Dining out: Starbird Chicken making its Midwest debut in St. Charles
Eat more chicken
West Coast-based fast-casual chain Starbird Chicken will open its first Midwest location Monday, Oct. 19, at 845 S. Randall Road, St. Charles.
The concept, known for its chef-driven, scratch-cooked chicken tenders, will host a grand opening celebration at 10:30 a.m., when the first 100 guests will receive a complimentary three-piece tenders, chicken sandwich or salad.
Guests will have the chance to win free Starbird for a year through an hourly Golden Ticket promotion. And, from Oct. 19-25, Starbird will donate 20% of qualifying sales to St. Charles East and Geneva high schools through a friendly competition, with an additional $1,000 going to the winning school.
Starbird’s menu centers on its chicken tenders, available in a variety of seasonings, that are featured in sandwiches, salads and wraps. The chain has multiple locations in California as well as Colorado and Washington.
Taste the best of the Barrington area
Diners can sample food and drinks from some of the Barrington area’s best restaurants, breweries, wineries, distilleries and specialty food vendors when the Barrington Area TasteFest returns from 5-8 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 21, at Wild Onion Brewery & Banquets, 22221 N. Pepper Road in Lake Barrington.
Over 20 local establishments will offer savory bites and sweet treats as well as craft beer, fine wine and handcrafted spirits from eateries including Ancho & Agave Mexican Restaurant, LAGO by Fabio Viviani, Region Kitchen & Bar, Ruth’s Chris Steak House and more.
The festivities will include live music and prize opportunities, including a chance to step into the popular Barrington Bank & Trust Co. Money Machine. The first 200 guests through the door will receive a collectible TasteFest souvenir glass.
Advanced tickets are $50 and can be purchased on TicketLeap. The event traditionally sells out, but if tickets are available at the door they’ll be $55.
Comfort food season
Lazy Dog Restaurants is leaning into comfort-food season with some new menu offerings.
The fall menu features seven dishes including a wagyu beef and bison chili served with cornbread fries; spicy sausage and burrata rigatoni with Calabrian chili cream sauce; and lomo saltado featuring pork tenderloin tossed with peppers, onions, tomatoes and fries in a soy-cumin sauce.
New beverages include a paper plane martini and blood orange margarita, as well as NA options including a mango matcha tea and salted caramel cold brew.
Lazy Dog has suburban locations in Buffalo Grove, Naperville, Northbrook, Oak Brook and Vernon Hills.
Taste of Mexico
Niche restaurant in Geneva will celebrate bold Mexican flavors during its next monthly themed dinner on Wednesday, Oct. 28.
The four-course menu starts with a salmon tartare with tamarind vinaigrette and avocado mousse, followed by a chorizo-stuffed poblano en nogado. The entree is goat leg barbacoa with charred mole verde. The meal ends with chocoflan.
The specialty cocktail list includes palomas, golden or beet margaritas, mezcal old fashioneds and more available throughout the evening.
Dinner is $90 and reservations must be made at 630-262-1000.
Discover the wines of Tuscany
Mockingbird Bar + Garden in East Dundee will welcome back the storied estate of Tenuta Torciano for its fourth wine dinner collaboration on Tuesday, Oct. 20.
The six-course dining experience will be accompanied by seven wines as guests learn about centuries of Tuscan winemaking heritage through an intimate, guided tasting led by the Tenuta team.
Dinner is $85, and tickets are available at OpenTable.
Feeling crabby?
Florida stone crab will soon be back in season and will hit menus at Truluck’s Ocean’s Finest Seafood and Crab in Rosemont beginning Saturday, Oct. 17. The crab is uniquely sustainable in that fishermen can only take the claw, which grows back during the next year’s molting season. From peak season in mid-October through May 1, Truluck’s serves over 350,000 fresh, fully cooked, chilled and pre-cracked claws at its restaurants.
• Email dining events to rwest@dailyherald.com.