Wine, Beer, and Tequila Dinners

Wine dinners are as ravenously popular as ever, along with booming beer dinners and the burgeoning trend in spirits dinners. Personally, I'm still waiting for Tang dinners to become popular, but until that happens I'll gladly settle for degustations synced with booze. Over the next few weeks, Chicago restaurants are toasting to different liquors with a tequila dinner at Cantina Laredo, wine dinner menu at Telegraph, and a beer dinner at 2Sparrows.


Tequila is not my best amigo, considering it's one of the only liquors to ever give me a hangover, and a savage one at that. But even I'm piqued by the pending tequila dinner at Cantina Laredo, celebrating Milagro tequila on May 23. The four-course fete begins with a tequila reception at 7:00 p.m., followed by dinner at 7:30 p.m. While guests nosh on modern Mexican plates, they'll learn the history of the brand and sip different pours and tequila cocktails. Dishes include crab-corn quesadillas, grilled halibut on banana leaves, and coconut ice cream, complimented by classic margaritas, a Bloody Basil, a Sunset-tini and more. Learning is fun when it increases your blood alcohol level! Dinner is $49.99 per person. Reservations can be made by calling 312-955-0014.


Beef shoulder carpaccio at Telegraph
(Beef shoulder carpaccio at Telegraph. Photo: Telegraph)


From Mexico to Venice, let's hop over to the wine dinner menu at Telegraph, honoring a different part of the world and a different kind of libation. This lauded wine bar features periodic themed menus centered around various wine regions, and I'm always curious to see what tricks they'll put out of their sleeves. This one is an ongoing affair available through May 29, available to guests at $35 per person. The four-course wine spree includes cicheti of white anchovy, grilled fennel, and prosciutto paired with Menti Vino Frizzante; squid ink pasta and sepia primavera salsiccia with a glass of Domaine du Bagnol Rose; and beef shoulder carpaccio with turnip pesto and cured egg yolk joined by Marco de Bartoli "Vecchio Samperi" Marsala. It's a menu fit for a Godfather.


Rounding out the boozy trio is a Lagunitas beer dinner at 2Sparrows on June 7. I love when brunch-focused places dabble in dinner. It's like seeing Tony Hawk don a suit and tie. When it comes to beverages at 2Sparrows, they're about much more than coffee and mimosas. They've already got an impressive cocktail program in place, so it makes sense that they would host occasional booze-themed dinners. For the June event, they'll showcase five brews from the popular California craft brewery, matched with seasonal cuisine from chef Gregory Ellis. Guests can expect spinach salad with strawberries, almonds, feta, and lemon vinaigrette; seared scallops with spring peas, blueberries, ramps, and balsamic; lamb, romesco sauce, whipped potatoes, and spring vegetables; and more. To drink, there's Lagunitas I.P.A., The Censored Rich Copper Ale, Hop Stoopid Ale, Imperial Stout, and Undercover Investigation Shut-Down Ale. The dinner begins at 7:00 p.m. at $60 per person. Reservations are required and can be made by calling 773-234-2320.

 

 

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Now where's my Tang?

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