pumpkin Spice Latte (PSL) season at Starbucks.
Returning alongside the PSL are the seasonal favorites Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew and Iced Pumpkin Cream Chai. New from the patch this year are the Iced Pumpkin Cream Shaken Espresso (combining blonde espresso with brown sugar syrup and cinnamon, served over ice with oat milk and topped with pumpkin cream cold foam), Iced Pumpkin Cream Matcha (iced matcha with pumpkin cream cold foam) and Pumpkin Spice Chai (black tea infused with cinnamon and warming spices combined with steamed milk and sweet pumpkin sauce).
In non-pumpkin news, the Pecan Cortado, Iced Pecan Crunch Latte and Pecan Crunch Latte are also back, while the brand is introducing two new banana bread-inspired drinks, the Iced Banana Bread Latte and Iced Banana Bread Chai. Starbucks also unveiled a new Iced Chaider, which combines Starbucks chai with strawberry acai flavors.
The chef recommends …
Old Town Pour House, with locations in Naperville and Oak Brook, has released its latest Chef Selects lineup, a seasonal, limited-time menu of food and drinks that rotates every couple of months.
Featured food dishes include smoked brisket Reuben egg rolls, filled with brisket, bacon-braised sauerkraut and gruyere cheese in a won ton wrapper served with spicy cider ale mustard aioli and smoky chipotle thousand island; and French onion flatbread with gruyere, mozzarella, truffled mushrooms and green onions.
The drink specials are the harvest highball, with reposado tequila, apple juice, agave syrup, lime juice, cinnamon and sparkling pink grapefruit soda; and a chocolate banana bread old fashioned with Elijah Craig Small Batch bourbon, Giffard Banane du Bresil, Demerara syrup and chocolate bitters.
The menu is available until Oct. 6.
Jackpot!
The casino floor isn’t the only place to pull a winner at American Place Casino in Waukegan. Restaurant L’Americain is pitting Illinois against Wisconsin in a flavor battle that gives guests a chance to represent their side of the border and win free burgers for a year.
Guests can choose their side by ordering the Wisconsin Cheese Curd Burger (a double smash burger piled high with crispy, squeaky, Wisconsin cheese curds) or the Chicago Dog Smash Burger (a double-smash burger topped with pickles, tomatoes, yellow mustard, neon-green relish, celery salt and melted American cheese).
Then you’ll need to snap a photo of your choice and share it on Facebook, including the hashtag #APCFreeBurgers and tagging American Place Casino.
The promotion runs through Oct. 31, when one winner will be selected at random to receive one free burger per week at L’Americain for a full year.
More burger news
Chandler’s Chophouse in Schaumburg has added “Ten-Buck Burger Wednesdays” to their daily specials.
The burger is topped with your choice of cheese, along with lettuce, tomato and pickle and served with fries, tater tots or coleslaw.
The deal requires a beverage purchase and is available after 3 p.m.
Chandler’s is at 401 N. Roselle Rd.
Send dining events to rwest@dailyherald.com