In the mood to pound some rice into shape? Head to Mitsuwa

Mochi Tsuki at Mitsuwa

Participate in the traditional Japanese rice cake pounding ceremony today at the Japanese grocery store Mitsuwa Marketplace. Mochi is a Japanese rice cake made of glutinous rice pounded into paste and molded into a shape. Free samples of azuki (red beans) and kinako (soybean flour) will be prepared at the demonstrations at noon, 1 and 2 p.m.

Mitsuwa Marketplace is at 100 E. Algonquin Road, Arlington Heights. Call (847) 956-6699 or visit mitsuwa.com.

Attention burger lovers

Prime BurgerHouse, now open in Elgin, puts more between its buns than most could imagine. Specialty burgers range from the Thai Chicken Burger to the Prairie Fire Buffalo Burger to the Surf and Turf Burger stacked with a Maine lobster tail on top of a burger patty, asparagus and more. Hours are 11 a.m. to midnight Sunday through Thursday and 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday.

Prime BurgerHouse is in the pavilion at the Grand Victoria Casino, 250 S. Grove Ave., Elgin. Call (847) 531-7746 or visit primeburgerhouse.com.

Gotta pasta recipe?

Your best pasta dish could win you $200 in Carlucci Restaurant's annual best pasta recipe contest. Guests can submit their recipe from Jan. 4-31. The winning dish will be featured on the menu for a month and receives a restaurant gift certificate and a complimentary stay at the Westin Hotel in Lombard.

Carlucci Restaurant is at 1801 Butterfield Road in Downers Grove. Call (630) 512-0990 or visit carluccirestaurant.com.