Weekend Planner, Columbus Day Edition
Drink Greek Wine at 2Sparrows
Tonight, 2Sparrows stows its brunch cookery in favor of Greek mise en place. "A Toast to Greece" is the popular brunch restaurant's homage to the Mediterranean Mecca, featuring a wine-paired meal that transports guests to the shores of the Aegean. Chef Gregory Ellis curates the four-course affair, with Greek wine expert Ted Diamantis of Diamond Wine Importers on hand to discuss the wines for the evening. The menu features caponata paired with 2011 Domaine Skouras Moscofilero; whitefish with tomato, Kalamata olive, and lemon served with 2012 Domaine Sigalas Assyrtiko; lamb and wild mushrooms with couscous, pine nuts, and chickpeas, adjoined by a glass of 2009 Domaine Skouras "Grand Cuvee" Aghiorghitiko; and for dessert, olive oil cake scented with green cardamom and orange, matched with 2004 Domaine Sigalas "Vin Santo." Dinner is served at 7:00 p.m. and costs $60 per person. Reservations can be made by calling (773) 234-2320.
Spice Up Your Saturday With bellyQ Cooking Demo
You love Bill Kim, you love his restaurants, and you love his sauces. Now learn how to embrace your inner Bill Kim at his cooking demo at bellyQ tomorrow, October 12 at 11:00 a.m. The crafty chef will showcase his unique lineup of sauces for the lesson, preparing a variety of dishes that pair perfectly with said sauces. Dishes to be prepared are chilled edamame with crispy shallots, soy-balsamic, and basil, paired with the Seoul Sauce; bellyQ brisket with cilantro, lemongrass, and rice chips with Belly Fire sauce; pork ribs and Asian slaw with Thai basil, garlic peanuts, and a bit of Belly Smoke sauce; and cocktail coconut shrimp with lime and mint, perfectly paired with Belly Bomb sauce. After each dish is prepared, guests will be able to eat the dishes family-style while sipping on bellyQ's passion fruit drinking vinegar. The cost to attend is $50 per person, and tickets can be purchased here.
(The most recent cooking demo at bellyQ. This could be you next!)
Warm Up With Chai Tea at Bombay Spice
One of the greatest things about fall is the proclivity of soothing warm beverages. They make the imminent chill almost entirely worth it. Sure you could go the traditional route of hot chocolate or spiced cider, but there is exceptional chai to be sipped in Streeterville. Bombay Spice in Streeterville just unveiled its news chai, and it's a killer. Chef Sunil Kumar makes his own chai tea from scratch using a potpourri of spices, including green cardamom, black cardamom, cinnamon, cloves, fennel seeds, ajawin, black tea, and ginger. The restaurant is currently offering free samples of the chai through October 13, or 16 oz. portions are available for $2.45 a pop.
Enjoy a Fall Fest at Acadia
Celebrate Columbus Day the best way possible, by grooving to live music and eating sausages. It helps that this all takes place at Acadia on Monday between 2:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. For a scant $25 (cash preferred at the door), attendees enter the restaurant through the back alley, whereupon they'll be greeted with a parade of sausages, potato salad, spaetzle, sauerkraut, potato pancakes, and black forest cupcakes. Considering Acadia's fine dining stylings, you can expect this will likely be the most delicious fall fest you'll ever attend. For music, John Sabal plays acoustic at 3:00 p.m., followed by Mr. Blotto at 5:00 p.m. Call (312) 360-9500 to RSVP.