Results tagged “events”

Just a little wink wink, nudge nudge to remind you about Half Acre Brewery's Charitable Chili Cook-Off this Saturday. It benefits The Arts of Life, a non-profit community that uses art to assist developmentally disabled adults discover personal growth, and is being co-presented by Nice Cream and Chicagoist. Yours truly (this is Rob typing) will be among the panel of judges selecting a winner, who will receive a trophy and a signed and framed drawing of the original picture that inspired the cook-off by Arts of Life artist Kris Shenkel. (Oh--and the winner also gets a coveted spot in one of our gallery posts.)

A couple months back we wrote about Hum Spirit a rum-based liqueur infused with hibiscus, cardamom and ginger. Seger is ready to foist Hum Spirit on the rest of the world with a launch party at Pops for Champagne (601 N. State St., 312-266-7677) the Hum Spirit launch will feature cocktails crafted by Seger, Charles Joly of the Drawing Room and the Violet Hour's Stephen Cole. If that doesn't draw you over to Pops, maybe the $3 PBRs and $5 Jameson shots will. this is all part of Pops's "Shift Drinks" series featuring guest bartenders every Monday night in their downstairs bar.

Here's something you can do without having to leave your desk. Kendall College Dean Chris Koetke will host a chat on artisan Cheese with John Brody of Sargento Foods and Chef Ulrich Koberstein, Executive Chef of the American Club in Koehler, WI and a chef ambassador of the Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board.

                

Baconfest Chicago proper won't be for another six months, but if Saturday's VIP pro cookoff is any indication organizers Seth Zurer, Michael Griggs and Andre Pluess might want to have some ambulances at the ready. Or at least some Lipitor. We won't get into another debate about how played out the bacon meme is; haters will hate, lovers will love. But there was a sense of fun among the crowd Saturday. As vocal as the pro- and anti-bacon folks can be, the overall vibe was lifted from Alfred E. Neumann: "What? Me Worry?" Few took themselves seriously at the cookoff and levity reigned. So did excess.

• Tonight: Blue Sky Inn's annual "A Taste of Success" fundraiser is being held at the Flat Iron Building's Around the Coyote gallery (1935-1/2 W. North Ave.). Enjoy signature cocktails by Southern Wine & Spirits and the United States Bartenders Guild, hors d'oeuvres created by Blue Sky Inn's Albany Park bakery and café, cocktail jazz, a live auction featuring "Dream Job Opportunities" including: trainer at the Shedd Aquarium, chef at Tru, Food & Wine Critic at Time Out Chicago, craft beers by Two Brothers Brewing Company, and artwork created by the youth who benefit from Blue Sky Inn's programs. $45.
• Tonight: Shaw's Crab House kicks off its annual Oysterfest with its tent party at the downtown Shaw's (21 E. Hubbard). $10 suggested donation, 3:30-11 p.m.
• Saturday: The Chopping Block's Lincoln Square location (4747 N. Lincoln Ave.) is featuring a cooking class on Japanese-Style grilling. "Backyard Benihana" will focus on preparing Miso Soup with Grilled Sake-Marinated Tofu; Grilled Shiitake Mushroom Salad with Gingery Ponzu Dressing; Chicken and Vegetable Yakitori with Honey Soy Glaze, Spicy Sesame Dipping Sauce and Mustard Dipping Sauce; Authentic Salmon Teriyaki with Sticky Rice. 7-9:30 p.m., $85.

The Greater Midwest Foodways Alliance has put together an impressive program this weekend looking at the evolution of beef production in the Midwest over the years at Kendall College. "Beef: From Plains to Plate" includes a butchering demonstration; a visit to Naval Culinary "A" School at Great Lakes Naval Station, which is scheduled to close early next year; seminars on feedlots, animal husbandry, and the past, present and future of beef production; consumer confusion over certified Angus beef; the re-discovery of the benefits of grass-fed beef; an oral history on the Union Stockyards; an overview on the differences between kosher and halal-certified beef; and an overview of how ground beef became a household staple.

