Back in January we attended an early front runner for the year's best dinner with NAHA's "Winter Doldrums" cocktail dinner, an exercise in excess pairing Carrie Nahabedian's cooking with cocktails from Wirtz Beverage's Peter Vestinos. For each of the seven courses, Vestinos fashioned punches using rare select vintage teas from Rodrick Markus's Rare Tea Cellar. Both the courses and cocktails intensified in richness until Markus tucked the attendees to bed with a tea blend, Emperor's Late Night Elixir, that had us sweating toxins out of our pores. more ›

• Province (161 North Jefferson St., 312-669-9900) launches a new Tuesday promotion called "4-4-44" night. Chef Randy Zweiban is offering diners a four-course, seasonal menu with wine pairings for $44. (via the Hound)
• City Provisions kicks off its 2010 Supper Club series with a cocktail party at Architectural Artifacts (4325 N. Ravenswood Ave.) featuring cocktails fashioned from Death's Door Spirits paired with finger foods and desserts from Sandra Holl's Floriole Bakery. Floriole, by the way, is putting the finishing touches on its new Lincoln Park storefront. (7 p.m., $75, RSVP here or by calling 773-293-2489)

"Have you ever been to one of our family dinners?" Rob Levitt of mado asked us Monday night at the LTHForum GNR awards dinner. Allowing that we hadn't, Levitt's eyes lit up. "They're fun and, with this one, you're gonna be in for a real treat." more ›

• 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)

Just received word from the Bluebird's Jason Baldacci that the beer and wine dinner they were collaborating on with with mado and Webster's Wine Bar has been postponed. Baldacci e-mailed, "It's been a new challenge for all of us to put together an event between three different bars/restaurants, and we want to make sure that we're as prepared as possible, and that the dinner is going to be as good as we can all collectively make it." We'll let readers know when a new date is set. more ›

Looks like the Publican/New Holland beer dinner isn't the only must-eat dinner in town Sunday. Rob and Allie Levitt of mado are putting together a five-course dinner of their own featuring wood-roasted pig’s head with spicy greens and marinated chickpeas, spit-roasted leg of mutton and smoked trout with apricots, chilies and polenta abbrustolita. The dinner starts Sunday at 6 p.m. more ›

As Karl and I discussed in yesterday's podcast, if you're going out to dine at one of the participating Chicago Restaurant Week establishments and want a cocktail or two, expect your tab to increase really quick. more ›