Dining out: Afternoon tea returns at All Chocolate Kitchen Primo
Tea time
Geneva's All Chocolate Kitchen Primo is bringing back afternoon tea starting Friday, Jan. 12. Taste some of chef Alain Roby's sweet and savory treats while sipping on gourmet teas from 2 to 4 p.m. Sweets include chocolate-dipped banana bread, orange marmalade scones, cocoa truffles, macaroons, fruit tartlets and petits fours. Nibble on traditional tea sandwiches such as cucumber and mint, smoked salmon and dill, ham, egg and cheese and more. Earl Grey, Chamomile Citrus, Jasmine, Darjeeling, Wild Encounter and more round out the tea options. Afternoon tea costs $40. Reservations recommended. The teas are scheduled to run through Mother's Day. All Chocolate Kitchen Primo is at 29 S. Third St., Geneva, (630) 232-2280 or allchocolatekitchenprimo.com/.
Morton's $40 menu
Morton's The Steakhouse is celebrating 40 years with a $40 menu now through Sunday, Jan. 14. Choose a starter (Morton's salad or baked five-onion soup), an entree (6-ounce filet mignon, Cajun prime pork chop, honey-balsamic-glazed salmon, chicken blanco), a side (horseradish mashed potatoes, broccoli) and a dessert (double chocolate mousse, Key lime pie or creme brulee). Reservations requested. Morton's The Steakhouse's suburban locations are at 1751 Freedom Drive, Naperville, (630) 577-1372; 699 Skokie Blvd., Northbrook, (847) 205-5222; 9525 W. Bryn Mawr Ave., Rosemont, (847) 678-5155; and 1470 McConnor Parkway, Schaumburg, (847) 413-8771. mortons.com/.
Whiskey dinner at Morton Arboretum
Warm up during the Morton Arboretum's whiskey dinner at 6 p.m. Friday, Jan. 12, in the Ginkgo Restaurant. The five-course dinner features pairings with DeKalb's Whiskey Acres whiskey. Learn about the whiskey-making process while noshing on pineapple- and whiskey-glazed shrimp paired with Whiskey Acres bourbon served neat. Then try the Whiskey Acres Bourbon lobster bisque and the field greens salad paired with Whiskey Acres Rye served neat. The entree is an espresso- and bourbon-marinated filet of beef and four-cheese potatoes au gratin paired with a Whiskey Acres Old Fashion. Save room for the peach bread pudding paired with Whisky Acres Honey Bourbon, made with honey from the arboretum. A vegetarian option also is available. Dinner costs $90 for members and $100 for nonmembers. Registration is required. The Morton Arboretum is at 4100 Route 53, Lisle, (630) 968-0074 or mortonarb.org/.
Martini Room rocks
Liven up your Friday night with the sounds of Covington Groove at 8:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 12, at Elgin's Martini Room. Come back on Wednesday for the Fresh Start Martini Flight, which includes five mini martinis for $15 every week. The flight menu changes monthly. Or stop in on Thursday for special $6 martinis (normally $9). Martini Room is at 161 E. Chicago St., Elgin, (847) 741-0349 or martiniroomelgin.com/.
New cocktails at Perry's
Perry's Steakhouse & Grille in Oak Brook is adding three new craft cocktails to its menu starting Monday, Jan. 15, to pair with its bar bites. Each cocktail is $15. The PassionNut for Port mixes Fonseca Bin 27 Port with DonQ Coconut Rum, passion fruit puree and fresh pressed lemon juice. Pair it with the Beef & Bleu ($13.95). The wine-based Rosé Collins mixes Botanist Gin with Rosé wine and fresh lemon juice. The pairing suggestion is bacon-wrapped scallops ($19.95). The third cocktail is the Jameson Mocha Old Fashioned, which mixes Jameson Caskmates Irish Whiskey with house-made coffee syrup and mole bitters. Pair it with Perry's Homemade Polish Sausage. Perry's Steakhouse & Grille is at 5 Oakbrook Court, Oak Brook, (630) 571-1808 or perryssteakhouse.com/menu-locations/chicago/oak-brook/.
Sammy's tequila dinner
It's tequila dinner time again at Sammy's Mexican Grill & Bar in Roselle. The dinner, which runs from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 18, features Patron tequila over four courses. First course includes tacos de canasta paired with a Patron margarita. The second course features huarache paired with Tequila Patron Reposado (neat) and The Paloma (Tequila Patron Silver and fresh grapefruit juice). Following that are three tacos - cochinita pibil, pollo en mole poblano and bistec en salsa roja - paired with Tequila Patron Añejo (neat) and El Niño Margarita. Dessert is El Gansito (vanilla sponge cake served with strawberry coulis and chocolate sauce) and Expresso Patron (Tequila Patron Café, cold espresso, vanilla brown sugar). Dinner costs $75, which includes drinks, tax and tip. Reservations required. Sammy's Mexican Grill & Bar is at 1354 Lake St., Roselle, (847) 764-8181 or sammysmexicangrillandbar.com/.