• Today:Don't Forget that tickets are still available to Nourish: Meals on Wheels annual celebrity chef ball, 6-10 p.m. at Macy's on State Street.
• Saturday: Lycée Français de Chicago's Fall French Market takes place from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. (Sunday hours are noon-4 p.m.). Experience the tastes, sounds, art and antiques of a traditional French marketplace. $10 per child or $15 per family with a recommended maximum of two hours. (Lycée Français de Chicago, 613 W. Bittersweet Place)
• Sunday:The Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation is hosting a benefit wine tasting at Geja's Café (340 W. Armitage) from 1-5 p.m. The wine tasting will be moderated by Patrick W. Fegan of Chicago Wine School. $50

Tickets are still available for tomorrow night's Celebrity Chef Ball to Benefit Meals on Wheels Chicago. the annual benefit, held at Macy's on State Street, brings together 80 of the best chefs in the city in a culinary hoedown of epic proportions

Every year, we look forward to the Christkindlmarket. This is because, despite all appearances to the contrary, pops is part German - hence the last name. The same last name that caused my blond haired college roommate's startled look when we met for the first time, clearly not expected the Korean looking girl in front of her. But,...we digress.

• Tonight: The Store (2002 N. Halsted) is hosting "Martini Madness," benefiting Cabrini Connections, an organization that provides mentoring and tutoring to children living in Cabrini Green. $40, 6:30-9:30 p.m.
• Saturday: VeganMania, a festival of all things vegan, takes place at the Pulaski Park Fieldhouse (1419 W. Blackhawk) from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. Best thing about this is it's free.
• Sunday: The Publican's monthly beer dinner will feature selections from St.Feuillien. Cost is $40 for the family-style dinner, $15-$20 extra for the beer. (837 W. Fulton Mkt., 5-10 p.m.)

The Andersonville Development Corporation is sponsoring its 4th annual dessert crawl Sunday from 2-5 p.m. A celebration of all things sugar, spice and everything nice, the crawl is divided into two routes. "Sugar" consists of participating businesses like Ann Sather's,George's Ice Cream and Sweets, Hamburger Mary's, In Fine Spirits, La Cocina de Frida. The "spice" route includes Andie's, Big Jones, Charlie's Ale House, Fireside, M. Henry and others. It's also a good walk along either route, so all those sweets don't go to your, um, wherever.

The Arts of Life is a non-profit community that uses art to assist developmentally disabled adults discover personal growth. On November 7 at 5 p.m. Arts of Life, Half Acre Beer Company, Nice Cream and Chicagoist will host a chili cookoff to benefit Arts of Life's programming.

This time of year is probably the most bountiful for our farmers markets, with a litany of in season fruits and vegetables available for purchase before the weather truly turns. With pumpkins and other gourds ripening, apples and pears available by the bushel, and root vegetables ready for the spotlight it's also an exciting time for home cooks.

So we didn't get the Olympics? Relax! People still gotta eat and, regardless of the outcome, supporters and opponents of the bid would have had a reason to drink tonight. Here are some events coming up in the next week of note.

Oktoberfest formally ends tomorrow, but that isn't stopping Rick Gresh from celebrating a few days after. The Executive Chef at David Burke's Primehouse is also an avid homebrewer and he'll be featuring a few of his creations at a Sunday dinner kicking off Primehouse's "OktoBEERfest." The selections Gresh and the Primehouse staff will be pouring include I-PAC (an IPA infused with chamomile); a wheat ale brewed with Seedling Farm peaches called "Stoned Wheat" and one beer Gresh calls "Working Man's Champagne."

                

Now this is how a food and wine festival should operate!

On Sunday, October 18, the chefs of Blackbird, avec and The Publican along with Pamela Fitzpatrick of Fox & Obel are hosting a five-course benefit dinner supporting James Beard Foundation. Chefs of the night will be Becky Broeske, Koren Grieveson, Brian Huston, Paul Kahan and Mike Sheerin. Pairings will feature Champagne Henriot, Napa Valley’s Blackbird Vineyards, Goose Island Beer Company and Three Floyds Brewing Co. If you must only choose one big dining event of the fall, this might be it. Hors d’oeuvres include: oysters, smoked black cod, and crispy pork rinds paired with champagne. The five course menu includes:

Faith and Whiskey invites you to stop in tonight from 7 - 9 for an informative, free discussion (read: SAMPLES!) of Knob Creek, Canadian Club, and Laphroaig to learn more about the differences between bourbon, whiskey, and scotch. Experts will be on hand to guide you through the tasting and provide some history and education on these spirits. RSVP: 773.248.9119 or greatwhiskeydebate@gmail.com.

Brush up on your "elimination challenge" skills with a class in improvisational cooking at The Chopping Block's Merchandise Mart location this Friday. From 6-8:30pm. Chef Abraham Conlon will be bringing in a secret basket of goodies and will "walk you through the creative and technical process of cooking without recipes." How exciting is that? You never know when you'll need these skills to beat this guy. Call to reserve a spot.

