Dining out: Winnetka's George Trois named Restaurant of the Year at Banchet Awards
Accolades aplenty
• On Sunday, Winnetka restaurant George Trois, headed by chef Michael Lachowicz, was awarded Restaurant of the Year at the 2019 Jean Banchet Awards. George Trois beat out Acadia, avec and Oriole to win the coveted award. French-influenced George Trois offers a one-of-a-kind dining experience that includes a 12-course, chef-designed tasting menu that is only available for seatings at 6, 7 and 8 p.m. Thursday through Sunday. The winter 2019 tasting menu includes a hot toddy, potato and truffle, Golden Osetra caviar, pithivier of duck and pistachios, foie gras raviolo, Nantucket Bay scallops and morels a la crème, pot au feu, souffle and chocolate and mignardises (miniature pastries). The dinner costs $205 per guest plus tax and gratuity. Beverage service is additional. Advance reservations are required.
• Gayot, which has served as a guide to restaurants, hotels, travel destinations and more for 45 years, recently named George Trois and Western Springs restaurant Vie, helmed by chef Paul Virant, to its annual list of Top 40 Restaurants in the U.S. George Trois and Vie join esteemed Chicago restaurants Alinea and Everest on the list. "We are truly honored to again be included as one of Gayot's Top 40 restaurants, among some of the most excellent Chicago company," Virant says.
George Trois is located at 64 Green Bay Road, Winnetka, (847) 562-6105 or georgetrois.com/.
Vie is at 4471 Lawn Ave., Western Springs, (708) 246-2082, vierestaurant.com or paulvirant.com.
Big six
Time to party! Hofbräuhaus Chicago is turning 6, and to celebrate, the German beer hall is throwing a bash starting at 6 p.m. Friday, Jan. 18. Enjoy German specialties from the new chefs - executive chef Daniela Amend and sous chef Frank Klawunder, both born and trained in Germany - plus a special keg tapping by the owners. Expect lots of German music, beer and more. Guests can enter a raffle to win a Microbrewery Experience with the restaurant's brewmaster, a catered and delivered family meal for up to six people, gift cards to the restaurant and store, a keg-tapping experience, merchandise and more. Hofbräuhaus Chicago is at 5500 Park Place, Rosemont, (847) 671-BREW (2739) or hofbrauhauschicago.com/.
Naperville Restaurant Week
Sick of the cold and snow? Head out for some new dining experiences during Naperville Restaurant Week, which runs Sunday, Jan. 20, through Sunday, Feb. 3. From prix fixe menus to discounts, participating restaurants - Aurelio's Pizza, Balboa's Philly Cheesesteaks, Bangkok Village, Beans and Sweets, Bottoms Up Sports Bar and Grill, Catch 35, Che Figata, Chili's, CityGate Grille, Colonial Cafe, Cuisine of India, Dalicious Indian Restaurant, Empire Burger Bar, Fat Rosie's Taco and Tequila Bar, Fiamme Pizzeria Napoletana, Fire It Up, Fontinas Italian Kitchen, Hugo's Frog Bar and Fish House, Jimmy's Grill, La Sorella Di Francesca, Las Palmas Mexican, Little Italian Naperville, Little Pops, Macarena Tapas, Meson Sabika, MidiCi The Neapolitan Pizza Co., Nando's Peri-Peri, Old Town Pour House, Paris Bistro, Potter's Place, Santo Cielo, Shinto Japanese Steak House and Sushi House, SixtyFour - A Wine Bar, Spice Mart, Standard Market Grill, Sullivan's Steakhouse, Tap In Pub and Carvery, Ted's Montana Grill, Texas Roadhouse, 2Toots Train Whistle Grill and Up North Ale House - will be serving up lots of deals.
See dinenaperville.com/Naperville-Restaurant-Week for details.
Small-batch and more
Buffalo Creek Brewery in Long Grove has a lot going on in January. For fans of small-batch brews, Buffalo Creek releases its specialty American Pale Ale named American Buffalo on Tuesday, Jan. 15. If you know lots of random facts, try your hand at the brewery's live trivia nights on Wednesdays. There will be prizes, pints and more. Come in on Friday, Jan. 18, for Southern-style barbecue from Dukes Blues-N-BBQ from 5:30 to 8 p.m. And on Thursday, Jan. 24, there will be a special Thursday edition of Food Fridays from Pierogi Joe's. Buffalo Creek Brewery is at 360 Historical Lane, Long Grove, (847) 821-6140 or buffalocreekbrewing.com/events.
Go Underground
Potbelly Sandwich Shop is refreshing its Underground Menu with more sandwiches and desserts. New are the Barnyard (ham, turkey, Angus roast beef, salami, bacon, meatballs and Swiss cheese on regular bread) and the cheeseburger (meatballs and cheddar, toasted then topped with lettuce, tomato and mayo on regular bread). Those sandwiches join the Fireball (meatballs, chili, hot peppers and melted cheddar), Sicilian (salami, pepperoni, capicola, mortadella, meatballs, mushrooms, marinara and provolone), Lucky 7 (ham, turkey, Angus roast beef, salami, pepperoni, capicola and mortadella with melted provolone), Calicado (avocado, cucumber, turkey and melted cheddar), Wrecking Ball (ham, turkey, Angus roast beef, salami, meatballs, marinara and provolone) and Monkey Business (peanut butter, Nueske's bacon and sliced bananas). New sweets include the Dream Bar Sundae (a warm Dream Bar topped with ice cream, whipped cream, chocolate syrup and a cherry) and the Cookie Collision Shake (ice cream blended with Oreo and butter cookies). Potbelly Sandwich Shop has locations across the suburbs. potbelly.com/.
Happy, happy
Grab some friends and head to Happy Hour at Seasons 52 from 4 to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday. Small plates are $5, so you can try different tastes without breaking the bank. Choose from wood-grilled barbecue meatloaf sliders, grilled chicken yakitori skewers, Kona-crusted lamb lollipops, caramelized grilled sea scallops, shrimp scampi, seared handline ahi tuna and wood-grilled meatballs. Drink specials include beers (Stella Artois, Corona, Michelob Ultra, Sierra Nevada) for $4, cocktails (house spirits blended with fresh juices or a mixer or sangria) for $6, and specialty cocktails (cucumber basil smash, margarita, Hawaiian Pineapple Cosmopolitan, Prairie Mule) for $7. Seasons 52 is located at 1770 E. Higgins Road, Schaumburg, (847) 517-5252, or 3 Oakbrook Center, Oak Brook, (630) 571-4752, or seasons52.com/.
• Email clinden@dailyherald.com with suburban dining events.