Dining events: Olive Garden adds new Italian potpies to its menu

Olive Garden's new potpies

Olive Garden recently put its own Italian spin on potpies with two new menu items: Nonna's kitchen sink, a potpie that includes Italian cheeses, ziti pasta, meatballs, Italian sausage and meat sauce in a flaky pie crust, for $12.99; or the chicken con broccoli, a blend of Italian cheeses, cavatappi pasta, grilled chicken, broccoli and Alfredo in a flaky pie crust, for $14.99. Olive Garden has locations throughout the suburbs. olivegarden.com/home.

Learn French cooking at Mon Ami Gabi

Get in the mood for spring with a French Classics Cooking Class at 10 a.m. Saturday, April 16, at Mon Ami Gabi in Oak Brook. Executive chef Bruce Williams will guide the class through three recipes: Smoked salmon with warm blinis and chive cream cheese, porchetta (pork belly wrapped in tenderloin) and fingerling potatoes, and chèvre cheesecake with walnut crust and port-marinated strawberries. Participants will then get to try each course with French wines and receive a complimentary recipe booklet to take home. The class costs $55 (gratuity not included). Advanced reservations required. Mon Ami Gabi is at 260 Oakbrook Center, Oak Brook. (630) 472-1900 or monamigabi.com/home/?loc=oakbrook.

Fuller House's pretzels

Ahhh, April. Baseball. National Soft Pretzel month. Have both at Fuller House, where you can watch your favorite team take the field and try one of three large soft pretzels: small serves 1-2 for $7; medium serves 3-4 for $12; colossal "XXL" serves 4-6 for $16. Every pretzel comes with pimento cheese, queso and honey mustard sauce. Drink specials include $6 mules on Mondays; $4 craft draft brews on Tuesday; and half-priced bottles of wine on Wednesdays. Fuller House is at 35 E. First St., Hinsdale. (630) 568-5466 or fullerhousebar.com/.