One of the high points of last year's Chicago Gourmet festival was listening to Carrie Nahabedian and legendary chef Norman Van Aken discuss, among other things, their time at the former Sinclair's in Lake Forest. Van Aken was the Executive Chef and his kitchen staff included Suzy Crofton, Charlie Trotter and Nahabedian. All would go on to bigger and brighter heights.

• Today is the final day of the annual Berghoff Oktoberfest in Federal Plaza. You've been warned.
• Tomorrow: Drinks Over Dearborn is hosting a free bourbon tasting from noon-3 p.m. While you're there, buy some of what you've sampled ans SAVE D.O.D. Kyle McHugh stocks some amazing product. (650 N. Dearborn, 312-337-9463)
• Tomorrow: Wicker Park Lutheran Church is hosting its fifth annual "World's Largest Potluck" from 6:30-10:30 p.m. Proceeds from the event will go to help restore the 103-year-old landmark. (2112 W. LeMoyne)

• Vocalo was at the Chef's Collaborative Summit this week and filed interviews with Judith Schad of Capriole Goat Cheese, the Signature Room's Patrick Sheerin and Cleetus Friedman of City Provisions. [Vocalo 1, 2, 3]
• Soup and Bread: The Cookbook is on its way in December. [Soup and Bread]
• Over at Drive-Thru, Whitney Merritt's ongoing interview series of food bloggers focuses on Marathon Val [Drive-Thru]

This weekend is jam-packed with events. Social butterflies plan accordingly.

South Loop Wine Cellar is one of our favorite wine stores and we attend their tastings often. They often host creative events, presenting wine in innovative combinations with other foods - cupcakes, chocolates - or with other small businesses in the area. However, when we got the September event email, we did a bit of a double take. Instead of a tasty pairing of a California cab and a nice bite of flank steak, customers at the September 17th tasting can sample… a flu shot. At the “Vaccine and Vino” event, a payment of $40 will include both the wine tasting and the vaccine.

     

It was sometime after 8 Friday night at the Chicago Luxury Ice Cream Festival when Benjy texted me from one of the many long lines formed inside the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum. The text read, "This is like going to Great America, only you have a small bite of ice cream waiting for you at the end instead of getting on a roller coaster."

It's Labor Day weekend, but that doesn't mean all of us are grilling for possibly the final time this season. Here are some events, tastings, dinners and special offers to keep you busy this weekend and beyond:

Although we have raised a significant amount of pledged monetary and in-kind sponsorship support, we have not been able to meet the financial goals that would make it possible to produce the event on the original time-line.

After over a year of planning the inaugural Chicago Luxury ice Cream Festival is set to open tomorrow. For festival founder Jeff Reid, just having the festival happen is a relief.

• Today: This is the final day to get the all-new C-Wich, a crab cake sandwich, for $5 at C-House in the Affinia Hotel Chicago (166 E. Superior). Additionally, select sides, sweets and specials will also be offered for $5.
• Tonight: Celebrate Michael Jackson's birthday at Kit Kat Lounge and Supper Club with a $19 menu special featuring blackened chicken with cheddar potatoes and roasted corn. A "Black and White" martini made with VOX vodka, dark chocolate liqueur, vanilla is also for sale for $5. Kit Kat's resident "diva," Traci Ross, will be performing as both Michael and Janet Jackson. (3700 N. Halsted)
• Sunday: Goose Island's going hog wild with a pig roast to benefit Slow Food Chicago. Clybourn brewpub chef John Manion, Blackbird's Mike Sheerin, Pat Sheerin of the Signature Room at the 95th, Jackie Shen of Red Light, the Bristol's Chris Pandel and Brian Millman of Uncommon Ground will each have a pig to roast at the brewery on Fulton. Purchase tickets here. (1800 W. Fulton, 3-7 p.m., $55)

Last year at Chicago Gourmet we attended a "Pairing Cheese with Beer" seminar led by Greg Hall from Goose Island. To our surprise the last course paired dark chocolate with Goose Island's Pere Jacques. Augh. It was soooo nice. Join Vosges Haut-Chocolate and Goose Island this Friday from 7-9pm for a Chocolate and Beer Soiree. Pair Vosges Naga truffle, which has a sweet Indian curry powder, coconut and milk chocolate, with Goose Island's Sofie Belgium Style Ale, which has been aged in wine barrels with orange peel giving you hints of citrus with a creamy vanilla finish. The party is at Vosges Lincoln park storefront (951 W. Armitage Ave.) and is $30/ person, which includes 3 chocolates paired with artisan beers from Goose Island along with open bar of Goose Island 312 beer. Also receive a 10% discount off any chocolate purchase during the event.