The Friday Buffet

By Chuck Sudo in Food on May 15, 2009 6:30PM

For those of us whose weekend won't revolve around NRA Show 2009, here are some events for you to consider:

• Today: WineStyles in Evanston (1741 Sherman Avenue, 847-328-4400) is hosting a "Spring Bling" open house, with wines for tasting and jewelry for sale from Silpada Designs Jewelry. As of post time, this event has already started and will run through 8 p.m.
• Today: one sixtyblue (and look for some food one sixtyblue pr0n from Stolpman in a couple weeks) has Play Dough Fridays. They'll offer $5 Neopolitan pizzas, $4 prosecco cocktails and and craft beers starting at 5:30 p.m. (1400 W. Randolph, 312-850-0303).
• Saturday: there's more to making a salad than just throwing some vegetables together. La Madia chef/owner Jonathan Fox will show you how to choose the right greens for spring, how to make a killer vinaigrette, and learn a few recipes guaranteed to impress. the course runs from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.; salads and wine are included as part of the $30 cost (59 W. Grand, 312-329-0400).
• Saturday: Delilah's Lambic Festival runs from noon-5 p.m. Mike Miller and company call this "one of the most comprehensive tastings of lambic beers in North America." Having been to more than a fair share of beer fests at Delilah's, he's probably right. $20 gets you 20 samples, which should be enough to slake your thirst (2771 N. Lincoln, 773-472-2771).
• Saturday:Drinks Over Dearborn is the setting for a seminar on pairing beer and chocolate from 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. On hand will be renowned beer expert Stephen Beaumont, who will be pairing 6 different beers with selections from Vosges. $30 in advance, $40 at the door (650 N. Dearborn, 312-337-9643)
• Tuesday: Marion Street Cheese Market (100 S. Marion, Oak Park, 708-725-7200) is hosting a 4-course wine dinner from 7-9 p.m. featuring pairings from L. Mawby Sparkling Wines of Suttons Bay, MI. L. Mawby owner Larry Mawby will be at the event. Cost is $50.
• Wednesday: A reminder about the big benefit dinner at Goose Island Clybourn for George Rasmussen of Swan Creek Farms, who lost his truck, trailer, and generator in a fire while making deliveries a month ago. In addition to the $100, family-style dinner featuring dishes from John Manion, mado's Rob and Allison Levitt, Chris Pandel of the Bristol and Hot Chocolate's Mindy Segal and Mark Steuer, there will be a silent auction for a barbeque for 15 catered by Paul Kahan, Koren Grieveson, and the Blackbird, avec, Publican family. An online auction will also go,live that night in which guests can bid on having dinner cooked at home by the likes of Paul Virant, Ryan Poli, Grieveson, Carol Wallack, Suzy Crofton, Guiseppe Tentori, Rick Gresh and Stephanie Izard. That auction will be open until May 28. all proceeds for this will go to Rasmussen