Dining out: Halloween treats at JoJo’s and Lou Malnati’s to open in St. Charles
Spooky treats
JoJo’s ShakeBAR in Napervilles is gearing up for Halloween with spooky sips and treats for a limited time.
Available for just two weeks, the Instagram-worthy Cookies ’N’ Scream Shake leads the lineup and is topped with cotton candy, a white chocolate skull and a chocolate witch doughnut hole. Adults can enjoy the Boo-Cardi Rum Punch, served in a smoking, bubbling caldron for effect. Rounding out the seasonal offerings is the pumpkin grilled cheese and tomato bisque.
The specials items are available until Nov. 1.
Happy birthday
Jim “Photos” Photopoulos, owner of Photos Hotdogs in Palatine, is turning 60 on Thursday, Oct. 22, and wants to give his customers a gift.
For his milestone birthday, the “owner and head hotdog maker,” as he refers to himself, is offering everyone a 60-cent hot dog or chili cheese dog at his eatery at 301 N. Northwest Hwy.
Photopoulos opened the original Photos in Mount Prospect in 1989 at age 23, followed by the current Palatine location in 2004. By his count he’s given out a million free ice cream cones, a staple of the restaurant, over 37 years.
New Lou’s
Lou Malnati's Pizzeria will open its newest location Tuesday, Oct. 27, at 3050 E. Main St. in St. Charles.
The restaurant, the brand’s 70th location and first to showcase elements of the company's refreshed brand experience, is located in the Fox Haven Square development, near the northeast corner of Kirk Road and East Main Street.
The 6,200-square-foot space features a full-service dining room and bar, private dining room, carryout, delivery and catering services. Lou’s worked with the St. Charles History Museum to incorporate historic photographs and local storytelling throughout the space, in addition to family photographs, pizza-pan-inspired decor, and nods to the Malnati family’s legacy and Chicago roots.
Let’s get spicy
Teriyaki Madness is turning up the heat just in time for sweater weather with its new limited-time Chili Crisp Miso Chicken Yakisoba Bowl.
Each bowl starts with the brand’s chicken teriyaki, then gets stacked with broccoli, shelled edamame and yakisoba noodles before everything is tossed in a savory, slightly sweet chili crisp miso sauce.
The bowl comes in junior, regular and large sizes and will be available through the holiday season. TMAD has suburban locations in Aurora, Gurnee, Lombard, Niles, Rolling Meadows, St. Charles and Vernon Hills.
Wine dinner
You can enjoy a six-course wine-pairing dinner while helping culinary students study abroad during the Elgin Community College Flavors for Flights Wine Dinner on Friday, Oct. 30.
The event will be held at ECC, 1700 Spartan Drive, in Building H’s Arts Center. Guests will hear directly from chef Lucas Wagner, chef Jim Guzzaldo and Tommy Hensel about their creations and learn how the wines are paired with each course.
The evening starts with a sea scallop carpaccio, followed by a surf-n-turf of seared pork belly and butter-poached monkfish. After the soup and salad comes a red oak-grilled onglet steak, yam fondant, hickory-smoked chuck flap, roasted beet, buttermilk salsify, mustard greens and cherry “barbeque.” A cheese course refresher precedes dessert of baked pear with roasted corn butter cake.
Each course is paired with wine. Tickets are $175 and can be purchased on the ECC Arts Center website or by calling the box office at 847-622-0300.
Tailgate score
Kona Grill in Oak Brook might not be the first place you think of for football-watching food, but their new Ultimate Tailgate Platter is giving fans a way to offer up a full game-day spread without cooking.
Available now through Feb. 13, the $99 platter includes 10 shareable items, from chicken wings, ribs and chicken satay to potstickers, fried pickles, pretzel bites, fries and sushi. It’s available for dine-in, takeout and delivery. Guests can add a $29 Six-Pack Bucket with their choice of Michelob Ultra, Bud Light, Budweiser or Michelob Ultra Zero.
More Halloween fun
It’s a place where a kid can be a kid, so of course Chuck E. Cheese is geared up and ready to go for Halloween.
The pizzeria and entertainment center will host nightly Halloween dance parties with Chuck E. every hour after 6 p.m. until close and kids are encouraged to dress in costumes throughout October.
Through Oct. 31 guests can enjoy the new Boo-Meal Deal, which includes a large pumpkin-shaped pepperoni pizza, two drinks and a collectible Boo-Bucket filled with two spider web cotton candies, starting at $34.99 (dine-in only). There’s also a number of bonus play and points deals throughout the month.
• Email dining events to rwest@dailyherald.com.