Dining out: Gene & Georgetti, Tuscany get in the game with March Madness specials
Meatless Fridays & March Madness
Friday Lent specials and March Madness mean it's a busy time in the kitchen at Gene & Georgetti Rosemont. Friday specials feature fish and chips ($22), pretzel-encrusted whitefish ($25), striped bass ($28), cioppini (a classic seafood stew made with shrimp, scallops, clams and mussels) ($26), pan-seared scallops ($32) and the new Seafood Tower, featuring Alaskan King crab, ahi tuna, snow crab claws, jumbo shrimp, mussels, clams and oysters. During March Madness, head to the lounge for the college hoops tournament special, which is available only during the NCAA tournament games starting the week of Tuesday, March 19. For $15, fans can get a craft beer plus a choice of one entree: The classic burger and homemade fries; filet sliders and homemade fries; fish and chips; mussels marinated in Guinness beer sauce; or the grilled chicken sandwich and homemade chips. Gene & Georgetti Rosemont is at 9421 W. Higgins Road, Rosemont, (847) 653-3300 or geneandgeorgetti.com.
Unlucky Charms
Get dressed up in your funeral best for an Irish wake, er Murder Mystery Dinner: Unlucky Charms, from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday, March 15, at Maggiano's Oak Brook. Dine on a family-style dinner while trying to figure out clues and uncover the murderer. First course features spinach and artichoke al forno, sausage and peppers and salads, while the second course includes chicken and spinach manicotti, Mom's meat lasagna, salmon lemon and herb, and oven-roasted pork loin with garlic mashed potatoes. Vera's Lemon Cookies and double chocolate brownie round out the meal. It's $60 per person, including tax and gratuity. A cash bar will be available. Order tickets at eventbrite.com. Maggiano's is at 240 Oakbrook Center, Oak Brook, (630) 368-0300 or maggianos.com/.
Irish pops
Just in time for St. Patrick's Day, Garrett Popcorn Shops will be selling emerald green Irish kettlecorn. Lightly glazed with pure cane sugar and a hint of salt, you can find it at all Garrett shops, including in Woodfield Mall's Grand Court in Schaumburg, Friday through Sunday, March 15-17 and 22-24. See garrettpopcorn.com.
Frydays
It's fish fry Fridays every week through April 19 at Naperville's City Gate Grille. Chow down on beer-battered cod served with homemade coleslaw and steak fries for $15 at lunch and $21 at dinner. City Gate Grille is at 2020 Calamos Court, Naperville, (630) 718-1010 or citygategrille.com.
Spice it up
Does your cooking need a little pick-me-up? Feel inspired at Mon Ami Gabi's French Classics Cooking Class from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday, March 16. Executive chef Bruce Williams will teach an interactive class exploring his favorite hors d'oeuvres. The best part? You'll get to sample the bites while sipping on boutique French wines throughout the class. Participants will get a recipe booklet to take home. It's $55 per person. Mon Ami Gabi is at 260 Oakbrook Center, Oak Brook, (630) 472-1900 or monamigabi.com/oak-brook/.
Cooking with beer class
Love beer and like to cook, but just not sure how the two should go hand in hand? Saranello's chef Mychael Bonner is collaborating with Prairie Krafts Brewing for an interactive demonstration on how to incorporate beer into cooking and how to pair it with your food. From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, March 16, Bonner will demonstrate how to make beer-battered fish and chips, beer-braised brisket and sticky toffee pudding with homemade stout ice cream. The class costs $32.95 per person. Saranello's is at 601 N. Milwaukee Ave., Wheeling, (847) 777-6878 or saranellos.com/.
March Lasagna Madness
Calling all college basketball fans: March Madness is almost here. And to celebrate, Tuscany in Oak Brook and Wheeling are hosting a weeklong March Lasagna Madness Monday through Friday, March 18-22. Each day, a different lasagna recipe will be featured for $15 at lunch or $17 at dinner. On Monday, try sausage and ricotta lasagna; Tuesday: four cheese mushroom cipriani lasagna; Wednesday: primavera lasagna; Thursday: Bolognese lasagna; and Friday: seafood lasagna. Tuscany is at 1415 W. 22nd St., Oak Brook, (630) 990-1993 or tuscanychicago.com/location/oak-brook/, and 550 S. Milwaukee Ave., Wheeling, (847) 465-9988 or tuscanychicago.com/location/wheeling/.
Plant power
Chipotle Mexican Grill recently introduced two new plant-powered bowls to its menu. The vegan bowl, which contains Chipotle's organic plant-based protein Sofritas (made from certified organic soybeans), brown rice, black beans, tomato salsa, corn salsa and lettuce, is 600 calories, while the vegetarian bowl, which combines brown rice, pinto beans, fajita veggies, tomato salsa, corn salsa, sour cream and guacamole, is 805 calories. Chipotle has locations throughout the suburbs. chipotle.com/.
• Email clinden@dailyherald.com with suburban dining and night life events.