Chicago Restaurant Roundup: January 2018

Our regularly updated list of Chicago restaurant offerings and events for January 2018.

Week of January 21

Learn to Saber Champagne like a Pro

Learn how to saber bottles of Champagne at Carnivale’s Champagne Sabering & Cocktail Class (702 W. Fulton St.) on Wednesday, January 24th at 6:30 P.M. This multi-faceted experience starts with a lesson in opening Champagne the dramatic way, followed by a tasting tutorial designed to help you understand the different among popular Champagne varieties. The night wraps up with a mixology demonstration featuring bubbly cocktail recipes. Tickets are $40, and include appetizers. 

Join Bite Cafe for Gin & Dinner

Bite Café (1039 N. Western Ave) hosts locally-based Letherbee Distillers for a three-course dinner and gin pairing. The menu, concepted by Bite executive chef Zack Sutton, begins with a Beet & Herb Spring Roll, followed by Beef Carpaccio and an entree choice of seared scallops with olive tapenade, fried potatoes, and a fennel-orange salad, or Braised lamb shank over lentils and parsnip purée. Tickets are $40, and reservations can be made at bitecafechicago.com.

Enjoy Beer & Beignets with SideDoor & Pollyanna Brewing Co. 

SideDoor (100 E. Ontario St.) has teamed up with local brewery Pollyanna Brewing to host a five-course beer dinner on Friday, January 26 at 7 p.m. The night will kick off with a reception featuring Bavarian Pretzel Bites paired with Pollyanna’s The Full Lemonty American Blonde Ale. Dinner menu highlights include a Beignet with foie gras, clementine, polenta cake, pickled red onion, and soy caramel; King Crab with yellow curry, watermelon, avocado, tomato, and radish; and 36-Hour Braised Lamb Shank with apricot puree, swiss chard, and Moroccan spiced jus.

Tickets are $75 per person and include the five-course dinner and beer pairings. To make a reservation, contact Tori at tsanchez@lawrysonline.com

Week of January 14

Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba Shows You How to Cook Paella

Dinner, wine, and a trade secret … all for $42. On Tuesday, January 16, Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba (2024 N. Halsted St) is hosting a Paella Cooking demo, where you’ll learn the secrets to Executive Chef Eric Jorgensen’s renowned Paella over a five course dinner. The menu features pintxos, tapas, paella and dessert – all paired with Spanish wines. Advanced tickets required; call 773-935-5000 or visit the restaurant’s website for more information.

Week of January 7

Raised Bar’s January Supper Club Announced
Why simply go to dinner when you can attend a Supper Club instead? Raised Bar (1 W. Wacker Drive) will host the next installment of their new Supper Club Series on Saturday, January 13 from 7 p.m -9 p.m. The “culinary experience” will pair the folk-rock music of Chicago singer-songwriter Laura Joy a southern-style menu featuring food and beverage pairings like Fried Chicken and a Sherry Temple (pictured above), andTruffled Mac and Cheese paired with the restaurant’s signature “I Dream of Spring” cocktail, made with Aquavit, Fresh Dill, Cucumber, Ginger Beer, and Lime Juice.

Week of January 1

The Albert Kicks Off Happy Hour
Instagram-ers, rejoice. The Albert (228 E. Ontario), which has been called a “foodie photographer’s fantasy,” is now offering happy hour specials. Every Monday through Thursday from 3 p.m. until 6 p.m., the Albert will be offering $3 house wines, and 50% off snacks, call drinks, and the cocktail of the day. Snack include Marcona Almonds ($6), Marinated Olives ($4), French Fries ($7), Housemade Breads, Cultured Butter ($4/$8), and Housemade Potato Chips ($5).