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Friday Buffet

By L. Stolpman in Food on Feb 20, 2009 5:20PM

coffee beans.jpg Hello, cornholios. Where've you been all my life? Hmm...how many insults have food words incorporated into them? Perhaps that's another post for another day. This week: Free coffee, Mardi Gras fun, Academy Award parties...What could go wrong?

  • February 20: FREE COFFEE! The Coffee Studio is generously offering guests free doubles (straight shots) of either their Intelligensia coffee or their guest espresso option, the Redline Espresso blend (from Metropolis Coffee, just opened a block away) ALL DAY LONG. 5628 N. Clark, 6:30 a.m. - 9 p.m. What are you waiting for?
  • February 20 and 21: Chuck's Southern Comfort Cafe celebrates Mardi Gras with Cajun and Creole food, bands (blues and Cajun!), raffles, and a damn fine crowd. Tickets sold at the restaurant for $50 and that includes your food and entertainment. Head on south and and eat yourself Mardi-fat and happy. 5557 W 79th. 7 p.m. - 1:30 a.m. $50.
  • February 21: Mardi Gras Cooking Class at Alliance Francaise de Chicago. Learn how to make Crabcakes with Remoulade Sauce; Grillades and Grits; Lemon Bread Pudding; Café Brulot. 810 N. Dearborn, $75 for member, $85 for non-members. 10 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
  • February 21: Asian Influence cooking class at the Chicago Cultural Center. Learn how to incorporate traditional Asian ingredients into your everyday cooking. 77 E Washington. 11 a.m. - 2 p.m.
  • February 22: Join Chicago magazine and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation's Associate Board to watch the 81st Annual Academy Awards at their A Dark Night viewing party. Presented by Tapas Valencia. Drinks, tapas, multiple televisions, a silent auction and awards for costumes. Click HERE to get your tickets. 1530 S. State, 5:30 p.m. - End of Show. $50 in advance, $55 at door.
  • February 22-24: Carnivale Events! February 22 is Family night - includes Face Painters, Balloon Cartoonists, Stilt Walkers, Complimentary Masks and Beads for children and Live Music by Nelson Sosa. February 23, head in for the $5 Mojitos from around the world, masks and beads, DJ Monna 3° Monnatone Music, and a Red Carpet hosted by guest host Bobby Pins. February 24 is Fat Tuesday - featuring Live Music by Angel Melendez, Samba Dancing with Dancers from Shirley Vieira of Brasil via Chicago, and some great food. 702 W Fulton.
  • February 24: Mardi Gras cooking class at Beverly's Pantry Learn to make: Chicken and Seafood Gumbo, Creole Crab Cakes, Red Beans and Rice, and Bananas Foster. 7 - 9:30 p.m., 1908 W. 103rd St.
  • February 25: The Chicago chapter of the American Institute of Wine & Food is sponsoring a dinner at C-House featuring wines from the Southern Hemisphere. Expect selections and varietals from South America, Australia and New Zealand, paired with wonderful cooking from executive Chef Seth Siegel-Gardner. 166 E. Superior, 312-523-0923, $25 for AIWF members, $35 all others.
Photo courtesy of JcOlivera.